On teaching……………
“I believe that in art, as in writing, a developed vocabulary and an understanding of grammar are necessary fundamental requirements for self expression. In art the vocabulary could be attributed to the use of the materials, while the grammar may be considered the design and composition of the finished work.
My aim as an art instructor is always to devise and present the fundamental vocabulary and grammar of art related skills, (in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking) in ways that make them accessible and easy to understand”.
Tricia Reichert
Student Reviews
General responses to Classes and Workshops
“I’ve spent over 35 years in education. I’ve never met or experienced as gifted a teacher as Tricia. She is truly exceptional.”
“This teacher is very well wised in her craft and is a master educator. She is positive in her ways and encourages her students to be brave in their efforts”
“Tricia is an instructor who enjoys her subject and the progress of her students. What a joy to learn in such an environment”
“I love taking classes with Tricia, she explains things so well. My finished work has improved tremendously since working with her. Thank you Tricia”
“Tricia is a fabulous teacher – fun and able to convey ‘how to’ in a clear manner. Always willing to help and give positive feedback. Delightful.”
“Outstanding, wonderful teacher – excellent class! Tricia is very patient and brings a calming presence to painting”
“Tricia is an unusual and wonderful combination, a fantastic artist and wonderful teacher, even for beginners”
“I have learned so much and I feel that I’ve learned more from Tricia than from all my prior art classes and books combined. She demystifies a lot of the process of painting and thoughtfully shares her extensive knowledge”
“There are no bad artists or discouraged artists in Tricia’s classes. I don’t know how she does it, but everyone leaves feeling competent and enthused”
“Tricia loves what she does and her enthusiasm is contagious. I love that in a teacher”
“Tricia Reichert was absolutely superb! prepared, knowledgeable, charming, talented and very encouraging. Thank you for such a positive experience”
“A super teacher – knowledgeable, kind, extremely helpful and funny too. Loved it.”
“Well paced. Tricia was amazing. She was very knowledgeable, patient and helpful.”
“This teacher is very positive and encouraging. She is extremely well organized and is able to vary her class to fill individual needs. Is able to simplify complex subjects into small steps so the student is not overwhelmed”
“Tricia Reichert is a wonderful instructor. She is honest in a kind and positive way and always shows how to make paintings better”
“Tricia is an amazing instructor, listener and enthusiastic and loves what she does. This is my goal-“
“Tricia is so knowledgeable and articulate”
“Tricia’s classes are truly inspiring. She is supportive, no matter your skill level and always helpful in solving any problems. Techniques become clear with her guidance”
“Tricia enjoys teaching others; evident from the ‘joy’ she expressed when students demonstrated understanding the information. Thank you Tricia”
“Tricia makes learning fun!
“Tricia takes you from the basics all the way to advanced”
“Tricia is a superior teacher whether in print, DVD or in person”
“Tricia is an excellent teacher and explains things in a very thorough, logical way”
“Tricia did a great diplomatic job of helping each student at different stages and ability – Thank you”
“Tricia is encouraging, makes me feel good about the direction of my work” “Fantastic class. Excellent instructor”
“Best teacher in the world. She’s gifted and all students engaged and successful. It’s pure pleasure being in her class”.
“Great instructor, well prepared, very personable and helpful.” “Tricia is the best. She is able to break down a painting and show how to paint it step by step. She gives clear responses to students’ questions, which seems to be uncommon with art instructors.”
“Fun and informative! -Great to know in advance what specific materials are needed -Teacher is skilled in making adults behave (cellphones, too many questions)”.
Tricia Reichert is a fine teacher: organized, enthusiastic, accomplished and kind. I would recommend her classes to anyone interested in developing their artistic skills.
