Drawing Athens Acropolis Sketches

2-3 Minute Read

Drawing Athens Acropolis Sketches. Earlier this year, I travelled to Athens with my mum and dad, aged 75 and 71. We took it slow, focusing on key historic sites, giving me time to draw while also enjoying the city as a family. My sketchbook came with me everywhere, a Moleskine, filled with black ink drawings, quick lines, and on-the-spot studies.

At the Acropolis, I chose to sketch the rear view of the Parthenon. Most people focus on the front when walking up the main steps, but I was drawn to the back partly because of the angle and partly because it felt slightly more open, even though it was still busy. I sat on a low wall and started to sketch. The broken columns, scaffolding, and perspective lines were challenging in the heat, but it felt important to capture the structure as it is now imperfect, weathered, and still imposing.

Nearby, the Erechtheion with its Caryatid figures was another highlight. The sculpted women who support the porch are both decorative and architectural, and I focused on their form, posture, and drapery. I kept the lines loose and observational, trying not to overwork the page.

My mum, unplanned, took on the role of art director, quietly watching, offering gentle suggestions and encouragement while I drew. My dad photographed moments along the way, including a few candid shots of me sketching. There’s one of me leaning into the page, sitting against a stone wall, with the Acropolis behind me, one of my favourites from the trip.

We also stopped by the Panathenaic Stadium, where I made a few quick studies of the seating and curve of the track. I didn’t get the chance to complete a full drawing there, but even quick sketches helped me record the feel of the place.

These drawings are part of an ongoing series where I document places through travel sketches. Athens felt rich with texture, both visual and historical and having the chance to draw on-site added another layer to the experience.

I’ll be sharing a few of these pages, along with behind-the-scenes photos from the trip, including some of the sketching process and family moments, on Instagram soon.