Can eyes be learned early on?

[Deraj828]

As I understand it, eyes are generally the most infamous thing to master in any art. As I look around the internet, I find myself quite motivated to figure them out anyway. I feel like until I can carve those (I've mostly just been pushing the tip of my knife into the wood to create a shadowy line thusfar) everything I do will have an air of amateurism about it. Like, everybody including me will look at it and automatically think, "Yeah, that's pretty good for a rookie!" instead of just, "Yeah, that's really good!"

What do you folks think about learning to do eyes? I know I hardly have the refinement or tools to make amazing eyes just yet, but I'd like to do something better than a shadowy deep knife imprint. More along the lines of than . I think that if I were successful, it would really help me stay motivated to keep learning, once I saw how much better my faces looked, and I'd feel like my efforts were paying off and I should keep learning. But if I keep ruining otherwise decent carvings with failed attempts at eyes, that won't exactly help matters.

And as along as we're on the subject.... how does one learn eyes, anyway?

[BobT]

You would find it difficult to learn from a better source than Gary McDaniels very inexpensive DVD. Look here; 3Crosseswoodcarving - Home
Gary is a great teacher and has a very effective method. Then practice a lot.

I couldn't find the link on hid blog, they are still on u-tube, starting here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5asRH7VaRI

[carver33]

Yes you can. There are several free tutorials on carving eyes - simply do a Google search on "carving eyes" (both with and without the quotes). Check out the various techniques and practice.

[SlowMover]

Eyes plague us all..I have been carving about 2 1.2 years and still struggle with them and seldom carve what I consider a great eye. Find a style of eye you like (yes there are different styles) and master it before trying to do another type. Don;t practice early on by doing eyes on completed pieces, make a practice stick and carve them every chance you get...the improvement only comes by repetition

[BeaverDon]

Just decide that will be the next detail you learn to carve. Watch every tutorial out there, then watch the 3crosses one and you'll get it. At least that worked for me. Sometimes the "slit" for an eye is OK, btw.

[Tom-H]

I think there are two "secrets" to carving eyes......First a super sharp knife, and second an intimate knowledge and experience with the knife. I suppose I should mention that the size of the eyes you are trying to carve plays a role too. Eyes that are carved in a half inch tall head are a wee bit more difficult than the larger ones.

[Robert Cahill]

3Crosseswoodcarving - Eye Carving Tutorial

Here's a link to Gary's free eye tutorial as mentioned it is an excellent one

[Caril Chasens]

Put your hand on your face... the hand that doesn't have a knife in it... and become aware of the complex shape you want to carve.

[BeaverDon]

Also, Lynn has a different approach, but he explains the importance of understanding that there is an eyeball in the socket with a lid on top. Thinking and understanding that has helped me. I also think carving an "accurate" eye isn't always important. I see a lot of really nice "caricature" eyes that are very nice and very detailed, but not realistic.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I also agree with Bob and Robert, Gary's tutorial has helped me alot. It is well done and easy to follow, just keep practicing on a piece of scrap wood. I have not seen Lynn's video yet, but I am sure it is excellent!

Dave