Color Theory for Painting & Portraiture Workshop

Color Theory for Painting & Portraiture Workshop

  • DATENov 8, 2025
  • TIME1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • DAYS OF THE WEEKSAT
  • LOCATIONDrawing/Painting Studio
  • INSTRUCTOR Francesca Bessett
  • DURATION1 day
  • FOR AGES16+
  • PRICE$42.00
  • CLASS CODECAF25DPPFB065-01W
Color is more than just paint on a palette—it’s a powerful tool to express mood, harmony, and depth in your artwork. This workshop dives deep into the essentials of color theory with a focus on painting and portraiture, helping you confidently select and mix colors that bring your work to life. In this hands-on workshop, you will explore the color wheel, primary, secondary, and tertiary colors; Understand color harmonies such as complementary, analogous, and triadic schemes; Learn how color temperature influences mood and depth in portraits; Practice mixing skin tones and natural hues with confidence; Discover how to use color to create focus, contrast, and atmosphere in your paintings; Apply theory through exercises tailored to portraiture and figurative painting. Whether you’re mixing your first palette or refining your color choices, this workshop will give you the tools to make bold and intentional decisions with color.

Plan Your Visit - Classes

Mesa Arts Center is located at One East Main Street in Downtown Mesa, at the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets.

Click here for a map and directions


Open Tuesday–Saturday, 12–5 PM

Call 480-644-6500 or email boxoffice@mesaartscenter.com


Ceramics: Clay is available for purchase in the Mesa Arts Center Ceramics Studio the first day of class. Additional class supplies may be required and will be discussed the first day of class, or prior to class in an email from your instructor.

Glass Fusing/Stained Glass/Flame Working/Glass Blowing: All materials will be discussed on the first day of class – unless specifically noted in the class description, students need not pre-purchase supplies. Appropriate clothing required – natural fiber fabrics (cotton, silk, linen, wool), leather closed toe shoes.

Jewelry: Students will receive a syllabus and materials list from the instructor via email prior to the class start date.

Lapidary: Students need not purchase supplies.

Welding/Blacksmithing: First day of class no materials are needed! However, all students are required to bring leather work gloves (the yellow roping kind best), safety glasses and welding helmet. You do not need welding helmet for first class. We will go over helmet, materials and syllabus in first class. Students must also wear all-cotton clothing and all-leather closed toe shoes

Painting/Printmaking/Photo: Instructors will provide students with a list of supplies on the first day of class, or prior to class via email. A limited selection of basic art materials will be available for student use on the first day.


Downtown Mesa parking can be limited during busy events. Parking is $10 and is available in our south lot or in the Sirrine Street Garage (only open for public parking after 5 PM on weekdays, and anytime on the weekends). To secure an accessible parking spot, we strongly recommend arriving at least one hour before showtime.

Click here to view a parking map.


Our mission is to make the art studio classrooms a space for relaxation, enjoyment, discovery and learning. To help aid in that pursuit, the studios department has employed the use of sensory kits available to all students in any class. Upon request to your instructor, a variety of sensory and stress-relieving items will be provided in class.

Additionally, enChroma glasses are available for youth, teens and adults in any of the studio programs. If you struggle with color blindness, consider requesting use of these glasses in your next class!

Have an accessibility need or if you would like to talk through options available at Mesa Arts Center, please contact artstudioclass@mesaartscenter.com.

Learn more about all our accessibility offerings here.

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