Online Art School «Artefacto»
Fine art atelier with David R. Smith
Unified Scenes: Working Wet & Integrating Figures
Discover how to integrate figures into your paintings so they feel like part of the scene. Enjoy 16 hours of in-depth instruction from a master teacher with 25 years of experience breaking down complex techniques into learnable steps
LIFETIME ACCESS |
Fine art atelier with David R. Smith
Unified Scenes: Working Wet & Integrating Figures
Discover how to integrate figures into your paintings so they feel like part of the scene. Enjoy 16 hours of in-depth instruction from a master teacher with 25 years of experience breaking down complex techniques into learnable steps
LIFETIME ACCESS |
Step into a watercolor experience designed to nourish your creativity. Through 16+ hours of recorded live instruction, you’ll paint alongside a master, witnessing real questions, thoughtful corrections, and the quiet decisions behind every brushstroke.
Guided by David R. Smith, AWS & NWS Signature Member with over 25 years of teaching experience, you’ll develop a clear, repeatable system on making expressive textures, atmospheric washes, believable figures, and confident urban scenes – all while learning the “why” behind each choice.
You'll complete 3 exhibition-worthy paintings and gain something even more valuable: the confidence to approach any subject with clarity and joy. Join us, pick up your brush, and rediscover the pleasure of painting with purpose and freedom!
Do these challenges seem familiar to you?
Your figures look "stuck on" – added at the end as an afterthought, never quite integrated into the scene. You know something's wrong, but you can't figure out how to fix it.
Buildings and perspective intimidate you – man-made structures feel rigid and unforgiving. One wrong angle, and the whole painting falls apart. So you avoid urban scenes altogether.
You can follow along with a video, but painting on your own is too complicated for you. Without step-by-step guidance, your paintings feel fragmented and disconnected.
You've learned techniques, but lack a system. You know the tools, but you don't understand when to apply them and how to combine them to create a unified, cohesive painting.
Fine art atelier program overview
~16 hours including bonus side-lessons
Module 1. Spatter Trees
Duration: approximately 6 hours
Discover the joy of painting expressive, organic shapes using David's signature splattering techniques:
- Learn to create rich foliage textures by splattering paint and water
- Build depth through negative painting
- Master the art of softening edges for a natural, atmospheric effect.
Module 2. Spanish City
Duration: approximately 4 hours
Paint a sun-drenched Spanish street scene complete with figures, cars, and elegant architecture:
- Focus on using a value study to plan your painting before you begin
- Master 1-point perspective for believable buildings
- Connect shapes through values so every element belongs together
- Explore dry brush techniques and palette knife effects to add texture and interest.
Module 3.
Prague Old Town Square
Duration: approximately 4 hours
Step into the charm of historic Prague and learn to paint a scene alive with movement – horses, carriages, and figures against stunning architecture:
- Paint people and animals as integrated parts of the composition
- Create beautiful granulating textures in foreground shadows
- Achieve loose, atmospheric skies by spattering water and letting gravity do the work.
Bonus: Side-Lessons & Demonstrations
Included throughout the Fine Art Atelier
David shares additional mini-demonstrations on:
- Painting distant figures
- Creating value studies
- Various texture techniques.
These bonus lessons give you deeper insight into his methodical process – and extra practice integrating what you've learned into your own work.
Here's what you'll paint with David along this journey!
By the end of the fine art atelier with David R. Smith, you’ll be able to:
01
Master the technique of linking shapes through values to create paintings where all the elements connect as one unified whole
02
Confidently incorporate figures, people, and automobiles into your scenes from the first wash
03
Develop a repeatable, methodical process that you can apply to any subject, freeing you from dependence on follow-along videos
04
Preserve whites through negative painting – an advanced technique that gives you greater control and eliminates the need for masking fluid
05
Tackle complex urban subjects without fear – buildings, perspective, proportions, and shadows will feel approachable
06
Complete 3 exhibition-worthy paintings, building your portfolio while practicing every technique you've learned
«I’m a professional teacher. I taught in public schools for 25 years. I’m really good at breaking things down, chunking it into steps... These lessons are designed to help people feel successful, even if they’re beginners.»
