Terracotta Reviews 3

The Aristides Atelier at Terracotta is a highly progressive and well-run program designed to support artists who cannot attend ateliers in person and for anybody who wants additional structure/lectures/learning. The course ARC approved, it is thoughtfully structured, and the curriculum is carefully designed. I have witnessed significant progress among the students in my year group (I am now in Year 2 and will be attending Year 3 to continue my studies). The extent of progress depends on how much time a student dedicates outside of class, but the nature of the instruction virtually guarantees substantial improvement.

This exceptional program benefits from world-class instructors, high-quality instructional videos, live lectures, external talks, and curated readings — all of which form a cohesive, highly structured learning experience. Each instructor is a leader in their field and generously shares their expertise.

In my opinion, the course requires some prior drawing experience, and some painting experience is preferable. If you are planning on taking this course, get down to work immediately, so as to best prepare yourself. I suggest copying some Bargue plates and any casts from life. Classical drawing and painting are complex disciplines, and getting better at them demands dedication, courage, and resilience.

Another wonderful aspect of this online experience is the opportunity to meet and become friends with other students across the world. My year group has a thread where we can ask questions at any time, share progress, discuss difficulties, celebrate successes, provide informal feedback, and offer motivation and support. This was an unexpected benefit that I had not anticipated before starting.

While it is online and some things do not fully replicate in-person ateliers — for example, seeing a master’s hand correct your work — instructors can thoroughly analyse and critique submissions. The instructor videos and live demonstrations can also be watched repeatedly, which is an advantage in-person ateliers do not provide. I have felt genuinely supported since the beginning and have grown significantly in both skill and knowledge.

Overall, the Aristides Atelier provides an exceptional, immersive learning experience that equips students with the skills, guidance, and confidence to grow as artists. I would highly recommend it to anyone serious about advancing their classical drawing and painting practice.

We will not come here ever because of the prives and service

Please think thrice before you sign up for the online Aristides Atelier offered by Terracotta.Art. Should you part with the $7,250 fee required to attend, you will find yourself on a 'survey' course that pays little regard to the traditional, time-honoured teaching available in a true atelier. I unwittingly signed up in Sept 2023 and was bitterly disappointed by the content of the course or lack thereof. Do your due diligence as this course is not for everyone and once you hand over your money, you will never get it back instead expect to be told, like I was, to seek teaching that suits you elsewhere and you are not going to get a single cent of your money back.

If you are a complete beginner expecting to receive a solid foundation in your art education with initial focus given to training the eye and accurate drawing in accordance with the atelier tradition where individual projects should be assigned according to your ability guided by a teacher who should help you reach a certain level of proficiency before you progress to the next stage, you won't find it here. This is a whirlwind tour of what you should know, where the standard of your work is irrelevant even if it is so bad that it "makes people's eyes water".

You will not be required to demonstrate a thorough understanding of what you have been taught, as the teaching style is based on a one-size-fits-all approach with everyone assigned the same projects to be completed within the same time period and if you start to struggle as several students in my class did then too bad because it is on to the next project. Please also note that this atelier is not ARC Approved???

Ask for a detailed breakdown of what is going to be studied at each level and how it will be delivered. Do not assume ANYTHING with regard to the content of the course based on the work, books or reputation of Juliette Aristides as an artist. Ask even the most obvious, basic questions to make sure this course is right for you BEFORE you part with your hard-earned cash. The best you can hope to receive if you do make an official complaint, as I did, is a smug, condescending email from Jacob Davies (who is supposed to be in-charge) expressing his concern over you asking for your fees back. Do not expect him to address any of the issues you may raise as the one and only concern from his perspective is your money.

Do not fall for the slick website marketing or the gallery paintings of artists with years of experience behind them. Research the bios of the instructors, contact them and find out whether they had the type of training being offered here that equipped them with skills they used to create the paintings that adorn the website now being used to lure you in.

Ask to look at the portfolios of the first year students who entered the atelier with little to no prior drawing experience not just those who have years of experience in art or architecture prior to enrolment. Only then will you be able to make a well-informed decision as to whether this is the right course for you. Ask to sit in on a class or see a class recording so you can judge the quality of what you are being asked to pay thousands of dollars for and judge for yourself whether it is worth it.

Check out Myron Barnstone's Drawing course at The Barnstone Studios (google it). The drawing part of Juliette Aristides atelier course is heavily influenced by his teachings and he does a far superior job at imparting his knowledge than anything I witnessed at the Aristides Atelier. His courses are also available at a fraction of the cost that you are being asked to pay at Terracotta and they are a treat to watch for any student hungry for knowledge.

Mine is a cautionary tale and if I save even one person from repeating my mistake and signing up to this misrepresented course under the assumption that it will deliver a high standard of foundational art education designed to equip its students with practical drawing skills but will instead leave you feeling severely short-changed, disappointed and patronized, then job done.

There is far better out there at a fraction of Terracotta's extortionate fees. If you are a prospective student you can read the details of my time at the Aristides Atelier on Terracotta.Art's Facebook review page. A five minute read could save you from making a $7,250 mistake. Caveat emptor!!!