Your classes are fabulous. You are not only a master artist, but are an outstanding teacher. Having been an elementary teacher for 33 years, I especially appreciate your can do attitude, patience, organizational ability, encouragement, and sequencing of skills. Nancy Milie
Some specific student responses to classes and workshops
“Again, I have to tell you how absolutely fabulous you are as a teacher: to say nothing of your “Disney” brush work. I am in awe of your talent and most appreciative of your teaching talent, organization, time and attention to what you are doing and the effort you put into each class. You are rare and remarkable. With admiration and appreciation”. Lynne N
“Being in your home and in the workshop this week-end was a real delight for me. I appreciate your clear and organized presentation, all of the supplies you made available for me to try, the attention you brought to each participant, the relaxed and loving space you created for the workshop. It was so valuable for me to see how you approach a problem and work. I loved the workshop room and set up, the way the kitchen served as a spot to regroup, relax and replenish as needed, and your studio, organized and full of complete and in process work, was really an inspiration to me, in fact your entire home, and you, are an inspiration to me. Thank you. I look forward to meeting and working with you again” Kathi S
“I thought your workshop in Tuscany was perfect; I wouldn’t have changed One thing! Your techniques and teaching methods are right on! You inspire and encourage us without pushing or berating. Could not ask for more”. Mary W
“I want to thank you for your encouragement and instructions as I began my first ever art attempt. I will always remember the wonderful experiences I had with you”. Phyllis B
“I just wanted to thank you for providing a wonderful opportunity for all of us who participated in the Italian painting opportunity. All and all, I thought it was a wonderful trip. Thank you for adding to my list of wonderful experiences I have had in my life and for being such a great art teacher”. Jayne E
“Thank you again for a wonderful time, I learned so much from you and it rekindled my love in drawing and painting”. Patricia T
“I will miss the wonder of your teaching this session. You have really added a special dimension to how I look at the colors of the world and all the delights of watercolor”. Abbie M
“Thank you for Saturday’s Workshop. Once, again, you stretched me and pulled out wells of creativity I can’t seem to tap my own. Half way through the process I feel frustrated and want to start over but you always know how to get me over the hump and produce something I like”. Lynn E
“I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the classes, they have been amazing, full of instruction and much angst for me, but I love the challenges and the subjects we paint!
I feel I have greatly improved as a WC painter since I started taking the classes.
Thank you for being such an organized, thoughtful and inspiring teacher!” Judith S
“Tricia Reichert is a uniquely competent, professional instructor. She handles all levels of student ability with ease and is such an expert! She has the most pleasant demeanor and teaching style. I’d take any class she offered. I see learning from her as a once in a lifetime experience and I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity”. Anne C
“I just wanted to pass along a note of gratitude for the great portrait class. As before, you were the master teacher and I learned a lot. Pedagogically, you have consistently been one of the best teachers (of anything) that I’ve ever had. Thank you” BK R
ALL VIDEO CLASSES ARE ON HOLD – Alternate video options are being pursued.
In the meantime, my YouTube channel – Tricia Reichert Studio – has some Watercolor and Pastel Video classes and a variety of Watercolor Demonstration videos in the Playlist section.
Student Review
I have been a student of Tricia Reichert for six years. She has switched seamlessly to an online learning format from her in person classes. I highly recommend Tricia’s series of painting classes and sketchbook composition classes. Tricia is interesting, clear and patient. In each lesson, she carefully demonstrates each step and allows students to complete a finished piece of art. She remains attentive to student questions during the class. As a teacher myself, I appreciate Tricia’s attention to her lesson plans, and the time she takes to choose just the right subject matter and source photographs for her students’ interests and abilities. She provides excellent instruction at affordable prices. I highly recommend her courses! Chris Dempsey
“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing”
(Aristotle)
2026 Summer Workshops
1. Free Framing Workshop, Thursday July 9th, 9am-1pm
Framing your own artwork is not as difficult as you might imagine and it will save you a lot of money if you do it yourself. Come along to this free morning workshop and bring a small painting or two. You will have time to cut some mats for your paintings and also watch how to mat and frame your artwork. I will show you how to cut mats, mount the artwork and then frame it. My very helpful handout will also remind you how to mat and frame your own artwork when you are at home.
Please contact me to register for this workshop.
2. Pastel and Watercolor mixed-media Workshop, Tuesday July 7th, 9am -4 pm
I will supply the watercolor paper and pastels for this workshop. (You can bring your own pastels and watercolors if you wish.) You will need to bring a towel for the table and an apron. The subject will be a landscape with a small building. If you have your own watercolors, please bring them, if you don’t, I will have some available. You will also need a watercolor brush (8) or similar. I will supply a drawing and picture of the subject that you can transfer to the watercolor paper with the light box. (Bring your lunch)
Fee for this workshop is $100.00 Please contact me to register for this workshop
3. Clay Sculpture, figures, animals, birds, or? Saturday July 11th, 9am- 4pm
In this workshop you will be working with different types of clay to make your subjects. I will demonstrate how to make a bas relief and show you how to use the clay. You will sculpt the pieces and then take them home to dry. After a couple of weeks you will bring them back to be fired in the kiln, My handout about patinas and surfaces for clay sculpture will help you to finish the surface at home. There are many options for this including acrylic paint, ready made commercial products, oil paints etc. (Bring your lunch)
I will supply the different clays for this workshop and I also have the clay tools.
Fee for this workshop is $100.00 Please contact me to register for this workshop
4. Make a ‘Poured’ painting with Watercolor. Wednesday 15th July, 9am -4pm and Monday morning, 20th July 9am -12pm
Poured paintings are made with resist to hold areas of white and colors. The paint is mixed in three separate cups and poured onto the surface of the painting in various layers. These paintings have the appearance of a screen print rather than a watercolor. Making them helps you to understand the tonal value of colors. You will pour the first layer here and more layers at home, then we will finish the painting together on Monday morning. You will need to purchase three tubes of color, Resist, a piece of gatorboard and watercolor paper from the art store.
