plate no. 6359

The Cafe

Alberto Magnelli, 1914

oilCubismgenre paintingcafefigurestableumbrellachairstill life

some experience helpful

This painting helps students understand abstracting forms and using a limited palette to create a cohesive composition. It also provides practice in creating flat planes of color and defining shapes with hard edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the scene, focusing on the geometric forms.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background.
step 03
Define the shapes of the figures and objects with flat, even layers of paint.
step 04
Mix and apply the secondary colors, paying attention to their placement and relationship to the primary colors.
step 05
Add the details, such as the bottle and glasses, using a smaller brush.
step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes to create crisp, clean lines.
step 07
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.
step 08
Make any necessary adjustments to the colors or shapes.

color palette

primary · red · yellow · blue · purple

secondary · green · orange · black · white

Mix secondary colors by combining primary colors. Use white to lighten colors and black to darken them. Achieve the various shades of purple by adjusting the ratio of red and blue.

techniques