I Get Painted by One of UK's BEST Portrait Artists

For this portrait painting demonstration I do something I've never done before, I step onto the other side of the easel to have my portrait painted in oils by one of the UK's most well known Portrait Artists.
Andrew James a member of both The Royal Society of Portrait Painters and The New English Arts Club. Andrew talks about his Alla Prima portrait painting technique, how he achieves his expressive brushwork and his amazing use of colour.
To see more of Andrew's work visit:
andrewjamesartist.co.uk
/ andrewrpneac
For courses on the fundamentals of oil painting:
/ simplifydrawingandpain...
Alex Tzavaras is a contemporary realist artist offering portrait painting and alla prima oil painting tutorials. Alex teaches the traditional painting techniques artists used to draw and paint from life up until the start of the 20th century.
To connect with Alex:
/ alex_tzavaras
alextzavaras.com

[@dystopiaproject]

"as a portrait I'm happy, as a painting, I'm happier". True master words. thank you Alex, amazing painting/interview

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@siddharthyadav9004]

inspirational work. Andrew's final remarks about precision and control were insightful

[@TheMediaMachine]

It has far more personality, character, and expression when he painted the portrait like that. Love the texture of brush strokes. Gives it life and vibrancy.

[@song4night]

this is a different level from 'portrait artist of the year'. A master at work.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I couldn't agree more!

[@Shamufrootyboots]

Alex should do more of these sittings. The thought process that goes into creating them is fascinating and an interesting counterpoint to his own creative philosophy

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I definitely plan to do more demos with artists on my channel, but I'm not going to get them all want to paint me.

[@peterkoval]

i'm taken by how kind and respectful he is about the whole process and subject relationship. great stuff. you can't have absolute precision and freedom...

[@markpullenfineart]

This gentleman is a master painter in that he realizes that there is a compromise in the process and a yielding, nothing forced, which is what comes through practice over years!

[@leolovetoparty]

I really enjoyed that, especially everything Andrew said from around 8:30 onwards - about what art and life is about. I also enjoyed hearing why he paints and what makes a successful painting, which he also touched on at the end. I've always felt that the value in a painting, esp in the age when we have photography, is in the capturing of the person's spirit. Something that I think you do well.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Leo!

[@williep1626]

This is exceptional. The world needs more of this right now.

[@Panama_lewis]

Beautiful. There was a moment there where I exclaimed out loud, “he got you”.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks! I could definitely recognise myself, though I reckon he definitely made me look younger.

[@gerrianderson6397]

Exactness and freedom do not coexist in the same painting so he is right, you must choose whether you are wanting exactness or freedom with likeness. Well done!

[@pauljames9711]

Thank you very much Alex for this useful and well set up video. I imagine a lot of people will find this capturing of portrait painting very helpful.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Paul! I'm glad you like it.

[@andrewjames3220]

I hope so too.

[@ianfanning8943]

With having no formal training only KZbin free videos it's a freedom and mastery of painting I can't understand but magnificent to watch.🎨👏

[@johngraham4053]

That was brilliant, superb and really enjoyed. Now I see how it’s done, you first make a mess then work your way out of it. Well that what it looked like. It’s also interesting to see how different artist go about painting. No real formula as such one can find their own way.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much John! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@lluhu]

what he says, the way he thinks and experiences painting is truly inspirational.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

It is! I'm gkad you think so.

[@paullee7320]

Thanks for creating and posting this video Alex. It's one of those video's I'll come back to again and again.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Paul! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@ricebug0]

Thank you two of masters!!

[@netseh5586]

Very interesting to see, thank you. Great initiative to do something like this

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@marinasimmons4908]

Awesome! I love the freedom of the brush strokes

[@mike7gerald]

We see Andrews' enjoyment of portrait painting by his attitude of using bold brush work.

[@peteradshead6566]

'wish I could paint like you two do.

[@subliminalart.1637]

Brilliant, I'm using Andrew's method, great results. 👍❤🇬🇧

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@StefanNuetzel]

Very striking painting. I love the loose but yet precise approach. Thanks for sharing.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Stefan!

[@J-lf6sf]

I thought it was a great painting by a great artist and, for me, freedom always comes before likeness - but hey the likeness was also great! Shame some people are negative about other people's work - I bet they have no idea what it takes to get to the level both of you have attained. Thanks so much for sharing - so generous of you both.

[@ccvinks3895]

Just fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing the experience with us.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@rinaldocolombi3900]

So good, Andy. Loose and so full of energy. Just sublime.

[@andrewjames3220]

@@rinaldocolombi3900 thank you Rin. That’s very generous of you.

[@StefanMarjoram]

Wonderful portrait and fascinating to hear Andrew's thoughts.

[@SallyMossArtist]

Ah this was fantastic thank you! Interesting, informative, insightful commentary too! Very helpful!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you sally! Glad it was helpful.

[@francesbartlett9564]

Great portrait and some good tips to apply when painting portraits, thank you!❤

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Frances, glad ut was helpful.

[@prairie.artist]

Thank you❤ so love your lesson.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it.

[@WOMENOFTROY]

Wow I’m so glad I saw this. What a beautiful painter.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much!

[@ragodesign]

So good!

[@zemiFTW]

Amazing!

[@pagancrew]

I always appreciate your timelapses of how you approach a painting, and it was such a treat to get the same great footage of a different artist. Thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it. I plan to feature more painters.

[@andyquinn1125]

Excellent Alex. And thank you Andrew.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Andy! Glad you liked it.

[@christinecortese5477]

Loved this

[@tyroneperry5008]

You both are very skilled and Im learning a lot.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Tyrone!

