Leather Painting Essentials: Color Theory, Mixing, and Application

Instructor: Sarah Garvey
Course Length: 2 hours | Lessons: 18
Skill Level: All Levels

Bring your leatherwork to life with color.
Tooled designs are beautiful on their own—but adding paint can make them extraordinary. In this course, Sarah Garvey teaches the essentials of color theory, mixing, and application, giving you the skills to enhance your tooling with vibrant, eye-catching finishes.

You’ll discover how color interacts with leather, learn techniques for blending and toning, and practice with a hands-on project that shows you how to use color to elevate your designs. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to add depth, contrast, and artistry to your work.

What You’ll Learn:

• Fundamentals of color theory and how it applies to leather
• How to mix paints and create smooth blends
• Techniques for toning down or intensifying color
• Best practices for painting tooled designs and borders
• Using color to add depth and highlight design details

Inside the Course:

• Supplies & Project Overview
• Color Theory Basics
• Mixing & Blending Techniques on Leather
• Where and How to Apply Color
• Hands-On Painting Project & Design Enhancements

Included with Membership:
✅ 140+ professionally filmed courses
✅ Downloadable patterns & checklists
✅ Monthly live Q&As with expert instructors
✅ Supportive artisan community
✅ Ongoing new course drops

About the Instructor:
Sarah Garvey is a full-time leather artist and the founder of Western Skies Handmade. Since 2008, she has created intricately tooled purses and accessories inspired by her background as a classical musician, her years on remote ranches, and the beauty of the southwestern desert she calls home. A self-taught leatherworker, Sarah is known for blending traditional tooling with modern design elements. She continues to create custom pieces, raise her two children in Arizona, and share her passion for keeping the artistry of leatherwork alive.