May 11 - 15, 2026

Class size is limited.
A $300 deposit is required to reserve your workshop space.

$850
Workshop Tuition

Once you have made your $300 workshop deposit,
we will email you confirmation and additional information.

Please "click here" for detailed workshop terms.

You can send a $300 Depoist CHECK to:

GARY SPETZ STUDIO PO BOX 374 LAKESIDE, MT 59922 (If sending a check, please let us know so we can hold your spot)

OR

REGISTER ONLINE HERE:

Deposit: May 11-15, 2026 Spetz Home/Studio Montana Watercolor Workshop $300.00 Pay now

INSPIRING LOCATION!

He and his wife, Marlene, live and work above beautiful mountain-surrounded Flathead Lake. Their large wraparound deck, perched high above a wooded setting, gives their home/studio the feel of a tree house. For an artist, it is, indeed, an ideal place to instill creativity!

FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS!

LIMITED CLASS SIZE
If you are interested, you would do well to sign on sooner rather than later.  :-)

You can fly into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) -- 24 miles away
or arrive by Amtrak in Whitefish, MT -- 32 miles away

We strongly recommend renting a vehicle
as taxis, Uber, and Lyft are limited services.
If renting a car, we strongly recommend you reserve your car rental in advance
due to the popularity of visiting our area. 

Area Lodging

In recent years, Lakeside, Montana, has become a popular tourist destination. This has spurred
the growth of nearby lodging opportunities. We have listed some of them below.
Of course, Kalispell (16-miles from us) has many more hotel options.
Simply, GOOGLE "Lakeside MT lodging" to view what is offered.
OR
"Somers MT lodging"

(
GOOGLE:  "Lakeside MT lodging"

Here are some our closest lodging opportunities:

Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn & Suites (7 miles)

Stoner Creek Cabins (1 mile)

Elk Ridge Village Cabins (2 miles)

Somers Bay Cabins (5 miles)

Outlook Inn Bed & Breakfast (5 miles)

Sunrise Vista Inn (2 miles)

Edgewater RV & Motel (1 mile)

Bridge Street Cottages (Bigfork 18 miles)

VRBO (enter Lakeside or nearby Somers)

Nearby Kalispell (16 miles) has many hotel lodging opportunities.

HOME/STUDIO ENTRANCE

For an overview of Lakeside,
the Stoner Creek Cabins website provides a very helpful guide, here.

Don't take our word for it.  Here are some words from Gary's previous workshop participants:

I am still raving about your class.  There are not enough words to tell you how much I enjoyed every moment.  I received so much out of it, absorbing every lesson, advice, wishing it went on for another week...  You have inspired me so much.  I now feel comfortable working with watercolors, and I am really enjoying them and landscapes!  I have converted from oils!!
Becky from Minnesota

Thank you again for your kindness, attention, and excellent teaching.  
Thank you to Marlene who did a tremendous amount of work to keep everyone working 
and content.  You are a superb team!
Sally from Tennessee

Many thanks for choosing such a special, interesting and beautiful place for us to have a class.  The class was filled with congenial people and Gary was full of tips and techniques...
Barbara & Bob from California

You went above and beyond in all you did...  
I am really looking forward to another workshop with you.
Janella from Nevada

Your hospitality was gracious, and the food was spectacular!  The lodge was very comfortable, 
and the creative ambiance with such great guests was memorable...
Alexander from Ontario

Participation in the workshop was a wonderful experience.  Barbara and I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet of the lodge and the beautiful landscape, especially the huge richly colored ROCKS...  The food was great...  I can "taste" it even now.  I also rarely eat the kind of homemade treats so readily available for us; they were too good to resist...  the companionship and facility felt comfortable - like an old shoe.  I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and was able to be part of the workshop, 
I pretty much never do this sort of thing.
Tim from Wisconsin

...thanks for a wonderful week I'll never forget...
Don from Texas

What a totally enjoyable week...  
Gary it was your way of teaching on the PBS 
that made me believe that I could possibly try to paint.  Your workshop 
supported everything that came across in that program...  Marlene you are a wonderful supportive person that always knows the right thing to say.
Janet from Montana

Gary, you have the ability to share how you paint in such a clear and concise way that everyone regardless of their skill can pick up techniques and instruction that will make them a better artist than when they came.  Marlene, you work as an official hostess to be certain every thing that is required to make the week successful is already available.  
You even ask Gary questions to be certain each teaching thought is fully developed.  You two make a great team...  
The lodge is beautiful and offers a perfect venue for the class as well as the week's stay. The food is excellent. Trish should do a cookbook.   I do not know how you could make it any better.
Courtney from Alabama

Your approach to teaching, taking a step at a time while building a piece, is very effective. 
The good humor and collegial feeling of the workshop are icing on the cake.
Jack from MT

I had a great time in Montana, taking your workshop - 
it has inspired me to start painting again.
Lorraine from Nevada

Thank you so much for your all round generosity to both of you
—Marlene for fattening me up and words of encouragement and Gary for the in depth instruction and patience...  Our class mates were great.  Awesome group.  I can't say enough about the area where you live.  It is so beautiful. 
Jean from Alberta

The location was nothing less than - spectacular!

.....all the extras added so much to the experience
....and yes those fabulous Huckleberry bars!

.....a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience!

.....I really can’t say much more than Arnold’s famous words – "I’ll be back"!

Gary and his wife, Marlene, were very accommodating and kind.

Someone in our class.....had never done watercolor before
and did a fantastic job, 
mostly due to Gary's great step-by-step instruction!

...it was FABULOUS!  I highly recommend it to people!

...thank you for all the time, effort, talent and love you put into the workshop.  

I am very pleased with  how much I learned about landscapes
and watercolor in general.  Thank you!

I had a great time!

Gary's teaching style is relaxed and well-planned.

You put a lot of time and thought into the workshop and certainly made it easy
for a novice like me!

Thank you for a great workshop!  I and all the others enjoyed it immensely...

You both did a super  job of teaching and helping us learn!

I feel as if I absorbed 20 years of experience in a week....

Just want you to know that I had a blast!!  Don't go changin' a thing!! 

...You both did an excellent job pulling a very diverse group of people together for one purpose
... and I think everyone grew!