There is an old adage that says those who cannot do, teach. Well, San Diego-based illustrator and artist Christopher Paluso is debunking that myth along with another saying: Those who (think they) cannot draw, can.
Beginning next month, Paluso will be teaching “Drawing Italian Style,” an eight-week art class based on the influences of the masters of the Italian Renaissance. Originally scheduled to begin this month, the course has been postponed for another month to allow more people to enroll. It begins with an information session and free introductory class on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Convivio Center in Little Italy. The weekly two-hour sessions are currently scheduled for Monday evenings.
To reassure any prospective students who believes his or her artistic abilities begin and end with stick figures, Paluso says, “Give me five minutes. I use a method that is very friendly and comforting. I let everybody understand that if you can manipulate your elbow, your shoulder, your arm and your wrist to draw a circle, an oval, a triangle…You can draw anything.”
Paluso exemplified this method during his phone interview with me by asking me to direct my attention to any lamp in my immediate area. He then instructed me to break it down into simple shapes. Instead of a lamp, it became a cylinder with a round lampshade that flared out at the bottom.
Breaking an object down into simple shapes allows a student to draw the basic outline and then “go back in and focus on the details,” Paluso says, allowing anyone to draw successfully.
“We’re gonna go look at what was going on during what I consider one of the best periods of art,” he says. “The Italian Renaissance, when they went from looking at things in two-dimensional form to a three-dimensional space.”
Paluso explains that this course will be “a lot easier and less intimidating” than taking a standard painting or art class by introducing “bits of the Italian Renaissance history of art and how they did their drawings” as studies for students to do their own artwork.
This course, which Paluso says will continue throughout the year, opening up into different aspects of art and “always bringing that Italian influence into it,” is part of a series of workshops and courses to be hosted by the Convivio Center in 2014, including Italian language, bocce ball and dance courses.
According to Convivio’s website, one of the organization’s goals is to “advance Italian arts and culture, preserve the Italian historical narrative of San Diego, promote Italian Studies, and increase multicultural awareness and understanding—creating a multifaceted academic and social environment.” These courses are the next step towards achieving that goal.
While the organization itself was founded in 2003, the center opened its doors last April after major renovations.
“The Convivio Center was part of a larger dream to offer a common space for different groups who operate largely independently,” Tom Cesarini, owner and founder of Convivio, says.
“Our center is so eclectic,” Cesarini continues. “And we’re offering something for everybody. I really strive to cultivate that kind of environment. We also want to involve the community and get their thoughts on what to offer.”
More information on “Drawing Italian Style” and other courses can be found at Convivio’s website, www.conviviosociety.org.
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