I will supply the brown paper and white and black paint for the tonal value sketch. If you have made a poured painting before you can choose your own subject to paint, I will have the subject for those of you who haven’t had this experience before. (Bring your lunch).
Fee for this workshop is $100 Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
5. Ink Line and Wash Workshop. Saturday 18th July 9am – 4pm
In this workshop you will be using watercolor washes to loosely paint the subjects, and then enhance them with india ink. I will have one subject that everyone will do first. You can also bring along some subjects that you would like to use for this process, I will also have a variety of options that would work well for this workshop. I will supply the hot press paper and the India ink. You will need to buy a dip pen from the art store. You could bring your own watercolors if you wish and I will also have some available here. (Bring your lunch).
Fee for this workshop is $100.00 Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
6. Gesso /Watercolor Workshop Wed July 22nd, 9am-4pm
This is a really great workshop for watercolor paintings that did not work out as well as you may have liked. Most of us who work in watercolor have some of these!. In this workshop you are a going to give them another very colorful and interesting life. Bring along your paintings, watercolor palettes and brushes and we will work some magic! I will supply the gesso and brushes for the gesso. (Bring your lunch).
Fee for this workshop is $100. Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
7. Relief Printing made easy with rubber blocks. Wednesday 29th July 9am-4pm
I am a member of the Central Coast Printmakers and I would love to introduce you to the craft of printmaking with soft rubber blocks. You can choose your own subjects or use my resources.
We will focus on white line images in this workshop. These relief prints make lovely cards . You will be able to make several of these prints. I will supply the blocks, carving tools, inks and papers. (Bring your lunch).
Fee for this workshop is $100 Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
8. “Gouache (pronounced gwash) – the “other” Watercolor.
Saturday August 1st 9am-4pm
In this workshop you will be painting with gouache, a medium that is water based and somewhat more opaque than watercolor. You will be painting on watercolor canvas which is a good choice for gouache paintings. On this canvas, areas can be lifted and changed at will. Your painting subjects will be your choice, but the first small painting you will all make will be mine, to help you see how the medium works.
You can bring your own watercolor palette and synthetic brushes (no sables for gouache) . (Bring your lunch).
I will supply the canvas and the gouache
Fee for this workshop is $100 Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
9, Pencil Drawing – Animals and Birds Wednesday August 5th 9am-4pm
In this workshop you will learn how to draw animals and birds using a variety of tonal pencils. You will get tips about proportions and how to ‘see’ your subjects and how to make the subject into a pleasing composition.
I will have a variety of resources for you to use, but this workshop could also include any of your pets.
I will supply the pencils and the Bristol paper. (Bring your lunch)
The fee for this workshop is $100. Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
10. Miniature Watercolor Painting Sketchbook Tuesday August 11th 9am-4pm
Miniatures are very easy to paint, they also make lovely gifts and wonderful memories of where you have been.
In this workshop you will be drawing the subjects (with help) and then painting them with watercolor in your sketchbook. You could bring photos of places you have visited or limit your choices to one specific location or subject.
You will need a watercolor sketchbook (Moleskine watercolor sketchbook works very well for miniatures) and a small watercolor palette.
I will also supply extra watercolor paper for some of the subjects that you might also want to paint and gift.
(Bring your lunch)
Fee for this Workshop is $100 Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
11. Watercolor- with only three colors Saturday August 15th 9am-4pm
In this workshop you will be painting with only three colors, you can vary the three choices for different subjects but use no more than three. It is quite amazing how only three colors will make lovely paintings.
You can bring a selection of subjects for this workshop challenge and I will also have some suggestions for you.
I will supply some of the colors and you can bring your paper brushes and and palettes. We will be painting a variety of 6″x9″ paintings during the day. (bring your lunch).
Fee for this workshop is $100. Please contact me if you would like to register for this workshop
For all of these workshops, I will send more information in July to those who have registered
IN-PERSON STUDIO CLASSES
2026 CLASSES AND DATES
Watercolor – Beginners Class
This class is designed for those of you just starting in Watercolor or Beginners who haven’t painted in watercolor for a while.
In this class, you will use a basic palette of 8 colors. This will help you to easily understand how to control and mix all the various colors that you will need for painting any subject. During each session in the studio you will find out how to draw and paint a variety of subjects, (both from life and from photographs) to increase and grow your watercolor painting skills.
Most of the time you will have a packet of information for the subjects which will help you to remember and repeat the painting at home. This includes the subject drawing, a step-by-step printed page in color, a step-by-step printed instructions and colors page and a color picture of the source material.
