Online Art School «Artefacto»
ONLINE Learning program
by Konstantin Sterkhov
Fundamentals of watercolor
Learn the core principles of watercolor painting and create your own collection of 10 paintings using the author's approach
Language: English
ONLINE Learning program by Konstantin Sterkhov
Fundamentals of watercolor
Learn the core principles of watercolor painting and create your own collection of 10 paintings using the author's approach
Language: English
«You can practice eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at painting the wrong way.
Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.»
Our learning program at a glance...
It might seem that professional artists just simply splash some paint all over the paper, make random brush strokes, and come up with amazing artwork. Without any effort at all! 😳
And then there's us - regular humans who adore the magic of watercolor and want to make it easy and spontaneous… but it's far from our expectations and we come up with an unpredictable result.
Watercolor obeys its own rules knowing which you will save years of learning and start having fun right during your first tries.
We have systemized core rules of watercolor and came up with 8 key elements of a successful painting. Will guide you through this journey in detail!
Can you relate to any of this? If yes, you may need some help with «fundamentals»
- You don't know what to start with
- Your result is unpredictable and lacks structure
- You are not sure if the painting is complete or it needs more work
- You feel stressed while painting, lack control over the process
- Sometimes you do not know what next step to take
- You want to have regular feedback on your paintings, progress, and areas for improvement
Learning Program
Module 1. Materials
we will learn everything we need to know about materials and organizing our workspace for the successful use of watercolors.
6 lessons, 1 h 32 min
All about materials
Learn about materials needed to paint with watercolor (paper, paints. brushes, board, paper tape, masking, etc.).
Paper is the key
Talk about different paper types and characteristics. Test paper to see when to apply which.
Types of brushes
Look at different types of brushes, their characteristics and «traces».
Minimum set of brushes
Learn and prove on an easy sketch that 4 brushes are enough to make a painting.
Watercolor paints
Talk about paints and rules of locating paints on the palette, paint our own palette.
Organization of a workplace
Learn to organize a workplace, see how Konstantin's workplace is organized.
Module 2. Techniques
We will apply different watercolor techniques and observe their differences. We will also learn to avoid dryness, make washes and strokes.
4 lessons, 1 h 19 min
Strokes and washes
Learn to make strokes and washes right, to make soft transitions, to avoid «cauliflowers», to make hitching, etc.
Basic techniques
Learn the difference and nuances of wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, dry-on-dry, dry-on-wet, wet-on-moist.
5 simple sketches
Learn to apply and combine basic techniques on 5 simple sketches.
Sky and a shore
Paint a landscape and combine the techniques learned. Learn to paint the sky, clouds, shore.
Module 3. Tonal values
We will see why tone is more important than color and we will learn to carry out tonal analysis of a color image.
2 lessons, 50 min
Tonal values
Talk about the gradation of the color, learn to make the tonal analysis of a colored image.
Italian landscape
Paint an Italian landscape with mountains, sea, rocks, and forest.
Module 4. Colors
We will understand the principles of color combinations and talk about color temperature. We will learn to mix colors to get different shades.
4 lessons, 64 min
Itten color wheel
We will talk about the Itten color wheel.
Mixing colors
We will learn how to mix primary colors to get all other shades.
Warm and cool color
Learn about cool and warm colors and make two sketches to practice.
Flower composition
Make a flower painting based on a complementary color relationship.
Module 5. Texture
We will learn to convey the texture (material) of subjects in a painting. We will practice various techniques here: splashing, granulation, masking, opaque, glazing, scratching, lifting, etc.
3 lessons, 56 min
A variety of textures
Immerse into the world of textures, learn how we can depict them.
4 easy sketches
Apply dry brush, lifting, splashing, granulation, masking, glazing in different motives.
Magical trees
Will use a few effective approaches to create a landscape with textures.
Module 6. Edges
We will learn about their important role in a painting. We will find and create soft and hard edges of the subjects in our painting
2 lessons, 33 min
Hard and soft edges
Learn about hard and soft edges, where we can find and how to obtain them.
Feather
Paint a magic feather using soft and hard edges in the wet-in-wet technique.
Module 7. Shape
We will practice creating a 3D effect in our paintings. We will learn how to transmit the volume of the objects.
3 lessons, 1 h 26 min
Shape theory
Will discover how to obtain a 3D effect in drawing and painting.
Shape exercise
Practice making different objects look three-dimensional.
Still life with garlic
Paint a still life with garlic and talk about the 3-D effect of garlic and textile.
Module 8. Perspective
We will learn how to create an aerial perspective in a painting. We will practice applying the effect of distance and a variety of tones.
2 lessons, 52 min
Rules of perspective
Learn about the essentials of aerial perspective and make 4 exercises.
Chinese landscape
Paint a mountain landscape with the effect of distance and a variety of tones.
Module 9. Composition
The most critical part for the success of a painting! We will study different types of composition in a painting. We will learn to position objects correctly.
4 lessons, 2 h 38 min
Application method
Learn about types of composition, use applications to balance the composition.
Types of composition
Practice different types of composition.
Red dress
Find the right placing of objects and paint a dynamic landscape.
Arch and figures
Practice a frame composition with a backlit architectural object and a figure in the center.
Module 10. Final artwork
We will create an effective painting «Blooming Sakura» using the knowledge and skills we got at the course.
2 lessons, 52 min
Making accents
Finalize the knowledge gained in the course and talk about accents.
Final task. Sakura
Learn to make strong accents of blooming sakura using most of the knowledge from this course.
