Making eyes

[Donna_T]

Hi all,
I was roughing out the eyes on a carving and since it's been several months since I had success on the first try, I'm asking about your experience. When you get the eye mound roughed in and are setting the eyelids, do you use a V-tool or a knife? Sometimes when I use a v-tool, a chunk will pop out. (I KNOW, I KNOW, my v-tools aren't always as sharp as they should be....Sad ) Sometimes I spray the wood with the mixture of 1/2 alcohol/1/2 water first to make it a bit easier to go cross-grain smoothly, but sometimes it just seems like that little chip always happens.

Whatch do to make this easier every time?

Donna T

[Colin-Partridge]

Donna,
Yes that happens all the time to me. Or should I say it used to happen to me all the time. What happens is when you make the cut with the V tool the force applied to the sides of the V gouge will just break off the eye lid. Try using a 60 degree V it wont apply as much pressure. Also dont try to make the eye lid in one cut but a series of small cuts. I now find unless I am doing a very large carving I just use a small detail knife. It works much better than the V tool just make what I call a canoe cut. One cut one way and then reverse the carving and cut back towards the start of the first cut. It should pop out and the piece should look like a little canoe.
Donna did I confuse you because I think I just confused myself.LOL. I know what I am talking about but not sure I explained it properly.
Colin

[Ky_Whittler]

I think I Collin and I both use a similar technique. I too use a detail knife and take out a curved chip above the eyelid. I do know that when carving teh bark it's better for me to do the eye itself, then go back and carve in the detail with small cuts. That way I can take out a chip , then shave the rest down to match without damaging the lid.Whittler

[rick-in-seattle]

Donna,
If I read your question correctly, you want to know how to cut the opening between the eyelids?
If that is the question, try this once the mounds are set;

1) Put a small pencil dot on the inside corner of each eye.

2) Put a small pencil dot on the outside corner of each eye.

3) Starting at the inside corner, move toward center 1/3 the width of the eye and above the center of the eye to locate the upper eyelid and place a third dot.
(in miniature, this should look like an old ladies drawn on eyebrow; forgive me)

4) connect the dots

5) Using a (just stropped) 1/8" V-tool; carefully remove the lines; only going eyelid deep.

6) with a sharp thin bladed detail knife, cut straight in the center of the V.
Deep at the Corners, shallow at the center of the eye.

7) remove a small three-cornered chip just inside each corner of the eye.

8) Round the eyeball carefully

9) (Optional) remove a small chip to make the outside lower eyelid shorter than the upper lid.

Good luck, Rick

[Nancy-G]

OK Rick -- I've printed this out and posted it on the bulletin board above my work table. Every eye I carve is too deep and too flat.

Now, if it won't work, I can blame them on YOU !! *joke*

[Mike-in-WV]

Rick, If I'm reading you right you are carving the shape of the eye(roundness) and them laying out how you want the eye lids. Is that right?

I have always carved the eye lids first and then my eyes looked to big or to wide open. Mike

[Anthony Filetti]

I just used Marv Kaisersatts method which mirrors Ric's, it seems to work quite well. I use a V-Tool and since I am carving an arc accross the grain i make sure that I carve from the apex to each corner not one continuous cut. This resists the chip "popping" out.Cool

[rick-in-seattle]

Thanks a lot Nancy.

Mike, yes shape a nice smooth mound before starting the eyelids.
One thing to avoid, using too large of a V-tool to get into the inside corner.

Rocket, I would guess that my method is similar to Marv's. I have taken classes from him in the past.
I have also taken classes from Harold Enlow who suggested using the V-tool before the knife. (It prevents the eylid from flaking away)

Perhaps I could do a step-by-step pictorial on a large eye. Hmmm

[Mike-in-WV]

Thanks Rick, I'll try that on my next one. Eyes take me forever and they never come out the way I wanted them to. This will help I'm sure. Mike

[al.rudd]

OK everyone, this is what we do. We all show up at Nancy's house this weekend and carve eyes. Bring a sleeping bag and anything you want to trade.

al.rudd