Ariel Estela

Professional Wildlife Scratchboard Artist in Montana

05/22/2026

Hey guys! We are having the very first paint and sip at my studio. See poster for details. Only 20 slots available!

05/15/2026

I am happy to finally be able to share this magnificent piece! It was a very special commission for a very special occasion and I couldn’t be more honored than to be trusted with it.

05/13/2026

Check out what I just got in the mail! 36”x38” claybord! This is the largest piece I have ever worked on and I already have an idea, so stay tuned 🤩

You’re probably thinking.. “wait is this the same thing as scratchboard? It’s white” and the answer is YES! I just have to paint a few layers of black india ink onto this bad boy before we can get started.

05/01/2026

“Sweet Nectar III” Montana is giving us such mixed signals. Spring? Winter? Spinter? 🤷🏻‍♀️
Regardless, I am so excited to hear hummingbirds around my home this season! And I’m sure a lot of you are too. 🌸

This is a new little 6”x6” original scratchboard of a calliope hummingbird. Available on my site soon!

04/23/2026

Just finished framing this piece and I couldn’t be happier! It is so satisfying when a vision comes to fruition. The is 24x36 but sits at a whopping 27x40 with the frame!

04/19/2026

“Sign of Life” 18x24 original scratchboard. 🔴

This piece pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me level up as an artist. I experimented with new techniques and I'm thrilled with the result! I just submitted it to an online exhibition and I'm keeping my fingers crossed 🥳

04/16/2026

“Bobby Bluebird”

Spring is trying to make its way back to Montana, even as the snow keeps falling.

The mountain bluebirds should be here by now, even if I haven’t seen one yet. It feels like they’re just out of sight, waiting for the right moment to return. That quiet anticipation of knowing something is there before you can actually see it.

This piece is a reflection of a moment I experienced years ago in Yosemite National Park. It was the first time I had ever seen a bobcat and a mountain bluebird. In that moment, it felt like more than just an encounter. To me, it became a symbol of transition, a shift happening in my life that I didn’t fully understand yet.

This piece holds that feeling of curiosity, stillness, and change. A reminder that even when something isn’t fully visible, it can still be present. That transformation is often quiet before it becomes clear.

What are the first signs of spring you notice where you live?

04/14/2026

Ooh how I love this one! What should we name him!?

03/24/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Great Western Show this weekend! Second year doing this show and I learn so much. A few originals and prints found their homes 💕 Also made so many new friends! See ya next year💫

03/16/2026

“Sign of Life” 18x24 original scratchboard.
Boy oh boy was this a “trust the process” kind of piece! Everything was fine in the beginning stages, but I learned a lot in the painting stage. I’ve been working with watercolor markers for over a year now, but have recently upgraded materials. That said, it’s been a learning curve figuring out how to work with them. Not only did I panic when I realized some colors were SUPER pigmented, but I also panicked when I decided to use actual water and a brush to dilute the colors right on the piece! I’ve never done that before and I was afraid it could ruin the surface.

But what a happy accident this was! Moving forward, I will be diluting and blending all of my colors on the scratchboard!

Address

Gardiner, MT
59030

Website

http://thealpinestudio.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ariel Estela posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Gardiner?