Animal eyes

[mik1947]

I have seen several outstanding posts on carving human eyes (santas, wood spirits, charicatures). Are the techniques used with animals like dogs, cats, squirrels, etc. different than with carving hman eyes?

[Donna_T]

Mik,
The technique is pretty much the same. Sometimes the shape of the eye or the iris is different. When carving an animal, it's important to have actual photos to use for reference to make sure you get the detail correct...shape, color, etc. I still build up the gloss on the eye the same way--drop by drop.

Donna T

[mik1947]

Thumbs Up Thanks, Donna T. I've started the eyes on a stylized cat. I don't really understand what you are referring to with the drop-by-drop. Is that in the painting to give them a glossy appearance?

[Donna_T]

Well, once they're carved, you paint them. I usually use 2-3 shades of whichever color they're going to be to give them some lightness. Once dry, I take a toothpick and drop one drop of high gloss varnish in the center of each eye...making sure to keep the carving level while each coat dries to keep it from running out on your carving. If you use Ceramacote Crystal Cote eye stuff, it tends to mound a bit (doesn't level itself out) but you have got to be careful that you don't dig the toothpick down in the painted part of the eye--it will lift color right off a carving if you "woller" it.

I put one drop on, the eye and let it dry, put another drop on the eye, let it dry, and put another drop on it. I sometimes put 5-6 coats of high gloss on an eye before it looks shinny and layered enough. I just get a cheap little can of Red Devil High Gloss varnish--it's available at Wal-Mart.

Hope that helps..it's late and I'm not thinking of the whole name of the Ceramacote stuff. I'll write more definition tomorrow night if you need it.

Donna T

[mik1947]

Thanks, again Donna. I really appreciate your help and that's a great explanation. I've been mostly carving birds and using glass eyes so this is my maiden voyage in carved eyes. I'm sure I will understand it better when I try it on some eyes! I have some practice eyes that I will experiment with before I try it on the cat.