[MelNM]

I was wondering how many of you folks are intimitated as I am at carving eyes. It seems like this is one of the more delicate areas of the carving, specially in the smaller carvings. On some of my real small carvings I'll paint on the eyes or just make a half diamond cut. But sometimes there's that one carving where everything is going well and "Doh" I have literally blinded my carving in one eye. I also wondering what is everyone favorite technique for carving eyes?

[Thor]

I know how you feel. I just followed the instructions in a book for making eyes, and got the most successful ones that I have ever done.

The book is Wood Spirits and Green Men, that Lora (Susan) Irish was a big part of putting together, and the eye carving part that I really got a lot out of was the section by Shawn Cipa on Carving a wood spirit. He made it easier than I was doing, and yet it was much more successful. I carved the eyes of a green man spoon that I'm doing much better than they would have been otherwise.

If you have access to the book I recommend it, but it is also a very worthy buy.
Thor

[kaiserb]

I only carve cyclopses....


Carving the eye is one of the more difficult things. If it is not right the whole carving looks wrong. You might try buying one of the eye study sticks and work on making about 50 eyes. Dont forget to do lefts and rights. Learn one method and master it before changing things up.

[Mitchell]

I believe WCI had an article in a recent issue on carving eyes.

Search old threads; there's some information on many old topics, and

here's a little spot that's got good info....

http://www.littleshavers.com/Eyes.html

[Just Carving]

WCI articles:

Carving Eyes, by Jeff Phares, Issue 20, p.22-27
Carving a Weathered Eye, by Jeff Phares, Issue 7, p. 17-21

[millhoused]

Two resources that have helped me are:

Greg Wilkerson - Carving an Indian Face in a Cedar Log. This is a CD with step by step directions and pictures.

Mary Finn - Carving Egg Heads. This book has a section on carving eyes and you actually create your own study stick. This one is especially focused on small characters.

I hope these help!

[Callynne]

Mel, something I think is important, is to get the 'corners' right. Start with a little 'eye mound', which is to leave a little rounded, raised section for each eye. Draw the eye in with pencil, make a stop cut on the 'drawn lines', the important thing is to make a deeper cut into the corner edges of each corner, sort of a sideways 'V'. Using the tip of your detail knive, slice this little sideways 'V' out of the eye. This will give you a recessed corner on each side of the eye. Making the eye more natural shaped. The trick here, is to have a very sharp detail knife! Hope this helps! Deborah

[Canopener]

I agree with Mitchell, check Ricks site for eyes and the hobo he is carving. Deborahs advice is good also, especially the sharp knife part. I also like to take a very thin sharp knife,[I have a 2-sided blade made from an old exacto blade] and slide it around in between the eyeball and lid. This makes it easier to paint later; and your finish will lay in there a bit darker and add some depth. I also, often do a practice run before doing eyes on something major, gotta get my mind in the right place. Have fun.
Jim

[Colin_Partridge]

Great advice here may I add my two cents worth. I always struggled with eyes but now I dont stuggle anymore. What I did it take a piece of scrap wood and some pictures of different types of eyes. Then start carving them one by one. You will soon get the jist of it. I also agree with Rick and Callynne the trick is to make the corners deep. What I do is imagine that I am carving a complete eye ball that I am making a ball within the piece of wood. That way you will get it right, visulize in your mind that ball and think of it as carving that section of the ball you will be amazed how much better it will look. Now noses are another thing I must try to practice what I preach on those.
Colin

[JIM QUILICI]

Originally Posted by MelNM

I was wondering how many of you folks are intimitated as I am at carving eyes. It seems like this is one of the more delicate areas of the carving, specially in the smaller carvings. On some of my real small carvings I'll paint on the eyes or just make a half diamond cut. But sometimes there's that one carving where everything is going well and "Doh" I have literally blinded my carving in one eye. I also wondering what is everyone favorite technique for carving eyes?

you know I'm not trying to sound llike a broken record . BUT this is common problem that every body has to conquer to advance any further in carving seems like when you get this down you got it . every one in our carving get together ( between 8 and 12 carvers) got one of "pete LeCllair " books he has three.and you need all three. The carvers that went step by step with out trying to cut corners,or skip steps improved their eyes by 150%. and their noses and mouths and ears. the ones who thought they knew more than book, did not advance very much. they are still making holes in wood for eyes but he has a system that when you get it down you can be very creative with you eyes and over all carvings. where I live I never hear of any carving classes to go to to teach you basic carving skills. books are the only source to learn . I have been carving 2 years now and I believe that " Petes" books just helps and helps. hope this helps you, it did me.

Just old Jim