The Biggest Mistake People Make When Portrait Painting

In this Portrait Painting Tutorial, realist painter Alex tzavaras talks about one of the biggest mistakes people make when portrait painting - Over Modelling.
For Alex's course on the fundamentals of oil painting visit:
/ simplifydrawingandpain...
Over modelling happens when you focus in on each small are of your subject separately and exaggerate the differences in light and dark tonal values in oil painting. If you then exaggerate the tonal values in painting within each small area, you loose the larger value relationships and your image so it no longer appears 3D. This is a really common beginner oil painting mistake.
To avoid over modelling, you need to see the whole before the parts. You need to establish the larger tonal value relationships by simplifying your subject into 3 or 4 main tonal values. However, simplifying your subject into large value masses is one of the most difficult things we have to do when painting. But in this video, Alex demonstrates what this actually looks like in practice, while an Alla prima portrait from life, using a monochrome or grissaille oil painting technique . He also shows you a really useful tool in Adobe Photoshop, The Median Tool, that you can use to simplify the tonal values for you, when you are working from reference photos.
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.
Connect with Alex:
/ alex_tzavaras
/ simplifydrawingandpain...
/ alextzavaras
alextzavaras.com

[@LosoIAm]

I have just realised that I can simply take my glasses off and I can see the blocks/forms without having to squint (or use any software); getting a bit closer, I can actually see the four values - OMG! Many thanks for the video.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad this was helpful.

[@manjibean4015]

Short sighted super powers

[@cameronsharpe6647]

hahah congrats, making lemonade from lemons

[@mateuscriatio]

"Learning to recognize the main values is actualyl one of the most difficult things we have to do when painting. In our everyday lives we dont need to see the whole before the parts, we need to see the item we are looking for in a supermarket shelf, or the number of a bus we waiting for, so our brains have been programmed to focus on detail. Learning to simplify the world into simple light and dark shapes goes against our nature and requires a great deal of effort and practice." To me, thats the best teaching in this whole video, thank you for that!

[@cassievining340]

I have taught this way to my Art students for years. Sadly, they have been given technology as a distraction from birth and it's now a safety blanket/addiction. Making them focus on anything for more than 2 seconds is impossible.

[@StefanMarjoram]

Such a great demonstration. Really clear and informative. I wouldn't worry about repetition - I usually need to be told stuff repeatedly before it goes in :)

[@swarnajain3814]

B.

[@UrraSergio]

Same here. 😉

[@stainface4980]

Honestly, the median trick changed my life as a painter. I have a full education in graphic design, fine art, and illustration so most tips and tricks on youtube and ''advanced photoshop techniques'' are just not useful or new to me, it is so rare to find a small thing like this that just absolutely changes everthing.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

It's great isn't it. It does what we're supposed to be doing in our heads when we squint at our subjects. One of my students who is a graphic designer showed it to me. I was explaining the idea of simplifying the values, and he was like, "I get it, you want us to do what the median tool does in photoshop". I now use it all the time, when I work from photos, or to critique my online students work.

[@IkramDrawingZone]

Sketching is almost everything. It is the painter’s identity, his style, his conviction, and then color is just a gift to the drawing

[@MaximeRoman]

beautifully put

[@nidhimoda605]

I'm a total beginner, and your videos on the fundamentals are super-helpful for me! Proportions, Values, Edges and Modelling, Colour . . . thanks for teaching about all this! I'm grateful to have found your channel. Simplify, Alex! :D

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad you find my videos so helpful.

[@kylacoulter2104]

This is the exact problem my professor was trying to explain to me in my work. I was over modeling! You have freaking saved my grade! I'm going to fix my work tonight! Thank you so much!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Kyla! Glad it was helpful.

[@joaco264]

I didn't know about that median tool. I usually use the function 'posterize' to achieve a similar result. The median function seems to give a softer transition between the values though

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

The posterise simplifies the values just as well, but I prefer the medium because it looks just like squinting.

[@ChristopherHemsworthCreative]

I'm primarily a digital artist, and I constantly refer to your lessons to help my approach to painting digitally.

[@AGamerDraws]

This was incredible, thank you so much! All things I knew in theory, but it’s hard to apply them in practice so it’s so useful to see the entire process broken down.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@alessandropinto5204]

At around 8 minutes in, you add the nose and lower lip specular highlights. According to the order you're using, shouldn't that type of detail be added later on? Or are you using them as reference marks to place other small features?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Yes, I use the highlights as landmarks. A lot of Artists consider the highlights as details that should be left to the end. But I find them quite useful for drawing, particularly if you're in a situation without many strong shadow shapes. I can always refine the highlights and tone them down if need me in the later stages of a painting.

