Lessons in Classical Painting

A companion volume to Lessons in Classical Drawing and an atelier in book form, Lessons in Classical Painting breaks down the foundational skills and techniques of painting in a format that is accessible and manageable for all readers.

With the same direct, easy-to-follow approach of Juliette Aristides's previous books, Lessons in Classical Painting presents aspiring artists with the fundamental skills and tools needed to master painting in the atelier style. With more than 25 years of experience in ateliers and as an art instructor, Aristides pairs personal examples and insights with theory, assignments and demonstrations for readers, discussions of technical issues, and inspirational quotes. After taking a bird's eye look at painting as a whole, Aristides breaks down painting into big picture topics like grisaille, temperature, and color, demonstrating how these key subjects can be applied by all painters.

JULIETTE ARISTIDES is the director of the Aristides Classical Atelier at the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, Washington. She is the co-founder of the DaVinci Initiative, which works to bring skill-based art instruction into public education. Aristides exhibits in solo and group shows nationally. Her work can be seen at the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco and the Art Renewal Center Living Masters Gallery online. Visit her website at AristidesArts.com.

1 Prologue
7 Introduction

13 CHAPTER 1 Value Pattern: An Arrangement in Gray

13 Finding Formal Shapes
17 The Poetry of Painting
20 Creating Value Shapes
22 Value Composition
24 Monochrome Painting
25 The Importance of Poster Studies
31 Lesson 1: Value Poster Study
41 Lesson 2: Creating a Tonal Underpainting
46 On Seeing

51 CHAPTER 2 Form Painting: The Sensesof Touch and Sight Combined

53 General to Specific
56 Basic Shapes
58 Using Geometric Solids to Understand Form
60 Lighting Your Subjects
76 On Highlights by Alan Carroll
78 Edges
80 Manipulating Edges with Intention
85 Lesson 3: Value Sphere Painting
90 Painting a Cast
95 Lesson 4: Form Painting

101 CHAPTER 3 Temperature: Unlocking the Secrets of Color

104 An Introduction to Warm and Cool
112 Understanding Temperature Relationships
115 The Illusion of Color with Warm and Cool
116  Lighting Your Still Life
118 Warm and Cool Color Chart
123 Lesson 5: Warm and Cool Painting
128 Painting from Life
131 Artists and Their Palettes through the Ages
142 Adopting a Limited Palette
144 Extending the Palette
146 Adopting an Extended Palette
151 Lesson 6: Limited Palette Portrait Painting
159 Lesson 7: Mastering Trompe L’Oeil
164 The Importance of Making Master Copies
169 Lesson 8: Master Copy

175 CHAPTER 4 Color: The Palette of Nature

178 Making Sense of Paint Names
181 The Four Questions about Color
186 The Color Wheel
190 Color Mixing
192 Balancing the Palette
194 Creating the Color Wheel
196 Neutralizing Color
198 Moving Inside the Color Wheel
200 The Challenge of Tints and Shades
200 Color Strings
202 Application of the Color Wheel
207 Lesson 9: Painting a Full-Chroma Object
213 Lesson 10: Floral Painting with a Color Wash Underpainting
221 Lesson 11: Figure Painting from Life