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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@ChristopherHemsworthCreative]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@clarapaillard8246]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated.

[@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.

[@olgajakobi8353]

Perfeckt. die geschwindigkeit ist aber so schnell. 💖danke

[@sleyaraze8916]

This is exactly the video i needed! Thank you!

[@soumyajitchoudhury9641]

Always love your demos ❤❤🙏

[@agmc111]

Great Video Alex, Thank you .

[@johnhunter1653]

Excellent presentation! Really useful. Stops one racing ahead into tonal mistakes. Thank you for your effort!

[@lazerwolf001]

Great teaching thank you

[@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.

[@festia13]

Thank you so very much for sharing.

[@thinkmediadeeper]

great video, thank you so much it was really helpful

[@bovice1766]

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

[@hanhvuong8898]

Awesome.Thanks a lot😊

[@JoshuaLlamaLlama]

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

[@sylvianblue]

Superb lesson

[@ok-dx3lb]

thank you so much it was very helpful

[@apurvadutta8548]

Very well explained.

[@jonroads8281]

Happy new year Alex! Another brilliant video, thank you! I'm definitely planning to take some of your courses this year, I'm really keen to push my painting forward this year.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Happy New Year to you too! The excellent news, here's to a productive year of painting.

[@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.

[@laurenlentini917]

Fantastic! Thank you.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Lauren!

[@user-fr8mf6ed2y]

Wonderful demonstration. Very very helpful❤

[@magnipgaming2058]

this is amazing!

[@aspenram3885]

Thank you so much, this is exactly what I've been trying to work on! 💖

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@toiphamdp]

Thank you for teaching this!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

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

[@tennoio1392]

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

[@Aerderranissar]

This is pure gold!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@Travis-no3wh]

Fantastic video.

[@rumblef1sh]

Great video, thanks! Good clear explanations, good demonstration.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad this was helpful

[@chomanthapa]

Great tuto!

[@themedjay4559]

Muchas gracias por su aportación, aprendí mucho 😊

[@annstuart8886]

Happy New Year Alex! A wonderful demo. So clear! Thank you.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Ann! Happy New year to you too.

[@starrise_]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sakiiholic1478]

thank you so much for the video! such a great demonstration

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@eugeneconstable4861]

This is extremely helpful, and inspiring! Thank you Alex.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Eugene! Glad you liked it.

[@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.

[@zak5941]

Always a pleasure to see you have uploaded Alex, really some of the most informative and quality painting advice available on the internet

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Zak!

[@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.

[@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.

[@suhasbhivankar9578]

Nice work Sir 👏 👌 👍

[@henkhulsegge]

Fantastic educational demonstration thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Henk! Glad it was helpful.

[@ClauVille]

Excellent video Alex! Thanks! :)

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Claudia!

[@katygardner2741]

Happy New year! What a fantastic and clearly explained video on values and simplifying! It's the first time I've watched one of your videos and I'll be popping over to your patreon shortly for the full course! Thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Katy! Glad this was helpful.

[@lalitamescalita5163]

Blooming brilliant! Great advice. Thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad it was helpful

[@Idahadleyart]

Definitely need to take this alla prima course! Exciting

[@bensmith6673]

Love this

[@unclepepe1184]

One of the best painting tutorials I have ever watched!

[@cynthiahalewijn6140]

Great and inspiring video! Thanks so much!!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Cynthia!

[@tjisnotthatstupid]

Thank you! Your explanation was extremely helpful!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Tara! Glad it was helpful.

[@reginaberkovich3070]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Regina, glad you found this helpful.

[@chompers11]

incredible and helpful thanks so much for sharing

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@tatianasmirnova2277]

Super helpful! As always ! Thank you

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Tatiana!

[@marlene6489]

Bravo! You are one amazing teacher!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Marlene!

[@amir1977sw]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Emir, glad it was helpful.

[@SakuraReiYT]

Thank you for this really informative video ! This is super helpful, I don’t paint often but I have been doing it in school for a while and they do touch on “squinting at the subject” but they don’t often go into detail like you did. This will really help me with doing portraits in the future !

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@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.

[@willielarsson9651]

Amazing just watching this come to life. Thank you

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Willie! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@motlba]

Fantastic tips. Eager to try it, thanks!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Brilliant Monica! Good luck with it.

[@kafiri]

Great lesson and super helpful! Thanks

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Diego!

[@janlappalainen]

Another great vid - thanks!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[@mariaelisagrion1183]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Maria! Glad you found this helpful.

[@Joe-dy7bb]

Thank you, Alex. Very informative

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Joe! Glad this was helpful.

[@shiramonderer]

Thank you so much! This is my main problem now

[@cathysheffield4346]

Thank you, very useful information.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Cathy! Glad it was helpful.

[@shoshoe3632]

amazing, thank you for opening my eyes to such practicality

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

[@karenfei3107]

This was really helpful. Thank you

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Karen!

[@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.

[@christosgh5140]

Great video and tutorial! Thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Christos! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ianstrasse]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Ian! Glad you liked it.

[@datasw1tch]

Great demo, a lot of useful insights, thank you very much!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@iliostalaktithoua9028]

Wow thanks!

[@mooshlebooshle5073]

This is really useful for many mediums

[@mariecroise3191]

Amazing, thank you!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Marie!

[@damookie]

simply fantastic, inspiring portrait work.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much!

[@Addyr3]

This was so incredibly helpful!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Adeline

[@ivelinadocheva9203]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Ivelina! Glad you like my videos..

[@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.

[@redchilli450]

This is so good, your points are a great value, but it's so amazing to see that the values are simplified and yet the likeness is remarkable!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@adrienneklopack6796]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you for watching! Glad it was helpful.

[@tatuco8]

Great job

[@abz7509]

Excellent demo as always . Nice to see you back please continue with weekly or fortnightly videos .

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! I would love to be able to release videos more regularly, but at is it I try to post one video a month. Since starting my patreon channel, I also have to post a video on there every month. My videos on there are all filmed in real time so are usually one hour long, so they take much longer to write. Then there is also trying to find time to do my own painting.

[@timyardley7042]

Great as always-cheers Alex!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Tim!

[@brokenwideopen]

Incredibly helpful

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@estusdrinker]

Great video.

[@ingridcarmak4268]

Thank you so much Alex ,…this video was very useful!👍🏻😃

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Ingrid. Glad it was helpful.

[@StefanNuetzel]

Good explanation and well executed.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Stefan!

[@cinereus3601]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Glad you think so.

[@deepindersingh1168]

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

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Deepinder!

[@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.

[@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.