The Inner Life of the Artist

From bestselling author Juliette Aristides comes an inspirational guide to thinking, making, and embodying the mind of a creative person

The third Monacelli Studio title from Juliette Aristides, The Inner Life of the Artist contains a series of short, insightful essays and significant, meaningful quotes by contemporary and historical artists, each accompanied by a moving and inspiring selection of nearly 100 artworks from the past and present. For those interested in drawing, painting, and other art forms, important principles of Atelier teaching (classical and traditional art training and instruction) and fun practical exercises are applied throughout, with an emphasis on cultivating the artistic mind, along with the hand and the eye. Presented in a visually arresting compact package and wrapped in a cerulean cloth case, this is the perfect book to inspire creative thinkers.

Review

‘Aristides’ whimsical meditations on beauty and inspiration... read as both effortless and deeply cerebral... This concise text is packed with useful information, and it is an immensely enjoyable read. Visually, the publication’s presentation is a delight, with glorious and unexpected illustrations.’ – Daily Art Magazine

‘This book focuses... on how to cultivate a creative mindset. The author aims to unravel the thoughts of artists via a series of short essays and impactful quotes by contemporary and historical practitioners, as well as a selection of nearly 100 artworks.’ – Cultured Magazine

‘Juliette Aristides’s The Inner Life of the Artist beautifully grasps just that: it plumbs the inner processes by which artists create their distinctive works. In a world dominated by instant images and counterfeit experiences, Aristides proposes a slowed-down, authentic, and inspiring process by which we can see more deeply not only into art and artmaking but into the selves that, at still moments, in painstaking increments, can expand the still and visionary selves that are the profound origin of art.’ – Paul Fisher, author of The Grand Affair: John Singer Sargent in His World (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2022)

‘In The Inner Life of the Artist, Juliette Aristides shares her many years of experience and wisdom from the fine art world. Creating a work of art takes place in the mind and the body, and Juliette reminds us that we need not just the physical skills to make the work but the mindset and knowledge to accompany it. . . the book itself is a source of visual and mental inspiration.’ – Vanessa Rothe, Contributing Editor for American Art Collector and American Arts Magazine

‘The latest in a series of books by Juliette Aristides, 'The Inner Life of the Artist ' is a new departure. Like her other books relating to atelier practice, this is a very handsome volume, richly illustrated and expertly bound. Where earlier books deal principally with studio technique - observation, composition, execution - her most recent reads like a collection of meditations, ‘conversations from the atelier’ as she titles it. How to cultivate an artistic mindset? How do art and making art affect the mind, body, and spirit? How can we tap into our inner lives to better communicate the things in our world that move us in a way that will be revealing to others and to ourselves? These are some of the philosophical musings that make this book an essential reference in the library of every student of art and beauty.’ – Romas Viesulas, Art & Architecture Editor, Five Books

‘Juliette Aristides offers us a rare gift ― an extraordinarily wide-ranging meditation on art and artistry, and also on how anyone might live life to its fullest. The structure of her case is clear, and her points are made convincingly through words, images, and even handy exercises, yet our overall impression is the joy of taking a leisurely stroll with a trusted friend. Aristides wears her profound insights lightly, calling upon an intriguing mix of creative people – from the past and the present – to help illuminate the path. Would that all great artists could articulate their ideas so deftly.’ – Peter Trippi, Editor in Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine

About the Author

Juliette Aristides is a Seattle-based painter who seeks to understand and convey the human spirit through art. Aristides is the founder of the Atelier programs at the Gage Academy of Fine Art in Seattle. She teaches workshops as well as exhibiting nationally and internationally. Aristides is the bestselling author of Beginning Drawing Atelier (2019) and Figure Drawing Atelier (2019), both published by Monacelli Studio, amongst other highly regarded Atelier art instruction books.