plate no. 0421

Portrait of Margaret the Lady Thatcher

Nelson Shanks, 1999

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfigureclothingjewelrychairbackground

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex fabrics and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values with thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, gradually adding detail and depth.
step 04
Focus on the face, carefully building up layers of color to achieve realistic skin tones and features.
step 05
Render the clothing, paying attention to the folds, textures, and highlights.
step 06
Add the jewelry and other accessories, capturing their intricate details.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final touches.
step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red · viridian green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or green. Create the green fabric by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and burnt umber for darker shades.

techniques