Stanley Spencer Self-portraits

You can see the same sort of shape-finding that we discuss in class at work in Spencer's paintings. Granted his shapes are smaller than the ones we focus on in class, but look at how the figures are broken into large-ish shapes which are then further divided into medium and small shapes. Look at the detail (as in zoomed-in-view) of the second painting below.


SHAPES! Look at how the paint is applied: the marks are boldly asserted as shapes. The paint isn't fussy and overly blended or smeared. The marks are allowed to stand as marks, but because of careful value and temperature observation, as well as a very close scrutiny of the planes of the face and neck, the small shapes work together to create a convincing sense of volume.