plate no. 8106
Cafe in Paris
Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, 1908
some experience helpful
This painting is a good exercise in capturing a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes and simplified forms. Recreating it will help students understand how to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the table and figures.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color using thin washes, starting with the background and then the table.
- step 03
Begin adding thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes to the figures and foreground elements.
- step 04
Use a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest, such as short, choppy strokes for the figures and longer strokes for the background.
- step 05
Pay attention to the light and shadow, and use contrasting values to create depth and form.
- step 06
Add details such as the bottle and glasses on the table, but keep them loose and impressionistic.
- step 07
Refine the colors and values, making sure the overall painting has a harmonious feel.
- step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any final adjustments as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange · sap green
Mix browns and grays by combining umber, blue, and white. Use yellow ochre and white for the table cloth. Orange can be achieved by mixing red and yellow.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting bogged down in details and losing the overall impression.
- →Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create subtle variations.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for good paint adhesion. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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