Bonus: practices from Konstantin Sterkhov
Reflection
Konstantin will tell you how to cope with despair if you do not like your work again and again and how to achieve the desired result.
Meditation
«Free your mind» Konstantin will show you one of the best ways to relax and prepare your mind for the creative process.
Author's method
«My method is based on practice - it is like when you learn a foreign language, it is more effective when you start speaking straight away than when you learn first the rules and grammar. The same in painting.
In my courses, you start painting from the very beginning and learn the rules in parallel.
In my experience, this method brings results much faster and the student gets from point A to point B not noticing how it happened.»
What will we achieve during this learning program?
01
Get the right start in watercolor painting to build on
02
Understand the key rules and effective techniques in watercolor
03
Learn the step-by-step systematic approach
04
Apply acquired knowledge and create 10 paintings
05
Get into the truly active artistic community
06
Get the freedom to follow the learning program of any complexity
This learning program is more than a set of video lessons, it is about support and community
Live Zoom sessions with Konstantin
During the course, we will hold 5 live sessions with Konstantin where you will paint, correct mistakes, and discuss interesting topics together (you will select the topics yourself, by vote).
Feedback from curator
Prasad Beaven
For each of your paintings done during the learning program, you will get a detailed review from the curator highlighting key areas for improvement and providing recommendations! He won't leave you behind!
Live Zoom sessions with Konstantin
During the course, we will hold 5 live sessions with Konstantin where you will paint, correct mistakes, and discuss interesting topics together (you will select the topics yourself, by vote).
Feedback from curator
Prasad Beaven
For each of your paintings done during the learning program, you will get a detailed review from the curator highlighting key areas for improvement and providing recommendations! He won't leave you behind!
Join our international artistic community!
Closed students’ chat
- It exists for more than a year and we are proud of this Chat!
- It is very active!
- Like-minded people discuss various interesting topics there
- They feel at home with their friends
- They discuss the paintings of each other, various artists, inspire each other every day
Your first Online Exhibition!
Our latest Online Exhibition took place last week:
- 12 students exhibited their works
- The winner got more than 200 likes on her paintings
- She got the winner certificate, a free course from Artefacto, and access to all the recordings of all our online workshops (more than 50h of video lessons)
- All participants got valuable prizes
The painting by the winner of our last exhibition Yonca Salur
Learning program «Fundamentals of watercolor»
- 32 lessons in full HD from 2 camera angles (12h 30min)
- Lessons’ write-ups and checklists to measure your progress
- Individual feedback from curator Prasad Beaven on each painting
- 5 Live online sessions with K. Sterkhov in Zoom
- Moderated students’ WhatsApp chat with Konstantin and Prasad
- 24/7 access from any location at your own pace
- Certificate of completion
- Online exhibition with valuable prizes at the end
- 3-months access to the course materials (possible to extend for free)*
*see below, how to get lifetime access to the course
TOTAL VALUE: $360 (~€325)
TODAY’S PRICE: $180* (~€163)
or pay monthly $60* (~€54) / month
* ArtiCoins, earned during the marathon, will be automatically deducted from the price on the payment page
How do I get lifetime access to
the learning materials?
Option 1
- You study and earn ArtiCoins. Lifetime access costs 600 ArtiCoins*
- Not enough ArtiCoins for lifetime access? You can extend for 1-12 months
- Get lifetime access for $60 at any time you want
* (you can earn up to 700 ArtiCoins during the learning period)
Why should I join now?
You have no risks - we support you!
100% guarantee
In case after 1-2 lessons of the learning program within the first week, you realize that using our approach you can not create a painting,
YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY BACK!
Freeze
If the start date is not convenient we freeze the learning program for as long as you want (1 time free of charge) .
Freedom & Mobility
Access to the lessons at any time. Go through the lessons at a comfortable pace. Watch the lessons on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
- Prasad is a practicing artist mainly interested in the medium of watercolor and ink.
- His childhood spent in the foothills of the Himalayas has made a big impression on his character and interests.
- A recent graduate of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts
- He was exposed to a range of art forms and cultures including Indian Miniature, Persian painting, Geometry, Icon painting, and Chinese Landscape painting.
- Through this course, Prasad had the opportunity to meet Prince Charles where they discussed their shared interest in watercolor.
- Prasad also won the Ciclitira Prize, through which his works will be hung in the prestigious Saatchi Gallery.
How our learning program is organized?
BEFORE LEARNING
PROGRAM
Full learning program program
List of learning program materials
Friendly community of beginner and professional artists
AT LEARNING PROGRAM
Recorded video lessons
Closed students' chat
Feedback from curator
Monthly Zoom group meetings with K.Sterkhov
For completing tasks you'll receive Articoins
AFTER LEARNING
PROGRAM
Graduation art party
Certificate of Completion
Own Portfolio
Skills and knowledge for the whole life
Part of our art community
Watch the video lessons on any device
Our happy students say...
Meet your learning program author
- Over 30 years of painting experience and 20 years of teaching practice
- 70 international and 10 solo exhibitions, member of the jury for various international competitions
- My paintings are placed in museums, private and corporate collections worldwide
- I am an author of the book «Masters of Watercolor» and the founder of the magazine «Planet of Watercolor»
- Brand ambassador of the leading producers of art materials (Daniel Smith, Roubloff, Nevskaya Palette)
- Member of Artists Union of Russia, Saint-Petersburg Watercolor Society, and Watercolor Society of Finland
Examples of Konstantin's work
Examples of Prasad's work
Frequently asked questions
Let’s paint!
Still have some questions? We will be happy to answer them. Please email us at info@artefactoschool.online