Painting Eyes - Brushes and technique

[drod26]

Painters,

Can you share with us what type of brushes you are using to paint eyes? I think this will be usefull for newbies...

 

[Morbo]

I use a tiny little brush for eyes, size 000 I think. water down the paint alittle bit so it isn't gloopy, and away you go. All I need now is a steady hand

 

[drod26]

I use a tiny little brush for eyes, size 000 I think. water down the paint alittle bit so it isn't gloopy, and away you go. All I need now is a steady hand

wow...size 000 is alot smaller then what I use.. I should give that a try. I am using a 0 and its difficult.

Do you use a magnifying glass? Anyone?

 

[DarkArtist81]

I use a magnifying glass sometimes, but most of the time I go without it. Eyes are difficult, they just take a lot of practice. You just use a small brush and keep trying until you get the hand for it, it's tricky... but you will get it.

 

[Les Walker]

I use supermag glasses and brushes with long, thin bristles. Too small and short, and the paint will dry too fast. And regardless, keep water nearby, and KEEP THE BRUSH CLEAN! Even if it means cleaning and rewiping it often, and redipping into the paint.
Eyes are a total BITC#! So hang in there! And practice.

 

[drod26]

thank you all for the usefull input. Im going to pick up a pair of supermag glasses to help me out and keep practicing...

 

[ProgMatinee]

i've been using one of these.

 

[the vampire with soul]

thats cool I been trying to get that down for years thanks and thanks drod26 for asking that question.

 

[FLOSI]

So do you all water down your paints for the eyes? I've been pretty happy with the way everything has been coming out with the exception of the eyes due to the paint glopping together. I'm happy with the way they look for only taking a crack at it a couple times but I would really love to have the eye look smooth.

 

[Commtech]

i've been using one of these.

LOL!

 

[madmaninsane]

The Bob Ross technique

 

[YoNoSe]

The Bob Ross technique

I have lots of Happy Accidents.

 

[Ben]

i've been using one of these.

!!!

 

[greyrabbit]

I've been using the "Carnall Technique" lol, by painting in the base color of the eyes before anything else. All thanks to Darren Carnall for showing me his method! Beginning with the whites, then adding eye liner shading, followed by painting in the base color for the roundness of the iris. Then painting on the skin and hair. Once all that is done, go back to finishing the eye color and adding in the pupil position.

Found this works well, as when the base color for the eyes is set early, it helps bring the character through before painting everything else, so it compliments the direction of painting in skin tone and hair features through the process. This method also works really well when painting sculpts with very squinty eyes ..as I find that when I have painted in very squinty eyes after doing skin first, at times I've touched areas around the eye socket with the eye color and had to touch up ..so no problem this way.

One thing that has eluded me is finding a source for Future Floor Polish here in Australia, or a similar product ..but I understand this stuff is great for giving the glassy look, then adding over a couple layers of regular gloss (testors, tamiya etc).

These are pics of Darren's technique, his pics show the process quite well. I took some pics of my own but hard to focus on getting good shots of eyes without sunlight distorting how they really look (with my camera anyway lol).

OK, heres a pic I've tried to capture of using Darrens way.

Hope this helps as well

 

[drod26]

greyrabbit,

Thanks for the post man.. This is really helpfull, I also found my self going back to touch up the areas around the eye socket with the eye color.

What colors do you mix for the skin tone? I like how Dirty Harry come out...

 

[greyrabbit]

No probs drod!. For the skin tone of clint I use equal amounts of burnt sienna, cool yellow, and white (as well as few drops of water in the mix) as the base ..then lightened it by adding small amounts of white to the mix for each layer over the base tone.

Also to add regarding the eyes, helps to use a mix of burnt sienna and water (very watery, about 95% water 5% burnt sienna), and with a fine brush add it to the inner eye line areas and corners of the eye. Helps to round out the eye ball shape and give a bit of depth

 

[drod26]

Thank you... greyrabbit your tips helpd me out alot.

What type of magnifying glass do you guys use and where can I pick one up? I have check the local arts and craft store and they dont have anything good.