Eye Painting - Wrong strokes

[vidaldiego]

​

Hello friends again...

A new consultation of a beginner with:

In larger models whenever I have problems to paint the eyes, I've seen several tutorials, but they are all perfect; nobody is wrong to paint and the results are perfect. But when I make them, I always paint it several times and the model is pasted.

How you can correct bad strokes ?, retardant in paint ?, another technique ?, How to keep fresh paint on the brush ?.

Thank you, Diego.

 

[Range Rat]

I use acrylics with touch of water mixed in, if the eyes aren't right which most cases they are not first time then I remove and start again...bit ocd on eyes.

 

[Mat Lambert]

One of the best tips I got (from Peedee) was to not paint the eyes looking straight ahead but paint them in the corner looking either right or left. It makes a big difference to the naturalness of the expression for those with less skill at eyes.
Cheers
Mat

 

[billyturnip]

This also might help. If you are right handed paint the right eye as normal and then turn the figure upside down to paint the left eye.
If you are left handed vice versa.

 

[Ferris]

When insecure about eyes, you could paint them in enamels or oils, left to dry in between steps. These paints can easily be removed if things don't look right with a bit of thinner. Just keep repainting things until you're happy, then let dry fully.

I find it the main downside of acrylics: for detail work it has to be first time right, as mistakes are very hard to correct.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Mjølner]

When I have to correct bad strokes, I can remove it shortly after the strok using Isopropyl Alcohol 99% alcohol. If it's a bit later then I use Schmincke Öko-Pinselreiniger, that is made for cleaning up brushes what ever it's acrylics or oils you are using.

Best wishes
Brian

 

[m@rp]

Personnaly I am an acrylic painter but for the eyes I only use oil paint on acrylics. So I if you make a mistake you may remove the oil with white spirit. It's easy and clean!


Pascal

 

[DaddyO]

All sound advice there Diego

For myself I always start the face with the eyes which means if they're not right I can wash them off or even use Detol to completely remove the paint and start fresh.

I've found that adding a small amount of glaze medium to the colour (using vallejo acrylics) helps stop the paint sticking to the brush in that time when you refocus your eyes, take a deep breath and slowly move the brush into position . . .

As Roger says I learned that a right handed person should paint the left eye first (This makes it easier to get them matched because you can see the one you've just painted; if it's done the other way round the brush covers over the previously painted eye)

A rough guide for positioning the pupils is they should be about the same width apart as the corners of the mouth.

Hope that helps - Everyone has the same problems so keep trying and you'll get there (I regularly re-do my figures eyes 3 or 4 times before I'm happy)

Paul

 

[Eludia]

I don't know if you've looked at this tutorial from Meg Maples yet Diego but I've been using this method for my last few figures and it's the most straightforward and easy way I've found yet (for me at least, everyone's different ofc). I work in oils so breaking the process down into 6 easy steps and having that "undo/redo" advantage of oils has really cured my fear of painting eyes. I wouldn't say they are now perfect but they are a lot better than I used to paint and the process is so much easier and less stressful, it just takes a bit longer with oils.

http://arcanepaintworks.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/six-easy-steps-for-eyes.html

 

[Blind Pew]

Painting eyes in this hobby is one of the eternal problems it seems. It's 'cos you just havta get it right.
Poor eyes can destroy an otherwise fine figure.

 

[kenshin393]

One of the best tips I got ( from Peedee) was to not paint the eyes looking straight ahead but paint them in the corner looking either right or left. It makes a big difference to the naturalness of the expression for those with less skill at eyes.
Cheers
Mat

I second this approach, it'll get your confidence up once you've cracked it. I tend to do the eyes early, once I've got the flesh shadows down, there's nothing worse than the sudden realisation that your eye colours are too thin as it gently floods across lovingly painted cheek bones

 

[Mat Lambert]

This also might help. If you are right handed paint the right eye as normal and then turn the figure upside down to paint the left eye.
If you are left handed vice versa.

Hi Roger and Paul
On this tip I hear often about painting the right eye first - is that the eye on the right of the figure as you look at it, or the figures right eye as it looks back at you? I have never been sure.
Cheers
Mat

 

[kenshin393]

On this tip I hear often about painting the right eye first - is that the eye on the right of the figure as you look at it, or the figures right eye? I have never been sure.
Cheers
Mat

I always do it as the right eye as you look at it first (the figures left eye) this keeps the bridge of the nose out of the way too.

 

[billyturnip]

I always do it as the right eye as you look at it first (the figures left eye) this keeps the bridge of the nose out of the way too.

Yep, that's what I meant. I did think when I was typing it if I was being clear enough. It doesn't help that I was trying to explain it for the majority of people who are right handed when I'm a leftie.

 

[Joe55]

Follow what everyone has explained here. Its going to boil down to practice, practice, and more practice. At first I had to redo lots of my efforts because things just didn't look right, but I was determined, and knew I was within the learning curve. Believe me, you will get the hang of it ! Have someone else look at your work and critic it, or post some pictures here. One of us will help you out.

Joe

 

[Joe55]

Yep, that's what I meant. I did think when I was typing it if I was being clear enough. It doesn't help that I was trying to explain it for the majority of people who are right handed when I'm a leftie.

That's OK Roger. Remember Diego lives in the southern hemisphere, so things are all back words anyway. I'm certain he got it!

Joe

 

[billyturnip]

That's OK Roger. Remember Diego lives in the southern hemisphere, so things are all back words anyway. I'm certain he got it!

Joe

Check me out giving advice like I know what I'm doing.

 

[kenshin393]

Check me out giving advice like I know what I'm doing.

You know as much as the rest of us!

 

[Alex]

I do not agree with the thing that you can't correct your mistakes using acrylic paints.
I actually prefer to do eyes using acrylics.
Basically, as long as your paint is fluid enough, you can correct any mistake you did by just covering it with another stroke, as long as you are not layering a too thick layer of paint with each stroke.
If you use Vallejo paints for example, dilute one drop of paint with one to two drops of water and use the best pointy brush there is : W&N Series 7 size 1 or 2 or Raphael 8404 Size 1 or 2.

 

[vidaldiego]

Based on all the reviews I could say that to paint eyes:

1. Practice, practice and more practice. To do this take a figure, maybe old, and do it there.

2. A good technique to avoid twisting the eye is: first paint the right eye and then turn the piece and paint the other.

3. For beginners, Oils are good for painting and quickly to correct some diluent that does not attack the base layer.

4. Brushes: There must always be smaller, but adequate.

5. You can paint with acrylics eye entirely, but requires more practice.

Many thanks to...
Range Rat, Mat Lambert , billyturnip , Ferris , Mjølner , m@rp , DaddyO , Eludia , Blind Pew , kenshin393 , kenshin393 , billyturnip , Joe55 , billyturnip , Alex

I keep adding recommendations...

Diego from Argentina.