NEW! "Discover Your Inner Artist" Hibiscus Cake Class in Boston

Image by Rachel Robertson Photography

The hibiscus and bamboo cake was originally designed by Rick several years ago for a televised wedding show. It was then featured in the premiere issue of "Get Married" Magazine and on a number of internet websites. The hibiscus cake has generated a crazy amount of interest and decorators all over the world have contacted us to ask how Rick makes it and where they can purchase the hibiscus cutter. I mention that Rick did the pattern completely free hand without a cutter and their response is often disappointment because they don't feel comfortable working without one.

The hibiscus cake, originally made in sunset colors, has resonated with so many people, and at the same time left them bewildered how the design is made. Rick decided for his first "Discover Your Inner Artist" class in 2011 that he would teach people how to make his hibiscus cake. The class was a huge success! Rick has taught his hibiscus cake class, originally paired with a clownfish cake, to well over 100 students in 4 different countries, and only once in the United States.

As his last classes of 2013 before our book is released, Rick will be teaching a pair of 2-day classes in Boston at The Cake World, a cake school dedicated to bringing world class instructors to share their craft. Rick is honored to come teach at The Cake World and is looking forward to his newest class, the hibiscus cake!

BOSTON, Massachusetts "Discover Your Inner Artist 3" classes at The Cake World!

We are thrilled to announce our third and final set of "Discover Your Inner Artist 3" classes for 2013, which will take place at The Cake World in Boston, Massachusetts in July. This will be the first time Rick is teaching his craft in New England, and the only North American east coast location in 2013. Due to our book's release in Summer 2013 we will not be traveling for classes past July, so if you have been wanting to learn from Rick, we would love to have you join us at one of our three scheduled locations next year - Austin, Amsterdam and Boston.

The philosphy behind Rick's "Discover Your Inner Artist" series of classes is to teach students how to let go of their artistic inhibitions and dependence on fancy tools, molds and cutters and learn how to trust their own "inner artist", which we all have. The classes explore some of his favorite art techniques and take a free form artistic approach to cake decorating, promoting creativity by embracing the idea of letting go and not feeling like you need to achieve such a precise or uniform look to cakes. Rick often says "It will work itself out". Once you have the knowlege of many different techniques, your confidence as an artist builds and you take more risks with your work, giving you more means to an end.

We've had great success with "Discover Your Inner Artist" and "Discover Your Inner Artist 2", with students expressing they haven't tried many of these techniques before. Students who have taken either or both DYIA and DYIA 2 will already be familiar with some of the techniques and can jump right in to learn these designs, which are slightly more involved. However, the first two series of classes are not a pre-requisite to "Discover Your Inner Artist 3" classes.

Students who enroll in the Peacock and Dragonflies and Waterlillies 2-day classes will learn handpainting, airbrushing skills, fondant application on taller tiers, including a concave design, how to pipe with royal icing, how to create a custom waterfall-style cake topper, and how to make handcrafted decorations without the use of molds or fancy cutters.

To register, visit here. The Cake World is offering a 10% early registration discount until November 20th. Students may either pay in full or in installments. Please contact The Cake World with any questions about the class or for travel information. There will be a limited number of openings in each class, to allow Rick to give students more individualized attention. We hope to see you there!

2 day class, Dragonflies and Waterlillies

2 day class, Painted Peacock

G'day Australia! "Discover Your Inner Artist" Class coming to Melbourne in 2012!

We are THRILLED to announce our newest location for the "Discover Your Inner Artist" class in November 2012 and it's a place we have been dreaming of going to for many years -- Australia! We received an invitation from Melbourne's own Three Sweeties for Rick to come and teach his signature hibiscus/bamboo wedding cake and sculpted clownfish cakes and he of course, jumped at the chance to bring his craft to one of the most beautiful places in the world! The dates have been set and class registration is now open! Here are all the exciting details:

Three Sweeties Presents:  "Discover Your Inner Artist", a class with Rick Reichart in Melbourne, Australia on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2012.

Rick will be teaching some of his favorite art methods including airbrushing, hand painting, cake sculpting and free form art techniques without using fancy cutters, molds or stencils. At the end of the 3-day class, students will have two amazing completed cakes and a variety of new cake skills.

To register for the class, visit Three Sweeties website, www.threesweeties.com.au, where you will find a wealth of information about the class, policies and pricing.

Spaces are going fast and we have students coming from all over Australia and New Zealand to attend. The class was just announced and is already more than half full. Do not miss this exciting opportunity to learn from Rick and to get in touch, with your inner artist!

We will be posting updates on the Melbourne class as well as the London, Pennsylvania and Canada 2012 classes on both our "Classes" page on the blog and the cakelava Facebook page.

NEW London Class Added!

London Class Update!  Rick's August 16th, 17th, 18th, 2012 "Discover Your Inner Class" at Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School is now sold out. However, we have a wonderful host who has invited us to extend our stay in London, UK, so Rick can offer a second class! We have had a number of students who were not able to sign up for the first class and will now have the opportunity to register for the second group.

Class 2 is now open for registration and will take place at Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School on August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2012. Aside from the dates, everything else remains the same for the second class. Same price, same times and the same amazing cakes will be taught to the students (see photo above for class projects) in Class 2.  Registration for Class 2 is offered through Exotic Fantastic website:  www.exoticfantastic.com

A number of people have asked about other locations within Europe for the class. Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School is the only European location Rick will be teaching in 2012. We have students coming in from all over Europe and we are excited to meet everyone!  To learn more about Rick's "Discover Your Inner Artist" series of classes and read student testimonials and see photos, visit our Classes page on the blog.