Learn Portrait Painting With a Limited Palette

3-Week Oil Painting Workshop
February 7, 14 & 21, 2026
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
$275 per person

Taught by Mel Fiorentino

This 3-week workshop focuses on strengthening portrait painting skills through the discipline of a limited color palette. Each student will select their own limited palette—preferably no more than five colors, not including white and black. Students may also choose to work without black, depending on their approach and preference.

By limiting color choices, the focus shifts to the core fundamentals of strong painting: value control, form, temperature, edges, and structure. This method helps artists develop a deeper understanding of color relationships and achieve convincing skin tones and depth without relying on a large palette.

Students may work from their own reference image or choose to paint from a reference provided by the instructor. Canvas size is entirely up to the student—participants are welcome to work as large or small as they like. All materials will be provided except the canvas, which each student supplies.

Working with a limited palette is one of the most effective ways to strengthen painting skills. It encourages intentional decision-making, improves color harmony, and sharpens the ability to see value and temperature relationships clearly. The skills developed in this class carry over into all areas of painting, regardless of subject or style.

• Beginner to advanced painters
• Artists looking to strengthen fundamentals
• Painters who struggle with color harmony or overmixing
• Portrait artists wanting more control and confidence
• Anyone interested in simplifying their process for stronger results

• Dates: February 7, 14 & 21, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Cost: $275 per person
• Palette: Student-chosen (recommended max of 5 colors, not including white/black)
• Canvas: Provided by student (any size)
• Materials: All other materials supplied during workshop

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Host or Publisher Mel Fiorentino