Interested in joining a Plein Air River Trip in 2024? Add you name to the waitlist by clicking the button below.
Previous Trip - Summer 2023
Plein air painting is simply and beautifully the act of painting outdoors, and the lower Yellowstone River is perhaps one of the most idyllic settings for this 4-day/3-night inclusive trip. We are thrilled to welcome Tandy Miles Riddle, an award-winning fine artist based in Livingston, MT, as our instructor and co-host.
You’ll begin and end your day with riverside painting workshops, and enjoy the experience of floating the river during the day. You may even choose to paint or draw while we’re floating. We’ll stop for lunch and to explore throughout the day and you’ll have time in camp during the afternoons and evenings to paint, swim, read a book, play games, or simply soak in the sun. Delicious meals will be prepared by our camp crew and enjoyed around the fire. This trip to open to people at all painting levels, from beginner to advanced.
Group Size
We believe it is important to keep the group size small to ensure we can fully experience the peace, quiet, and power of these special places. This also ensures you have plenty of one-on-one time with Tandy. This trip is limited to 4-8 guests.
Pricing
The cost of this 4-day/3-night trip is $2,400. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. Full payment is due 30 days prior to the trip start. The trip begins at 10 am on the first day and ends at 4 pm on the last day.
Your Instructor
Tandy Miles Riddle is an award-winning fine artist whose work is inspired by the myriad forms of beauty she finds and explores in southwest Montana. She attended the Corcoran School of Art and Montana State University.
Tandy was the winner of the 2022 People’s Choice award for ‘Moonset, Sunrise’ for the Livingston Center for Art and Culture’s Plein Air Painting on the Yellowstone. In 2021, she began auctioning off an original oil painting weekly, many of which are painted plein air.
Learn more about her work at tandymilesriddle.com.
The Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states, flowing 671 miles from its headwaters southeast of Yellowstone National Park until it meets the Missouri River in North Dakota. We will be floating a unique stretch of river that is known for its peace, quiet, scenery, and abundant bird and wildlife viewing. It is clear, clean, and cool, perfect for a refreshing afternoon swim.
Professional guides will be rowing the rafts in relatively calm waters (Class I-II). There are a couple of fun wave trains, but this is not a whitewater stretch of the river. The only expectation of you while floating is to lean back and enjoy your day. You may choose to paint while we’re floating.
Daily Schedule
7am – 11 am: Coffee and tea, breakfast, morning circle and discussion, paint, and pack
11 am – 3 pm: Float the river, stopping for lunch and to explore and paint
3pm – 5 pm: Free time in camp to paint, swim, read a book, nap, play games, or simply soak in the sun
5 pm – 8 pm: hors d'oeuvres, painting, and dinner
8 pm – bedtime: Bonfire, evening circle and discussion, stories, moon or stargazing
Included:
Painting instruction, 2-3 times daily
Painting kit with high quality watercolor supplies
All meals
Non-alcoholic beverages
Fun swag
Tents, cots, sleeping pads, pillows, and lamps
All camp and kitchen gear, including chairs and a private bathroom tent
Not Included:
Transportation to and from the river – we are happy to help coordinate a shuttle if you have your own vehicle or a rental car
Alcoholic beverages
Sleeping bag
Personal gear – you will receive a detailed gear list upon registration
Trip insurance
Cancellation policy
The $500 deposit is non-refundable. If you have to cancel outside of 30 days it can be applied to another experience within 12 months. It can only be reapplied one time.
The remaining registration amount is 100% refundable up to 30 days. Within 30 days, no refunds will be made unless we are able to fill the open spot.
We realize these trips are an investment. For this reason we highly recommend that you purchase trip insurance. There are many options to cover unforeseen circumstances. In the past, clients have purchased Global Rescue or Travel Guard.