[@sduncanfoto]

Love it. 3 general tones, a darkest dark and a lightest light.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Yes, this is key. Then they will give you a scale for when you add more subtle shifts in value.

[@clarapaillard8246]

brilliant video, shared it with a life class that I attend.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated.

[@laurenlentini917]

Fantastic! Thank you.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Lauren!

[@RatusMax]

This is exactly what I learned through trial and error when I started digital painting in 2020. I got pretty good fast! This information is on POINT! I did watch an older video from this channel back in 2020 when I was learning. I wanted to learn traditionally instead of from digital painters because concepts in traditional painting IS the foundation. Of course now that I have some understanding of painting, I am going back and cleaning up areas I ignored. Color, scene building, having good lighting on the subject, etc.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Exactly! This is idea of simplifying your subject into a few main light and dark tonal values at the start of a painting is so important.

[@ZoltarF]

Could you show us your work?

[@RatusMax]

@@ZoltarF Post something on your channel and I'll reply there. They aren't letting me post anything here.

[@ZoltarF]

@@RatusMax I can search for the profile name on the due website

[@RatusMax]

@@ZoltarF Oh so you were still able to see the comment? I placed the profile and the website with no link and it was still removed.

[@cobby407]

Excellent video, that overmodeled version of the portrait is my nightmare!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I struggled with over modelling for years. Establishing the larger values masses early on, during the block-in, is the way managed to prevent myself from doing it. Then all you have to do is to try and avoid completely destroying them as you add subtle half tones and reflected lights etc.

[@olgajakobi8353]

Perfeckt. die geschwindigkeit ist aber so schnell. 💖danke

[@ghostinthecloset]

Thank you so much for this demonstration!! Ive been trying to teach myself to paint with values but Ive hit a road-block cause I would always over-model and then get really discouraged by just how bad it would end up looking. I cant wait to give it another shot with this new info!

[@jadehegarty6225]

This is one of the most useful tutorials on portrait painting I've ever come across! None of my teachers in school or uni ever elaborated on this! We were just expected to know!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

That's because teachers at main stream art schools no longer know any of this stuff.

[@jnarts7955]

Casey Baugh taught how to look using peripheral vision where you see everything as a whole when you judge values you dont want to go tunnel vision. which kinda same with what you said. i love it.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I think when he's talking about using peripheral vision, hit has more to do with judging colour correctly? When you stare at colours for a long time, they often appear to change in front of our eyes and can be hard to judge. Whereas you often get a better sense of colour out of your peripheral vision. Other artists talk about talking quick glances and mixing the colours you remember seeing and trying not to stare for too long. To simplify the values, you must squint at your subject.

[@tennoio1392]

I like this analytical approach. Art world needs more teachers like that.

[@suhasbhivankar9578]

Nice work Sir 👏 👌 👍

[@JiveDadson]

The great masters very rarely lighted a sitter on the far side of his face. In other words, the subject's head was turned away from the light.

[@leslieramsay6479]

One of the better portrait tutorials I’ve seen. Clear and informative. I’ll use this advice.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Leslie! Glad you found it helpful.

[@K_Laura]

Thank you so much! Never stop educating us please. And, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Laura!

[@hannarchy7945]

You remind me of my dad, but a calmer, more comforting version of him. This video was very comforting as a whole. Very lovely painting, thank you for the tips!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@cinereus3601]

Thanks Alex, really enjoying the Patreon content. Worth every cent.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad you think so.

[@gumpster8913]

Amazing. When he started blocking in the painting the likeness was instantly recognizable. It was almost startling how suddenly the image took shape at that point.

[@yematosan8837]

Thanks Alex , really your art knowlege is bast of the bast .I always learning from your video keep doing this good wark 🤝👍👍👍

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much. I will do!

[@cptnbeefart]

this makes me miss painting so much

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Hopefully you might get back into it?

[@denisemangan1413]

I’m going to paint a portrait of my great niece- your videos have given me such insight.

[@joseroncero8379]

I must say, you actually got his likeness at this stage - something other youtubers rarely accomplish.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Jose!

