eyes seem to be the bane of my existance

[def3722]

as a fairley new carver, I was wondering if anybody else has major trouble carving eyes. i have so much trouble, i will let carvings set, sometimes for days to avoid carving. When I do get the nerve, i somtimes have to recarve the whole face to fix my mistakes. I have tried small "V" gouges, sall "u" shaped gouges, a dremil tool, and x-acto knifes.
I was wondering what other people have used and have had some success with.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Eyes are very difficult. There are some tutorials, I will try to find them.

Dave

[Mark N. Akers]

Darin:
Your not alone, all carvers go through the same thing,Eyes make a carving, and they warrant practicing them, just pick up a block of wood and practice them, If you can get a hold of any of Pete Le Clair's studies, he has a very good and effective eye,Don't let it scare you just use a practice piece and work it out on that.Hope this helps.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Here is one:
Tutorial on larger eyes!

And another
New Gene Webb Eye Tutorial on YouTube

Dave

[Don R]

This one really helped me
Tree To Treasure wood carvings - main page

[SlowMover]

Eyes are difficult for everyone.....If you have a carving club near, try to watch someone that carves eyes you like do a set, it will make a world of difference. I strugggled for a year and never caved a set of eyes I liked until about two months ago one of the old guys at our club called everybody interested over to his chair and showed us how he does it. Something clicked, and ever since then, while I certainly can't carve perfect eyes yet, I can carve a set of them that I am not ashamed to show to someone else. I had watched a lot of bideos, bought a ton of books, and ruined a log full of blocks before this "epithany" when I watched an experienced carved. Hang in there and practice, you will get it someday soon if you persevere.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Here is another Carving eyes from Little Shavers

Dave

[mobjack68]

Hey Darin....get some wood and carve eyes only....
I did a bird carving and saved the eyes for last. Wish I hadn't that....ever since, I try to carve the eye/s first. If you carve the eyes first, your project can "keep an eye on you" as you progress thru the rest of the carving

Practice just the eyes. The personality of most carvings...human/mammal/bird comes thru the eyes, sad, happy, wrinkly, sunken and soulful, you get the idea. Just like you practice form and proportion??? practice eyes...(noses next!!)

[Dave Richardson]

yep, eyes are difficult , a carver at our club told me the 100th pair of eyes you carve, you will like ! What he was really saying is it takes alot of pratice. Im on my 79th pair now....I tried every method I could find. Finaly I noticed everyone basicly does the same thing, they just do it differently. I suggest try all the styles, study each eye you do and make little changes on the next set and before you know it you will see the progress. Another thing I did was carved the eyes first.
Dave

[Ron T]

Hi Darin,

As you can see, everyone has trouble with eyes. Don't give up. I feel the same as you, I set my carvings aside when I get stuck. But, if you keep practicing, it'' come to you.