Online Art School «Artefacto»
5 Steps to Your Personal Style
Stop copying, start creating. From analyzing your work to planning your artistic future — a complete roadmap to original art.
Language: English
5 Steps to Your Personal Style
Stop copying, start creating. From analyzing your work to planning your artistic future — a complete roadmap to original art.
Language: English
Are you tired of copying other artists' work and wondering when you'll finally paint something that feels like YOU?
Do you know the techniques but still feel stuck — unsure what makes YOUR paintings unique or where your art is heading?
This isn't another technique course. It's a complete system to help you analyze your own work, stop depending on references, discover your personal style, and build a clear path forward — whether that's exhibitions, sales, or simply creating art you're truly proud of.
In 5 structured steps, you'll move from "I can only copy" to "I create my own original work."
Join the program and finally paint like the artist you were meant to be — with Konstantin as your guide.
Do you find yourself facing any of these challenges?
You can paint well when following a tutorial or reference, but your own ideas never look as good on paper
You've learned techniques, but you still don't have a recognizable style — your paintings could be by anyone
You look at your finished work and feel something's off, but you don't know what to fix or how to improve
You're stuck in "tutorial mode" — afraid to paint without step-by-step guidance
You've been painting for years, but you still don't know what kind of artist you are or where your art is going
You dream of exhibiting or selling your work, but you don't feel ready — or don't know where to start
If any of this sounds familiar — you're not alone. And more importantly, there's a way forward:
5 steps to your own ARTISTIC PATH
Mistakes & Opportunities
The key questions we'll be able to tackle after this module:
- Is my painting complete?
- Does the result meet my expectations?
- What is the emotional impact of my painting?
- What can be improved?
- How to identify opportunities in my artwork?
- What mistakes can be corrected?
Result: see your growth areas and turn them into opportunities
Week 1-2
Become your own critic
In these 3 lessons, you will learn to analyze your own artwork.
Week 3-4
Improvements: Part I
“Overdone”
Check out if your work is fresh or overdone to get the idea of when to stop.
Week 5
Improvements: Part II
“Dull”
Find out what makes your painting look dull and how we can solve this problem.
Week 6-7
Improvements:
Part III “Composition failure"
Where to find failures in composition. We will help you to find them and to solve the problem.
Week 8-9
Happy accidents
To correct or not to correct? Can we use a failure to our advantage? Could it be a way to your unique artistic style?
Week 10
What makes your painting outstanding?
Make your painting visible! Some tips to attract attention to your painting.
Creation & Imagination
The key questions we'll be able to tackle after this module:
- How does an artist see the world?
- How do I create my own scene (incl. creating references and working with them)?
- When to apply imagination?
- How do I measure my current level and pick appropriate scenes?
Result: Learn to work with your own subjects
How to find the subject?
You will learn how to work with subjects for your paintings.
From 3D to 2D
You will learn to use the rules of painting shape and creating aerial perspective to achieve a 3D effect in our work.
Editing or imaging? Editing color
You will learn to change colors in a reference photo to make a beautiful harmonious painting.
Editing or imaging? Editing light, tone and selection of details
You will learn how to make the light glow, which details to paint and which to drop.
Editing or imaging? Puting together two pictures in one
You will see how to make a lovely painting, combining 2 reference photos.
Go emotional! Boosting your imagination
You will learn how to enhance expressive means to strengthen the impact of your painting.
Your personal style
The key questions we'll be able to tackle after this module:
- What defines a personal style?
- How do famous artists personalize their style?
- How to hear my artistic voice?
- What is my way to define a personal style?
Result: learn to hear your artistic voice and apply it in paintings
What defines Your Personal Style?
You will try to define your personal style by observing all your painting experience so far.
Do you have a favorite artist?
You will choose a favourite artist to learn about his or her method of painting and see if some of its elements are meeting your preferences.
Painting the light. Signature lexicon
You will learn to paint the light, to make your painting speak, and turn an ordinary scene into a "head turner".
Power of water. Explore your favorite artist's approach
You will learn to paint the cracked texture of rocks, depict the transparency and sunny reflex in shadows, obtain the transitions of water shades and ripples.
Abstract stylizing. Contemporary Chinese approach
You will get acquainted with contemporary Chinese approach and learn how to stylize any subject, making it look really expressive.
Out of comfort zone!
You will try to paint something you usually avoid and see why it is important to regularly attempt new genres and directions.
Expert in a favorite subject
The key questions we'll be able to tackle after this module:
- What do I focus on in various subjects (landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, animals, …)?
- What makes my painting outstanding?
- Why is a "Plein air" so important? How do I progress in it?
Result: learn the nuances of working with different subjects
Overview of painting genres
You will learn about the main painting genres and their features and find the genre that suits you the most.
