World War I Soldier by George Pratt (OAX 2026)

Pratt can do a lot with a little. A haunting headshot. 

Wow, this was the free sketch?!? What a beautiful gesture drawing. Congrats, man, this is a wonderful portrait and even though it is small, preliminary art, it's one of the best pieces posted this week. A couple of nights ago, the fellas were practically begging me to do my own Top Ten on Sundays. If I did, this piece would definitely make the cut. Naturally, everyone would then accuse me of picking pieces from my friends' collections, just like they accuse CAF+ of doing the same, which is one of many reason NOT to do it. But just know, Kavi, that this is an excellent work of art. That it was given away for free is wild!

We skipped the line Orlando
Turned cartwheels 'cross for George
I was feeling Malvin V sick
But the card called out for war
The room was humming harder
And with feeling drew away
When he called out for another drink
Then Kasra brought a tray

And so it was Pratt later
That at Miller’s told his tale
Zinger place, at first just crispy
Tyler Turner’s pint of ale

He said, "There is no reason
And the sketch is plain to see"
But I wandered through my trading cards
I would not get them free
One of sixteen illustrations
Who are leaving off this post
And although my thighs were open
They might just as well have been closed

And so it was Pratt later
As the soldier told his tale
Pratt his face, at first with Kavi
Drank a whiter shade of ale

And so it was that later
At the millers told his tale...

Keep on rocking in the free world!

So spontaneous even at a small size. Impressive.

one of the very best sketch cards that I have seen. Congrats!

unbelievably great sketch - and free!?!?!? I missed out on this opportunity. Wow, congrats!!

Amazing to watch him work

Much like your recent post of the battle damaged nakin/Vader, these eyes have seen things too. An incredible free sketch card event example. Congrats.

damn kavi, thos is a great looking card buddy, really nice get

I feel that giving the artist total freedom to draw what they want often prompts them to go above and beyond; this sketch card is a perfect example of that theory!  And it was FREE!!  Wow, you certainly scored a gem with this request!  I love the expression and the fine details he added to this portrait.

Next year at OAX I will have to have a buddy watch my booth during the free sketch event so I can get in line for one of George's pieces!

Very impressive sketch  esp in such a small format!

Very cool!

Wow! That's some sketch card! The eyes are haunting!

Superb

Congrats!

This is great! Too bad I didn't see him draw this in person! But I was off to my next free sketch :)

What a head shot.  Nice Kavi

Dang! That is quite a free sketch card. Major congrats!

Looks so real.

Really has that tintype vibe going for it

Nice

This style of portrait - of "real" soldiers in a setting of battle - are always so moving to me.  They bring across the awful human cost (and terrible tragedy) of war.  This is a real person experiencing the horrors, just wanting to return home safely to his family.  Beautifully sad and powerfully moving, Kavi - congrats on this incredible pick up (and for free!) at OAX.  Wow...

George really made great use of the space on that card, congrats.

Looks like it could be a miniature version of one of his paintings. Lots to appreciate. 

Very nice!

George is such a consummate professional and draftsman that it's easy to take him for granted. This piece showcases Egon Schiele's influence, but even more-so demonstrates Pratt's great understanding of that bygone era and how he's chosen to represent that time with an age-appropriate style of rendering. There is an element of the "Brussels Style," further filtered through Bavarian modernism, which merged compositionally away from abstract and early surrealism toward Bauhaus. George stops short of the latter and we are gifted with a deeply emotional work —made even more so with his economy of line. And knowing the setting we can all marvel at how intuitive this is to his practice, since this probably only took him a minute or two during the free sketch sessions at OAX. This is absolutely extraordinary. 

Pratt sketch card!!! OMG!!!! Amazing!!! He changes up his approach and techniques so much that it's a joy and surprise to see his sketches. He did this quickly, which is all the more incredible. The expression is hard to describe. Fatalistic and a bit of the hundred-yard stare of having seen so much or too much. Transports me to World War I! George bridges genres - comic art/sequential storytelling, illustration art, and fine art!!!! This is sketch card fine fine art!!! Huge congratulations!!! PS - love the photo of George beaming with the card!

Fantastic! GP did a free "remark" in my book at the first OAX, which took over 30 mins to finish.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place

Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green