plate no. 1384

Portrait of Julian Ashton

George Washington Lambert, 1928

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguretablestill lifefabricinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering textures and creating depth through layering and glazing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and objects.
step 02
Establish the background colors and values, blocking in the red and blue fabrics.
step 03
Begin to build up the form of the figure, starting with the overall shapes and gradually adding details.
step 04
Mix and apply skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Paint the still life elements on the table, paying attention to the textures and reflections.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism and depth.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of red and yellow. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create neutral grays for shadows.

techniques