plate no. 3813

Uomo che mangia gli spaghetti

Renato Guttuso, 1956

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigureportraitfoodspaghettitablemeal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, understanding light and shadow, and creating expressive brushstrokes to convey form and texture. It also encourages simplification of complex forms into geometric shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, table, and spaghetti.
step 02
Block in the large shapes with simplified colors, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 03
Define the light and shadow areas using darker and lighter tones of your base colors.
step 04
Start adding more detail to the face, hands, and spaghetti, using short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, focusing on creating a sense of depth and dimension.
step 06
Add highlights and details to the spaghetti to make it look more realistic.
step 07
Adjust the background to create contrast and focus attention on the figure.
step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · titanium white

Mix browns and grays by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix red and yellow to create the orange tones in the figure's jacket.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·alla prima
·color blocking
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, which can result in a muddy appearance.
→Getting bogged down in detail too early in the process.
→Ignoring the overall value structure and focusing only on color.
→Not simplifying the forms enough, which can make the painting look cluttered.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, viridian green, titanium white)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags