plate no. 0935

Portrait of Rachel Westropp

Stanley Spencer, 1959

oilNeo-Romanticismportraitportraitfigurebuildinglandscapeskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as landscape painting techniques for creating depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes of the figure, building, and landscape.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the skin, clothing, background, and sky.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to proportions and subtle value changes.
step 04
Develop the background elements, adding details to the building, trees, and sky.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and jewelry, capturing the texture and highlights.
step 06
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to create depth and realism.
step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · viridian · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Create atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors in the background.

techniques