[@Handotr]

I always look forward to your videos. This video was an absolute treat. I loved his style. I’ll watch it again but slowed down. Thanks

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad you like it.

[@aidamarkiw]

Fantastic !

[@goaldeninturnet684]

First of all: what an amazing portrait and painting too! And Alex, thank you so much for the video. I enjoyed every second, it was incredibly inspiring. I brought my pochade box with me on vacation. I definitely want to do a portrait of my partner

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Well done! Good luck with it.

[@juliemitchell6284]

Loved this video, such talented and inspirational artists

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Julie! Glad you liked it.

[@adm58]

Thank you both for sharing this. Very inspirational. I have Andrew's book; I recommend it.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@59jaguar]

Good video . Iam in the midst of trying to paint portraits from small old photos and it’s just pure madness trying to blow them up larger and to capture a likeness in oil paint. No wonder why artists go mad. Lol

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I always find working larger more difficult as there is much more room for error.

[@ricardoh6607]

Thanks so much Alex!!! Beautiful and useful. Greetings from Valparaiso, Chile.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Ricardo, glad it was helpful!

[@calligrakphyart]

Somewhere between absolute precision and freedom, you have to compile the information and choose where you want to go in that spectrum - Beautiful words. I guess it also depends on the audience, if your audience values likeness more than painting, well you know you wouldn't hit the mark there.

[@Joekatbetances]

Absolutely love it very good work

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Joe!

[@barryryan5187]

OG painter, all observation and no hype

[@stasmuhin4908]

great!

[@Lydomina]

His sketching style seems really unique. I love the muscularity he added to your face. Very masculine.

[@communityinitiativefordeve9093]

This video was really helpful to me. I wished all the colours used are listed as it's always been the colours that helps a good painting.

[@andrewjames3220]

Titanium white Lemon yellow Cadmium red Magenta Ultramarine Raw umber Yellow ochre Regards Andy J

[@nickrodis6862]

Salamat po

[@zylcjusz2344]

I quite like the style which reminds L. Freud and maybe some line execution of F. Auerbach - but I did not quite like that from half length of the nose down to the chin the face/skull got elongated and because the different angle of the nose which should turn left along with the rest of the face it changed the whole. The forehead and the eyes much more resemble Alex features. But as it was said artists often add something from their own look - so perhaps that's the case. The Question remains to what extent so called free treatment justifies changing main proportions of the painted person's face?

[@J-lf6sf]

I have to add another comment. Those who quibble that the likeness isn't good enough should realise that when we're all dead no-one will know how good or not the likeness is, but if it's a great painting it will always be a great painting.

[@andrewjames3220]

As the maker of the portrait in question I want to thank you for your amazingly considerate and generous comments, I do appreciate them enormously. My goal was always to engage in the proper spirit of painting - unfinished as the work was - and not to simply protect myself, thereby serving up to the world yet another soulless, over managed work. Many thanks again. Andy

[@shuvoDhar.5537]

❤❤❤❤

[@minalim6999]

In this painting, the proportions of the features need some adjustments. The ears seem slightly too small and are positioned too high. The perspective is also a bit off; considering the camera's gaze is slightly above the middle, the top of the head should be larger and brighter, while the jawline should be smaller. The current depiction of the mandible disrupts the overall facial proportions. I believe that correcting these aspects could significantly enhance the painting's realism and impact.🤔🤔🤔

[@ronkempke6673]

This painter must imagine your head as pulled taffy.

[@kajwilstorp1483]

like it its you alex very nice

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Kaj!

[@jakefernart]

Ahh.. I recognise that Cadmium Red Andy!

[@andrewjames3220]

Very well spotted!

[@jakefernart]

@@andrewjames3220 Now that tube of paint is famous I want to meet her again..

[@andrewjames3220]

@@jakefernart I’ll take a look at her diary.

[@nils-goranwidh2131]

His painting has more personality then your face, he, he!😂 Fantastik!

[@mike7gerald]

How many hours did Alex pose?

[@andrewjames3220]

@@mike7gerald two and a bit

[@peg4692]

Alex it is very difficult to comment on this one, personally I don’t think he really captured “you”. Yes there is a some likeness, I do appreciate the apprehension of both of you. But I have to be honest I prefer your style of painting as you really do capture a true likeness. I hope your friend is not offended as he was happy with the portrait and that is what is important. My reason, the face is too long and too frontal, if anything he’s made you look too old. There is too much of his own portrait, with a touch of you. Hope you accept an honest comment.

[@ruthdallas6125]

The language of professional artists is so colorful itself. I just laugh when I look at my own portraits that are so bland compared to this one.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Keep practicing, you'll get there.

[@FiammadiRouse]

I am sorry. It needs more layers and corrections. I find some likeness, but thats only because i know who he paints.

[@sarojparmar418]

Normal-speed video of longer duration would have been better for learners.

[@stevenreeves9092]

Though I like his painterly qualities, it looks more like a cousin. The lack of true values lessens the success of a portrait that is meant to capture a likeness and spirit of a person.

[@bdml77]

You look like you could kick some ass

[@layoutkimsstudio2341]

bruh common man ...ngl youre better than that dude.

[@hana.the.writer5074]

I’m sorry but he made you look older than your younger age.

[@patriciozazzini3182]

i don't like his style at all.

[@andrewjames3220]

It’s very important to be creative and not to want to be liked.

[@Shamufrootyboots]

⁠@@andrewjames3220 I’m reminded of a David Bowie quote “It’s dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people’s expectations”.