plate no. 9377

A Sergeant of Light Horse in Palestine

George Washington Lambert, 1920

oilSymbolismportraitportraitfigureskymountainshatmilitary

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in landscape painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, hat, and background mountains.
step 02
Block in the basic colors of the sky, mountains, and figure using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Develop the details of the uniform and hat, including the texture of the feathers.
step 06
Refine the background mountains, using lighter colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Create atmospheric perspective in the mountains by mixing blue and white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna.

techniques