Landscape
You will see the diversity of approaches and solutions of contemporary artists in the landscape genre.
Still Life
You will learn more about still lifes and see how to arrange a single object or a group of objects to make them look spectacular.
Animal painting
You will learn about the main peculiarities of animal painting and try yourself in this direction.
Portrait, figure
You will see how to make a successful portrait, expressing feelings and mood in your artwork.
Styles of painting
You will learn more about abstract art and see several means of stylization.
Mixed genres
You will see how to combine several genres in one painting, boost your creativity, and get outstanding artwork.
Your own
artistic path
The key questions we'll be able to tackle after this module:
- What do I do next? What are the options?
- How to create a personal portfolio?
- How do I get to the exhibition?
- How do I start teaching (incl. online)?
Result: develop your own creative path (based on your desires)
Establishing your painting goals
You will see how to set up your painting goals and develop as an artist.
Hobby or profession? What is painting for you?
You will learn what to do to become a professional artist and see how successful modern artists started their careers.
Your target. Who your painting is addressed to?
You will select a target audience for your artworks and see different ways of presenting your art to people.
Represent yourself. Exhibitions, galleries, social nets
Am I ready for an exhibition? Group or solo one? How to contact a gallery, how to choose one? Do I have enough works for a solo exhibition? How to prepare, how to pack, how to send my works? These are the questions we will answer in this lesson.
Sharing your experience. Monetizing
You will see different ways of developing your professional career: selling your works, founding an art school, becoming an instructor, and others. You will also make your final portfolio and a professional CV.
What will we achieve during this learning program?
01
Learn to analyze your own paintings — identify what works, what doesn't, and turn mistakes into opportunities for growth
02
Stop depending on references — develop the skills to create your own subjects and compositions from imagination
03
Discover your personal artistic voice — understand what makes YOUR paintings unique and how to strengthen it
04
Master your favorite genre — whether landscapes, portraits, still life, or abstract — with deeper understanding and confidence
05
Build a clear path forward — know your next steps, whether it's exhibiting, selling, teaching, or simply creating art you love
06
Create up to 30 original paintings throughout the program — building a portfolio you're proud of
Meet your instructor:
Konstantin Sterkhov
- An artist with over 30 years of painting experience and 20 years of teaching practice.
- A participant of оver 200 international and 10 solo exhibitions, member of the jury for various international competitions, including “Fabriano”.
- His paintings are placed in museums, private and corporate collections worldwide.
- A participant of such prestigious international exhibitions as “World Watercolor Masters”, “National Watercolour Society, Royal Society of Marine Artists”, “Fabriano”, “Royal Institute of Painters and Watercolour”, “Reinterpretation”.
- A brand ambassador of the leading producers of art materials (Daniel Smith, Roubloff).
- A member of the Watercolor Society of Finland.
Examples of Konstantin's works
The offer for you:
Standard
- 37 video lessons in full HD by Konstantin Sterkhov
- Up to 30 paintings by the end of the program
- Lifetime access to all video lessons
- 24/7 access from any location at your own pace
- Access to the moderated students community on WhatsApp
Standard
- 37 video lessons in full HD by Konstantin Sterkhov
- Up to 30 paintings by the end of the program
- Lifetime access to all video lessons
- 24/7 access from any location at your own pace
- Access to the moderated students community on WhatsApp
Join our international and artistic community with a dedicated Community Manager!
- Students support and inspire each other every day
- They share advice, discuss the drawings and give feedback on them
- Like-minded people discuss various art-related topics there
- They feel at home with their friends
This community is moderated by a dedicated professional Community Manager and our Support Team!
Have a look at
what our student have achieved during
"5 Steps to Your Personal Style"
Tiffany Chen, USA
"My paintings went to a more sophisticated level in a Family. Konstantin has a heart of a teacher. He encouraged me to learn watercolor painting from other artists in Artefacto Family.
School offers many concepts and activities.
The teachers teach me how to think like an artist, and when I paint I don't copy a reference photo. I edit it to make my own artistic creation.
Many thanks to Konstantin and all the teachers and all the school staff."
92% of our students say that regular practice and good instructors are the key to success in painting
Before / After
We will always support you!
100% guarantee
If within the 1st week you realize you do not make progress,
YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY BACK!
Freedom & Mobility
Access to the lessons at any time. Watch the lessons on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Watch the video lessons and Zoom sessions on any device!
Contact us
For customer care:
info@artefactoschool.online
Our working hours:
Monday — Friday
7 am — 6 pm Central European Time (CET)
Artefacto Learning Platform Limited
This site is owned and operated by ARTEFACTO LEARNING PLATFORM LIMITED