[Jables]

I've got body shapes pretty well down, and faces are getting better, but I'm still having some trouble getting eyes to look the way I want. I don't know if it's a carving thing, a painting thing, or most likely both. Can anyone suggest any learning resources on how to get better at doing eyes?

[Mitchell]

There are many books where the authors take you through the carving process for eyes..... The key part to your question is "I"m still having some trouble getting eyes to look the WAY I WANT. "

There are many ways to carve eyes and none are truly the best or the right way - it's just as much personal preference.

First, check the "box" below titled "Similar Threads"....it has already grouped together some threads discussing eye carving.

Find a book that looks like something you want to carve and then copy it a few times. THEN work on adjustments - it takes practice. Jeff Phares has some good books on carving facial features that's very realistic.

You could search web sites and blogs for info also. Try Lynn's (outwestwoodcarving) and Little Shavers (littleshavers) - both have lots of information.

[brian bailey]

I find for me it's good to be able to draw the eyes the way you want them to be.

Here's a link to an excellent tutorial on drawing eyes.

Hope you find it helpful, I know it was for me.

Drawing the eyes - drawing lesson. portrait tutorial

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Jables
Check out this post, I had same question a while back, there is some really good info. here!! Also a link to Little Shavers carving supply, they have good info. on making eyes. Also if you need any tools or supplies they are great people to do bussiness with!!

Looking For Eye Tutorial

Carving eyes from Little Shavers

Dave

[Eddy Smiles]

Jables... It all depends on how realistic your carvings are and how detailed you're trying to make them. On a lot of caricatures you can get away with painting your eyes on and no one will know the difference. Now I know that's technically cheating but the way I look at it, all's fair in love and war!

[James A]

Like Eddy said, it all depends on how realistic and detailed your carvings are. This is a link to a tutorial that shows you how to make the eye. It is similar to the Little Shavers tutorial.

The Old Texas Woodcarvers Shop provides wood carving tools, wood carving books & roughouts.

[doris]

hello welcome jables. we had a good thread on your question recently here

Eyes on a carving!

just browse all the pages of this thread and you will find good advise

[Tom H]

Jables, If you're like me, it's just practice, practice, practice. But seriously my advice would be to settle on one type of eye, one set of steps to carve that eye; and practice that technique until you can consistantly do it. I think many of us faced with the same problem, may have researched so many techniques to carve an eye that we became "overloaded" with information; at the expense of practice. I know that I did.

Good luck, and remember, practice is fun too.

Tom H

[GaryMc]

Hello Jables,
Eyes are some of the most difficult things, till you learn how to do them. Send me an email and I will send you a Tutorial that I did on eyes. My email link is below.
GaryMc