[@jnarts7955]

sweet another video. thank you for being generous with your knowledge. i appreciate from Philippines 26 yrs old impressionist painter

[@TheBeLuvdTRex]

Absolutely stunning there is a lot of useful info here for both digital and traditional artist alike.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Yes indeed. These phenomena of shapes, values and also colour are visual, so learning how to see and interpret them applies to any media when working from life.

[@gulagwarlord]

Wow, that median tool trick was awesome. Really helps to see the posterized big form relationships. Cool.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks! Glad this video was helpful.

[@tyroneperry5008]

Thank you. This was really helpful. Now I know I must learn how to see again.

[@christosgh5140]

Great video and tutorial! Thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Christos! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@timyardley7042]

Great as always-cheers Alex!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Tim!

[@Nafssik]

Thank you for your bone structure, Stefan!

[@bovice1766]

Interesting to find out I didn't know what I didn't know! Thank you!

[@geridayao8924]

Color values! values! Values!

[@lalitamescalita5163]

Blooming brilliant! Great advice. Thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad it was helpful

[@MrKimpoyski]

Big thanks Alex for sharing how to simplifying portrait painting...iv'e learned a lot from you

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad it was helpful.

[@nikolajovanovic1140]

You can also close you eyelids so that your eyelashes get in the way and defocus a bit. It also helps to look only on one eye.

[@cosette8321]

You’re a really good teacher, very educated in what you’re teaching

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@JCL-jv1rl]

This is an incredibly helpful refresher for me. I feel bad his ability has been lost on my 10 year gap of not painting. I have been struggling with overworking, over complicating. I can see myself do it in real time but I haven’t been able to break the bad habit yet.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Glad to hear you've taken up painting again. The tendency to zoom in and focus in detail, is hardwired into us. It's how our attention is designed to function for our day to day survival. It never really goes away, so resisting it is a constant struggle.

[@ioga1977]

Rare teacher .Great as always .Comments below shows it and explains it .

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Aleksandar!

[@erikadonald6416]

That was super helpful!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Erika! Glad you think so

[@user-hn2bo2pn7t]

Amazing work , and amazingly helpful video on grisaille and monochromatic allaprima. Thx again Alex for you clear and to the point style of narrative.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you. Glad it was helpful.

[@KMadvisor]

Appreciate the clarity of your descriptions (as a brand new subscriber). My preferred medium is pan pastel which requires different techniques than the typical soft pastel ... value id and matching is the immediate challenge & this video is a help - thank you from British Columbia, Canada.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much!

[@markborder906]

An excellent video with very useful and important information. Thank you.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Mark! Glad it was helpful.

[@stevegpsych68]

Very well explained and very helpful. I would be satisfied to get my standard up to the 8 minute mark 😂😂😂 practice practice practice!

[@user-fr8mf6ed2y]

Wonderful demonstration. Very very helpful❤

[@marlene6489]

Bravo! You are one amazing teacher!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Marlene!

[@adacollins4070]

You always hit the nail on the head I love your videos. All of them

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Ada! Glad you think so.

[@I_like_science]

My grandfather used to tell me that mastery of a skill is not about doing more in less time, it is about doing the same amount of work in less steps !

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Good advice.

[@Swat-ed5bt]

Beautiful 🥰

[@deepindersingh1168]

Thankyou so much Alex for sharing this demonstration. Really helpful video. 🙏

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Deepinder!

[@shiramonderer]

Thank you so much! This is my main problem now

[@adrienneklopack6796]

Such a wonderful demo. Very helpful! Thank you for posting

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you for watching! Glad it was helpful.

[@willielarsson9651]

Amazing just watching this come to life. Thank you

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Willie! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lpaone01]

Great demo. Thank you.

[@paulzarzastudio3927]

This is the best portrait demo I’ve ever seen -Thank You

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Paul! Glad it was helpful.

[@jameslabs1]

Thanks

[@unclepepe1184]

One of the best painting tutorials I have ever watched!

[@mariaelisagrion1183]

your examples are very clear , you are a great teacher and a great artist

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Maria! Glad you found this helpful.

[@henkhulsegge]

Fantastic educational demonstration thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Henk! Glad it was helpful.

[@starrise_]

This is exactly what I was struggling with, thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nathanmirandadasilva1192]

one the best videos about painting that I've seen, thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Nathan!

[@JoshuaLlamaLlama]

Thank you, this contained a piece I've been missing in trying to jump from line drawing and sketching to painting forms.