David R. Smith
Fine art atelier author
- David R. Smith began his artistic journey studying Chinese Brush Painting in the United States and China. Ever since, he has been hooked on watercolor painting, and has become a popular artist and instructor nationally and internationally, as well as a sought-after juror.
- He has displayed his work in galleries and museums across the United States and his work has been awarded at the state and national level.
- David is the recipient of the Skyledge Award (the highest recognition awarded by the Transparent Watercolor Society of America), an award winner and signature member of the American Watercolor Society, signature member of the National Watercolor Society, and his work has earned him numerous “Best of Show” awards, signature memberships, showings in galleries and museums across the United States and abroad.
- With over 25 years of experience as a public school teacher, he is skilled at breaking down complex concepts and techniques into easily learned chunks and now enjoys helping workshop participants find success with watercolor.
Choose your plan here
Standard
- Recorded video lessons with 24/7 access
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- 3 complete watercolor paintings: Spatter Trees, Spanish City, Prague Old Town Square
- Access to the student chat
- Bonus: 30 ArtiCoins
Premium
- 16 video lessons (total 16 hours)
- Recorded video lessons with 24/7 access
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- 3 complete watercolor paintings: Spatter Trees, Spanish City, Prague Old Town Square
- Access to the student chat
- Individual written feedback on 3 paintings + 1 creative task from professional curator within 75 days
- Certificate of Completion
- Bonus: 40 ArtiCoins
There are only 30 places available
Elite
- 16 video lessons (total 16 hours)
- Recorded video lessons with 24/7 access
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- 3 complete watercolor paintings: Spatter Trees, Spanish City, Prague Old Town Square
- Access to the student chat
- Certificate of Completion
- Bonus: 50 ArtiCoins
- Exclusive Bonus: 3 exclusive recorded Zoom sessions with David R. Smith
- Extra learning materials: 3 LIVE FEEDBACK sessions with David R. Smith himself!
There are only 20 places available
Standard
- Recorded video lessons with 24/7 access
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- 3 complete watercolor paintings: Spatter Trees, Spanish City, Prague Old Town Square
- Access to the Students’ chat
- Bonus: 30 ArtiCoins
Premium
- 16 video lessons (total 16 hours)
- Recorded video lessons with 24/7 access
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- 3 complete watercolor paintings: Spatter Trees, Spanish City, Prague Old Town Square
- Access to the Students’ chat
- Individual written feedback for 3 paintings + 1 creative task from professional curator within 75 days
- Certificate of Completion
- Bonus: 40 ArtiCoins
There are only 30 places available
Elite
- 16 video lessons (total 16 hours)
- Recorded video lessons with 24/7 access
- LIFETIME access to the video lessons
- 3 complete watercolor paintings: Spatter Trees, Spanish City, Prague Old Town Square
- Access to the Students’ chat
- Certificate of Completion
- Bonus: 50 ArtiCoins
- Exclusive Bonus: 3 exclusive recorded Zoom sessions with David R. Smith
- Extra learning materials: 3 LIVE FEEDBACK sessions with David R. Smith himself!
There are only 20 places available
Exclusive Bonus: 3 exclusive recorded Zoom sessions
with David R. Smith, each focusing on a specific topic (+3 watercolor painting to your collection)
*for Elite plan
Your guided support along the journey
3 LIVE FEEDBACK sessions with David R. Smith himself!
*for Elite plan
Three times during the atelier, David will review your submitted work and tell you exactly what needs adjustment. It's the experience of a private lesson – the kind of personalized guidance that typically costs hundreds of dollars per session – built directly into your course enrollment.
Date: March 2, March 16 and April 17
Time: 4 pm CET, Berlin / 3 pm GMT / 10 am EST, New York
Individual written feedback from professional curator on your paintings
*For Premium plan
- You will get a detailed review from the curator highlighting key areas for improvement and providing recommendations!
