Along with specific, taught classes, there are three uninstructed classes weekly where students can spend time practicing their craft while classical music plays in the background. A variety of courses begin with 20 to 40-minute teacher demonstrations after which the students begin working on their own. Class sizes range from five to twelve students, allowing the teacher to spend time with each student. The students are largely self-motivated and at CAI, they don’t worry about competition. Here, they only draw for themselves. CAI instructors follow the philosophy that art is a skill to be learned rather than a talent one is born with, that anyone can be taught to draw. “We teach students tonal drawing, which is the basic technique and approach to art,” said former student and current instructor, George Paliotto. “75% of all art comes from what is learned in drawing, after which it is easy to transition to other art forms.” The great emphasis on, first, learning how to draw is what sets CAI apart from other institutions. Though the original teachings of Fixler remain, the teachers use their own individual approaches to teaching. For example, painting and drawing specialist, Johanna Spinks, a former student and teacher of five years, believes that “one should paint in one’s own time period, reflecting the world as we see it today. Borrow from the past, but don’t try to repeat it.” CAI students, from all different backgrounds and professions, get the chance to express themselves and explore their artistic passion. From passion to pencil, at the California Art Institute, everyone is an artist.
Owner Buddy Shulman poses with a past student’s sculpture.
Teacher Johanna Spinks poses with her portraits and fine art drawings that are displayed in the California Art Institute gallery.
Students in the 10:00 a.m. head figure drawing and painting class with teacher Mark Schwartz.
25 SEPT/OCT2012 I WESTLAKE MAGAZINE