[@stefanvillette9830]

Great Job Alex, and great clear teaching as usual. Shame about the model though😂😂😂. Thanks again for that cool sitting weekend in Lewes. If only it had been warmer, I'd smiled more😂👍

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Stefan! Glad you like it. You did a great job, apologies for the harsh conditions.

[@jnarts7955]

big brush strokes. not overdetailed.love the approach

[@tsuvhoart4983]

Good to find out that.... someone doing the right thing on KZbin 🤘

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@supahotfirefunciek9954]

really glad I found this material. I knew that there is some basis I didn't get, not the form but the value frst. I used to draw complicated sketch involving huge amount of planes of the head, but never really I have been able to paint it then. Turns out I was focusing on the local relationships of value, but not looking at the overall relationships! Thanks a lot!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Yes Indeed. You need to think about the big planes first as this will enable to establish a few main values. The value of the smaller planes will always be more subtle and fit in-between the main values if that makes sense.

[@iliostalaktithoua9028]

Wow thanks!

[@jessetheodocion4737]

the illustration at 1:40 was very helpful

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Jesse!

[@user-wt5if6rx8m]

Super video. Simplifying in general is truly one of the biggest challenges when it comes to beginners. Shapes, values, colors. Everything. Thank you

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad you liked it.

[@sleyaraze8916]

This is exactly the video i needed! Thank you!

[@pierosavino3906]

Very pratical and objective. I didnt know This painter and his Chanel, he seems to be a great master in portrait Stile his is fantástico. Very well educated in ART painting.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Piero, you're very kind.

[@davidwalker3626]

Your demos are very helpful and your style admirable. I have been making work in acrylics (and drawings) for many years and show then in galleries, and recently switched to oils in hope of taking my work to another level. Instead so far it's been humbling and downright depressing at times how difficult oils really are, but your videos definitely are helping a bit.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks David. Once you get the hang of oils they're actually quite forgiving, because they take longer to dry you can scrape back and correct endlessly.

[@stanmanmedia]

Dude, I've been painting for years, know about blocking etc, but your instruction is superb!! Thanks very much. Tremendous help!!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad it was helpful.

[@stanmanmedia]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting I'm going to join Patreon.. never have joined one for painting, but your style is what I need to improve, and your expertise. Thanks again.

[@reginaberkovich3070]

Excellent video and perfect teaching method, thank you, Maestro.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Regina, glad you found this helpful.

[@thomasfowler8212]

Posterize is also a really useful tool on photoshop that helped me work out light / dark values and helped me with colour too

[@keymaster430]

The name of your channel is perfect. You completely simplified something I've struggled with forever in drawing portraits. Great teaching.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad this was helpful.

[@yematosan8837]

Happy New year Alex Tezavares 🌟🤝

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Happy new year to you too!

[@toiphamdp]

Thank you for teaching this!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you for watching. I'm glad it was helpful.

[@mooshlebooshle5073]

This is really useful for many mediums

[@keytones9280]

I think this is the best demonstration I have seen on this subject. Thank you

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much!

[@agmc111]

Great Video Alex, Thank you .

[@lazerwolf001]

Great teaching thank you

[@amir1977sw]

Well described and well done.. Thank you for sharing 🙏

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Emir, glad it was helpful.

[@ArtByRopri]

WOW So Beautiful Drawing, Congratulations 💐🌹

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@soumyajitchoudhury9641]

Always love your demos ❤❤🙏

[@en2336]

PLEASE do a video on color harmony! Amazing how clearly you explain things

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Good Idea.

[@polarbearsrus6980]

Love this lesson, thanks for sharing!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AizaBoEn]

this was soooo clear and simple to understand ... You have no idea how much this is helping.. THANK YOU!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you for watching Aiza. Glad my videos have been helpful.

[@ivelinadocheva9203]

You are a great teacher, always explaining everything in so simple way...Thank you !

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Ivelina! Glad you like my videos..

[@KelarGridal]

This is fantastic! Thanks a lot for this. There was something wrong with a gift I made for a family member and it was 100% this. I mainly do environmental work, so going to portrait painting was a big step, and it's something I want to get better at.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much. Glad it was helpful. God luck with the portrait painting. Keep practicing and you'll get it.

[@eyeshowyou]

Very good demonstration

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Damo!

[@sylvianblue]

Superb lesson