- The curator is an artist who had formal education in a fine art academy and was trained to provide feedback/critique to the paintings.
Your professional curator - Olga Karlsson
Watercolor artist, Sweden
- Olga is a practicing artist specializing in drawing, watercolor, and acrylic.
- After graduating from the St Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Olga has been working as an architect in St Petersburg and has founded a school of aesthetic education for children.
- Olga came to Sweden in 1993, she is self-employed and manages art courses in Karlstad and all over Sweden (online).
- Olga participated in national and international exhibitions and competitions such as IWS Fabriano Acquarello (2019, 2022), IWS Bulgaria (2019), and IWS Malaysia (2021).
HERE YOU WILL FIND OLGA'S WORKS
Certificate of completion (Premium and Elite Plans)
Upon completion of the fine art atelier for the students of Premium and Elite plans we issue a certificate. The certificate could be used as a proof of your qualification's upgrade at work (if it is related to arts) and for your private affairs as a recognition of your mastery in painting.
You have no risks – we support you!
No risk for you*
In case after 1–2 lessons of the fine art atelier you realize that it is not for you, YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY BACK!
*within 14 days after payment
Freeze
Only for Premium plan – If the start date is not convenient, we freeze the fine art atelier
(1 time free of charge)
Freedom & Mobility
Make your own schedule and go through the lessons at a comfortable pace – whenever and wherever you like
About the art atelier
Over 16 hours of comprehensive instruction across 3 complete paintings – urban scenes from Prague and Spain, plus an expressive tree study – with numerous bonus demonstrations on figures, value studies, and texture techniques.
Over 16 hours of comprehensive instruction across 3 complete paintings – urban scenes from Prague and Spain, plus an expressive tree study – with numerous bonus demonstrations on figures, value studies, and texture techniques
Recorded live workshop format: watch David respond to real student questions, make corrections in real-time, and explain the "why" behind every decision – like being in the room with a master teacher.
A repeatable, methodical system: light to dark, loose to tight, connected to separated. Learn ONE process that works for cityscapes, figures, organic shapes – any subject you choose to paint next.
A repeatable, methodical system: light to dark, loose to tight, connected to separated. Learn ONE process that works for cityscapes, figures, organic shapes – any subject you choose to paint next.
This atelier is a complete solution to the struggles that have held you back, giving you the clarity and confidence to create art you’ll be proud of.
Join David and take the next step in your watercolor journey!
«These video lessons aren’t just ‘paint-along'. It’s 16 hours of raw footage from live Zoom classes. You’ll hear real student questions, see mistakes, and learn how to fix them... It’s like being in a real workshop»
David R. Smith
This Fine Art Atelier is built on David R. Smith's decades of teaching experience – 25 years in public education plus international workshop instruction. Unlike quick tutorials, this course delivers 16 hours of in-depth, recorded live demonstrations where you'll witness real student questions, honest corrections, and the complete thinking process behind every brushstroke.
David teaches you to work WITHOUT masking fluid, using negative painting to preserve whites – it is a more advanced approach that gives you greater control and prepares you for any subject, any scene.
This is how students reviewed their learning experience with David R. Smith
Our happy students do...
How is your learning process organized?
BEFORE LEARNING
Full fine art atelier program
List of fine art atelier materials
Friendly community of beginner and professional artists
AT LEARNING
Recorded video lessons in full HD
Watch lessons at your own pace
Closed students' chat
Feedback from professional curator
AFTER LEARNING
Certificate of completion
Own portfolio
Skills and knowledge practiced
Part of our art community
Internal exhibitions
Frequently asked questions
Contact us
For customer care:
info@artefactoschool.online
For collaborations:
miroslava.artefacto@gmail.com
Contact the founder:
miroslava.artefacto@gmail.com
Our working hours:
Monday — Friday
7 am — 6 pm Central European Time (CET)
Artefacto Learning Platform Limited