plate no. 7460

Contadini al lavoro

Renato Guttuso, 1950

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigureslandscapefarmerstoolscartplants

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey movement and energy. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve earthy tones and depicting figures in action.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, cart, and landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, mountains, ground, figures, and plants using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the colors in layers, adding more detail and definition to the figures and plants.
step 04
Use thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes to create texture and emphasize the movement of the figures.
step 05
Define the light and shadow areas to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Add details to the cart and tools, paying attention to their shapes and textures.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figures and plants to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · sap green

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Mix small amounts of cadmium red light to warm up the browns.

techniques