plate no. 4997

Fellow Soldier

Walter Gramatté, 1917

oil, cardboardExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghandsmustache

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and creating depth with layering and visible brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing a likeness and conveying emotion through expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, hands, and torso.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a mix of blues, browns, and blacks, leaving some areas lighter for highlights.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a base layer of warm browns and yellows.
step 04
Add highlights and shadows to the face, using reds, oranges, and darker browns to define the features.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the dark suit and the white collar, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Develop the hands, paying attention to the overlapping fingers and the subtle color variations.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, mustache, and beard.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the entire painting, ensuring a cohesive and expressive result.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · raw sienna

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. Achieve skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques