You're Measuring Proportions WRONG!

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In this Alla Prima oil painting tutorial, representational artist Alex Tzavaras shows you how to draw with proportions correctly.

Many Artists think they can "measure" proportions by using their thumb and a pencil, brush or other devices like proportional dividers. But there are many reasons why this doesn't always work. The only way you can be absolutely certain that something is in proportion is when you can actually SEE IT! There's also something REALLY fundamental about drawing proportions and when you understand THIS, you will learn how to draw proportions without measuring.

Connect with Alex:

[gumpster]

I love Alex's clear, direct style of delivery. His content is extremely valuable and he doesn't waste people's time with distractions, especially at the beginning where he dives right into the lesson without five minutes of chit-chat. I wish more instructional youtube videos were like his.

[romanieo]

7:49 Drawing is a process of correcting mistakes. Amen Brother!!!

[richmoab]

You're a great teacher, I always enjoy when you post a video here on YouTube. Thank you

[Michael-hbnq]

For people struggling with proportions, you can learn, it takes time for your brain to adjust from lying to you, to being able to see accurately, sometimes as long as a year, but if you stick with it and practice everyday, you will learn.

[pashaveres]

Geez, that's brilliant. I've art degrees, yah, and have never seen this so clearly and plainly explained. Have subbed. May start drawing again. You touched on my toughest issues. Particularly valuable was the idea of making continuous corrections corrections. It's like driving, or flying, most of the time time you are headed in the wrong direction. But, constantly correcting, you arrive at your intended destination. Thanks much. Aloha

[adieaf]

I was going to slag you off but then I continued watching and, Hey Presto, I changed my Excellent, thank you.

[maureenserafini]

I could watch Alex all day long. Love the ease of his explanations and directions. Thank you Alex!

[Toto]

Really good explanation. I’m drawing a skull at a difficult angle right now and this is helpful to improve my perception of the proportions and shape angles

[qiaoli]

thanks for the explaining from this level, focusing on the abstraction of simply shapes, checking relationships and making adjustment as you go. it makes me more confident to put down the strokes. 🙂

[astronaut]

Notional Space and the Comparative Measurement helps a lot when drawing accurate proportions, starting from top, bottom, then left and right. It really does work wonders!!!!

[Dennis-Hare]

Thank you, for yet another video clarifying the mysteries of painting.

[davirosa]

Thank you Alex, your videos always come with a valuable technique to keep in mind!!

[StanleyKubick]

one of the best painting/drawing tutorials I've seen. very inspiring

[darkeverythingbagel]

I always look forward to your videos, Alex, but this one is particularly valuable. I am a self-taught artist (I wish it were my profession but c'est la vie) and I always struggled with fixing my painting even thought I always "measure" as best I can. Thank you for clearing up this important concept.

[afriendlyfox]

I have also found it immensely helpful to learn the perspective first. When I was just copying what I see, it looked absolutely flat and I had no idea what's wrong with it. After I understood perspective, when something looks flat, I'm able to point out the mistake in the plane direction or shape. Also I can immediately understand what is the form that shape of light actually represents, how it's positioned and how to draw exactly that shape so it looks rotated in that way.
Maybe other people come with that understanding built-in, but I didn't, and learning the boring theory improved my drawings really drastically really fast.

[billdaugette]

I've always been a measurer and struggle with changing media from pencil/charcoal to oil that doesn't lend itself well to maintaining an under drawing. This is massively helpful, Alex, thanks!

[PaulRansonArt]

Really super Alex - a great explanation of the drawing process without measuring. I found myself down many a rabbit hole measuring and remeasuring a scene - a phenominon known as paralysis of analysis! Since I switched to shapes for proportion I've been much happier. Besy wishes - Paul 😃😃😎😎

[kjw]

This is a wonderful video. Thank you !

[localcolour]

Excellent explanation of such a key issue.

[bobbytirlea]

Mostly I work from photos, yet only a plumb line and a horizontal both in the middle of the picture and on the bare canvas, and nothing else to guide me. To those I check all angels and points and shapes. It seems to work pretty well. Thank you so much, this is spot on, pure masterclass here!