---
product_id: 2091874
title: "Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier"
price: "R797"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2091874-lessons-in-classical-drawing-essential-techniques-from-inside-the-atelier
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier

**Price:** R797
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- **What is this?** Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier
- **How much does it cost?** R797 with free shipping
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## Description

Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier [Aristides, Juliette] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier

Review: Great book for a beginner - Aristides goes chapter-by-chapter through every stage of the drawing process from planning and measuring to blocking the major shapes to final touches. Many beautiful illustrations help to get through the slower parts. The thorough instructions, explanations, and technical tips are the reason I would recommend this book to a beginner (like myself). The book uses art historical references and classical design principles to demonstrate how and why the works of great masters have survived many changes of taste and remained relevant. The book contains a lot of practical information about drawing supplies and techniques; very clear explanations of sight-size method, measuring (with a knitting needle or a piece of paper), identifying main lines and angles in the drawing, using plumb line to establish a vertical, and so forth. The book is printed on glossy paper with high-quality illustrations. There's also a DVD with drawing lessons. This is third Aristides book I bought, in part because reading her books is like talking to a like-minded person.
Review: There’s a reason this book and its partner are so highly reviewed! - Together with her book on Classical Painting, Ms. Aristides’ books revolutionized my approach to doing artwork. I started as an almost complete beginner with no formal training. Reading and practicing gave me the skills and techniques to progress very quickly. I had been trying to learn drawing for several years, using a variety of teaching sources (including a good course by The Great Courses). However, I hadn’t come across such a succinct and useful source until I started these books. See my attached photos an example of how I progressed since starting the books. The books are extremely well written - witty, in-depth, personable, and thorough, with excellent examples throughout. There is also a fair bit of what I’d call philosophical writing about creating artwork, which helps to connect technique to the wider questions of making art. Ms. Aristides also discusses a lot of common problems and challenges that beginning artists encounter, and her ideas are very helpful. There’s a reason this book and Lessons in Classical Painting: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier are so highly reviewed!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #80,534 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #23 in Pastel Drawing #109 in Pencil Drawing #115 in Figure Drawing Guides |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (773) |
| Dimensions  | 7.75 x 0.82 x 10.29 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 082300659X |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0823006595 |
| Item Weight  | 1.96 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 208 pages |
| Publication date  | November 15, 2011 |
| Publisher  | Watson-Guptill |

## Images

![Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81DlN9nQ4QL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book for a beginner
*by N***A on March 6, 2012*

Aristides goes chapter-by-chapter through every stage of the drawing process from planning and measuring to blocking the major shapes to final touches. Many beautiful illustrations help to get through the slower parts. The thorough instructions, explanations, and technical tips are the reason I would recommend this book to a beginner (like myself). The book uses art historical references and classical design principles to demonstrate how and why the works of great masters have survived many changes of taste and remained relevant. The book contains a lot of practical information about drawing supplies and techniques; very clear explanations of sight-size method, measuring (with a knitting needle or a piece of paper), identifying main lines and angles in the drawing, using plumb line to establish a vertical, and so forth. The book is printed on glossy paper with high-quality illustrations. There's also a DVD with drawing lessons. This is third Aristides book I bought, in part because reading her books is like talking to a like-minded person.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ There’s a reason this book and its partner are so highly reviewed!
*by D***E on October 12, 2017*

Together with her book on Classical Painting, Ms. Aristides’ books revolutionized my approach to doing artwork. I started as an almost complete beginner with no formal training. Reading and practicing gave me the skills and techniques to progress very quickly. I had been trying to learn drawing for several years, using a variety of teaching sources (including a good course by The Great Courses). However, I hadn’t come across such a succinct and useful source until I started these books. See my attached photos an example of how I progressed since starting the books. The books are extremely well written - witty, in-depth, personable, and thorough, with excellent examples throughout. There is also a fair bit of what I’d call philosophical writing about creating artwork, which helps to connect technique to the wider questions of making art. Ms. Aristides also discusses a lot of common problems and challenges that beginning artists encounter, and her ideas are very helpful. There’s a reason this book and Lessons in Classical Painting: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier are so highly reviewed!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Juliette Aristides best effort yet.
*by R***R on March 20, 2012*

I have two previous books by Juliette Aristides - both are overviews of painting and drawing (no easy task) this book focuses a little more on technique and specific exercises. The highlights: a. beautiful reproductions and well chosen examples of master drawings both from old masters and contemporary artists. b. insightful commentary. Although this is about technique - Aristides never loses sight of the 'big picture' (which by the way is an essential technique!) c. More in-depth surveys' of drawing techniques including master copying, rythmn and line. There is no substitute for an atelier and working with a master, but this book is as close as it comes. In her book "the creative habit" Twyla Tharp recounts a story of a master ballerina coming to a basic dance class and going through the 'basics' at the barre. She goes on to say that masters always practice and never lose site of the fundamentals. For that reason alone all artists, beginners and especially advanced artists, should have this on their bookshelves. There are a LOT of drawing books out there, but this is one of the best published in recent years.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier
- Lessons in Classical Painting: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier
- Beginning Drawing Atelier: An Instructional Sketchbook

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-03-16*