Guests come to Triple Creek Ranch, a member of Relais & Chateau and recently awarded 2 Michelin Keys, to ride horses, enjoy five-star dining, stay in one of the 25 private cabins, and enjoy a luxurious Montana version of a Western guest ranch.
Known for its vast collection of Western Art, Triple Creek Ranch also supports artists working in the field of Western Art by hosting a number of Artist Workshop Weekends throughout the year.
The next Artist Workshop Weekend runs from May 1 to 5, 2025 and features three artists:
Shirle Wempner – oils
Gerald Painter – carving sculpture & painting
Joe Kronenberg – oils
Shirle Wempner was raised on a horse ranch, and receives inspiration for her art in all aspects of nature surrounding her. Inspired at a young age to fully appreciate the beauty the outdoors has to offer, she has expanded her creative desires to capturing the essence of her subject matter, whether it be wildlife, ranch scenes, figurative or landscape subjects. With her broad brush strokes, palette knife work, and vivid colors, she creates an image that invites the viewer to participate in the final unfolding of the scene before them.
Gerald Painter of Great Falls, Montana has been carving for about seven years. His love of wildlife and attention to detail is apparent in each of his sculptures. The subject matter of most of his carvings are birds but his fish are also popular with collectors. He is perhaps best known for his miniature wildfowl which have earned him top honors at numerous shows across the country, including the Ward World Show in Ocean City, Maryland. The “Ward” show is the biggest carving event of its kind, attracting the best wildfowl carvers from all over the world. At the 2009 show Jerry placed first in all three miniature songbird categories and second and third best of show in the miniature category.
Drawing his inspiration from his home in Spirit Lake, ID, Joe Kronenberg works in oils. His paintings have an old-world feel that has been influenced by the 19th-century French academic style and the Luminism and Tonalism techniques of the Hudson River School of painting. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest with its beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife Joe was exposed to a historic past that included accounts of Native Americans, Pioneers, Mountain Men, Trappers and more. All of which shaped his love of the subject matter he paints today. Traveling to historic sites, national parks, and the mountains if Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming each year he studies and gathers reference photos and information on the animals and scenery portrayed in his work
Artist Workshop Weekends include:
- Thursday Arrival and Monday Departure (art-specific activities conclude Sunday afternoon)
- Artists’ Welcome Reception and Demonstration
- Three days of Morning and Afternoon workshop sessions
- Dine with the Artists each evening
- Guided tour of the Ranch owners’ original Western art collection (when available)
- Grand Finale ‘Quick Draw’ and farewell dinner
Artists will guide guests in this hands-on painting and sculpting experience. Participants will be provided with art supplies, blank canvas and a frame for your finished piece. Once your mediums have sufficiently dried, we will ship your finished art.
For more information, visit Triple Creek Ranch.