At home, in between the studio classes, you will also be using some video lessons from my Youtube channel (Tricia Reichert Studio) as part of this class.
Fee for this 6 week class is $195.
Please contact me if you would like to register in this class.
There is an option available for you to make up a class that you may have to miss by joining one of the other Watercolor classes.
2026 Next Session -Fridays , 9am-12pm – September, 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, October 2nd and 9th.
Independent Study in Watercolor – am
Have you ever had a problem deciding what to paint? – Then this is the class for you!
In this class you will be encouraged to use the expanded palette that includes more tonal color options and to increase the size of your paintings. This new Independent study focus will allow you to grow as an artist by painting your own subjects. In general you will start to paint in a series by painting variations of a similar subject. You will also be encouraged to research other artists whose work you admire. You will have a lot of individual help in the class and many handouts to use at home. I will be using more spot demos, instead of just one for a particular subject each week. You will also learn a lot by the weekly discussion and sharing of everybody’s work. You will also learn how to plan your paintings with tonal studies and color studies.
Each session will have a different focus to encourage growth and expertise in composition and in handling the medium of watercolor.
Pre-planning in the form of tonal and color studies is also encouraged in this class and demonstrations of techniques and processes are also included where appropriate.
Using mixed water-based media and different painting surfaces is also encouraged in this class.
Fee for this 6 week class is $185.00
Please contact me if you would like to register.
There is an option available for you to make up a class that you may have to miss by joining one of the other Watercolor classes.
2026 Next Session Thursdays, 9-12 am – September 3rd, 10th, 17th, October 1st, 8th, 15th.
Independent Study in Watercolor pm
Have you ever had a problem deciding what to paint? – Then this is the class for you!
In this class you will be encouraged to use the expanded palette that includes more tonal color options and to increase the size of your paintings. This new Independent study focus will allow you to grow as an artist by painting your own subjects. In general you will start to paint in a series by painting variations of a similar subject. You will also be encouraged to research other artists whose work you admire. You will have a lot of individual help in the class and many handouts to use at home. I will be using more spot demos, instead of just one for a particular subject each week. You will also learn a lot by the weekly discussion and sharing of everybody’s work. You will also learn how to plan your paintings with tonal studies and color studies.
Each session will have a different focus to encourage growth and expertise in composition and in handling the medium of watercolor.
Pre-planning in the form of tonal and color studies is encouraged in this class and demonstrations of techniques and processes are also included where appropriate.
Using mixed water-based media and different painting surfaces is also encouraged in this class.
Fee for this 6 week class is $185.00.
Please contact me if you would like to register.
There is an option available for you to make up a class that you may have to miss by joining one of the other Watercolor classes.
2026 Next Session Thursdays, 1-4 pm – September 3rd, 10th, 17th, October 1st, 8th, 15th.
Watercolor Journaling – Outdoor class – The next session will focus on composing, drawing and painting structures.
We will meet at the designated location each week. (You will have all of the information you need to get to the location). You will need to bring a small watercolor kit, a stool, and a watercolor sketchbook. Materials list will be sent to you after you register.
Fee for this six week class is $185.00
Next session – Wednesday Mornings, 9am-12pm – New dates will be added after the summer .
Please contact me if you would like to register for this class
Monthly Pastel Workshops
Come with your materials, ideas and paper and you will take home a finished painting.
In all of these monthly half day workshops, you will bring your own choice of any subject matter to paint. This could be from a photographic source (no photographs of paintings by other artists please) or perhaps materials for a still life. There are also many items available in the studio to use in a still life set up. My pastel cart is available in these workshops for any colors that you might not have in your collection.
Fee for each workshop class is $50.00.
2026 First Sunday of each month – 1pm-5pm – September 6th, October 4th, Nov 1st and Dec 6th
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Travel Workshops
Workshop at Asilomar will be planned now for October 19th – 26th 2026
Asilomar will be a 7 day workshop (with one extra day for travel). We will work in sketchbooks to draw and paint outside most of the time. We will also carpool for trips out to sketch on the 17 mile drive, Carmel and Pacific Grove.
You will choose your own lodging, there is a large dining hall for breakfast and dinner, also a snack bar. You purchase tickets for the dining hall food which is cafeteria style with a couple of main choices for each meal. There is also a very good local restaurant within easy walking distance.
I will demonstrate and help you individually with all of the subjects, the drawing/painting/color mixing/composition etc. You will need to bring a small watercolor paintbox, a stool and a watercolor sketchbook (I will send you a materials list )
Your expenses, apart from travel, will be your chosen room, food and my fee ($500.00)
It would be a good idea to choose and book your room when you decide that you are able to come.
Please contact me if you would like to be on the interest list.