The Inner Life of the Artist

‘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