[K_C]

I get lots of questions on Carving eyes when Im teaching a class and from club members and would like to post some self help information and a few pointers that should help you learn some of the answers you have ask. .
First thing you should do is get loads of information on the human skull and soft tissue and study it very intently know what muscles are where and what they do. This will teach you shape around the eye area and how the eyelids work, for instance did you know that the bottom eyelid doesnt have its own open close muscle its the top lid that opens and closes the bottom eyelid except for age factors and expression stays just below the center line .

The top eyelid at a relaxed expression is not open enough to expose the whole iris so if you carve a person with a normal awake doing everyday things expression you should have the bottom and top edge of the iris hid behind the lids. When you first draw it you will think you are making a squinting eye but do it anyway and see what you have.
Heres what mine looks like on this carving. See how close the eye lid lines are to the center line. . Always carve the upper eyelid first by making the upper eyelid stop cut and shave from the bottom of the eye socket area up ( refer to skull study) to make the eyelid relieved . I hope you can see that the area kinda straight and then redraw your center line and draw the upper edge of the lower eyelid and make a stop cut and then come from the top of the eyeball down to the lower eyelid stop cut . Notice how close the bottom eye lid line is to the center line.

This one is a little fuzzy but you can see the eye ball is smooth from top to bottom no ridge in the middle .


When you get thru you should have a eyeball that has a slite downward turn to it .
Thats because the part of the eyeball you actually see is the bottom quarter from center . Study someone from the profile and you will see the upper eyelid is just above center and the part of the eyeball exposed is causing the eyeball to have a downward turn . (Refer to skull study)
Now to stop carving the eye flat. What you will find is about one third of the eyeball shape is visible . Take a ball and cut it into thirds and the round third you have should be about right for the curve of the eye not considering the soft tissue above and below the eyeball ( refer to skull study) so just as you would look at anything else and carve it, prepare a mounded area for the eye to be carved in . I usually just carve a third of a barrel shape running up and down the eye socket the width of the eye, that I want to carve that leaves wood to make bags on top or bottom of the eye later if I need or want to . The barrel shape gives me the curve I want side to side.
Some people carve a round mound for the eye set up . I dont carve a mound because its easy to make your carving bug eyed . I know of a really good face carver that does nice work but his eyes all look bug eyed so watch for that if you use a mound. The best way to see it is look at the profile.
lets go over it quick.go back and look at the pictures as you go.
Prepare the eye area draw a center line, draw the lower edge of the upper eyelid, stopcut, shave up to relieve the eyelid draw the center line again draw the upper edge of the lower eyelid stop cut shave from the top of the eyeball to the stop cut wa la you have the eyeball. Now you can go back and shape the area around the eye to look like you want .
If you have prepared the curve of the eye area well you should have a nice looking eye its that simple practice it until you get it like you like it and it will come easy for you. Yes there is more to it but lets learn the basic eye and them start adding to it. That will come easyer when you know how to make the eye and its second nature to you. Practice and Study.
Now you guys that make you carvings looking to the side please Just stop for a minute, some of you are making the poor guys look like their neck is in a brace and trying to see a spider on their shoulder. I know you were told never to have a carving looking forward because it gives it a lost stare . Yes thats right but It can be done, looking forward that is, but you have to learn expression to make it look right so try it (refer to skull study and pictures of people ) you cant learn if you dont challenge yourself . How would you make me think that that grumpy old man is about to get me if he wasnt looking straight at me ? If I look at the carving from the side I would think he was going to get someone else. You see it can be done. how about that kid with tears in its eyes how are you going to steal my heart if the kid wont look at me ? Then there are times for the eyes to be looking to the side but remember the natural position of the head is usually the further you move the eyes to the side the more the head turns to that side .
So you dont know how to make expression yet but you want to carve a face thats OK then make his eyes look as if he is looking at the spider on your shoulder which should be just off center .
You still wondering about that lower eyelid not moving ? OK it does move but it is moved when the skin is pushed or pulled by other muscle's in the face when an expression is made . ( SKull and soft tissue study )
Most important dont quit learning, ask any professional and they will tell you that they learn something new all the time and most will tell you they sometimes have thoughts of quitting the art because they just dont think of themselves as good enough .
If you want to know more just ask or take one of my classes then I can show you hands on. I can come to your club or area for a class also. If you dont take one of my classes take a class from someone, hopefully someone who knows Anatomy . If you done your study it will be easy to see if the person knows by seeing there work and asking them questions before you take the class.
Its very hard to see and know what your doing wrong and how to fix it the self taught way yes it can be done but I see people that have been carving for years doing the same old thing wrong and I cant help but think they dont see it in there own work. So dont take a class wearing your thin skin and let the instructor help you by letting them make cuts on your work . If you want to, carve two one for the class and one that only you carve on of course that will mean carving pretty fast .
I Hope you have learned something here that will help you with your own carvings . Study study study take classes and ask questions . Most important keep trying something new .

Ken Carter

[K_C]

I revised the posting after rereading it. Man why didnt some of you tell me it read so bad . LOL hope it reads better now .
Ken

[BobD]

Hi Ken,
Do you have any photos to go along with this... I'm a visual learner, and can pick up a lot more from photos than I can from words....(I know, I know...I can use words to tell people what I mean, but...)

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[K_C]

Bob
I dont but I will put something together . Thank you for the question

[vic n]

Ken, It's still kind of a tough read ... but I'm like Bob, if I could refer to a pic while I'm reading the text I learn/understand much quicker. I'd like you to do an entire face tutorial. I mean if you're going to post pix on how to do eyes, why not just walk us all the way through the whole face? Sounds like a very good technique and I'm going to try it soon! Thanks. Vic

[K_C]

Vic I hope the pictutes IM working on will help with the post . I know I could use an editor but I just dont have one handy so Im trying to do the best I can . Hang in there with me I'll get this usable. AS far as doing the whole face I dont think I could cover the face in detail on this type of forum it would take several pages and tons of pictures .There you go again I dont have an editor to correct all my grammer and such .I know I should have paid attention in English class but that was also a long time ago .

Ken

[vic n]

Ken, I know you're doing the best you can and I wouldn't ask any more. How about this .... the next face you do, take a few pix of the nose in progress, then open a pic and type " this is what I was doing here because ...." After that, on the next face you do, maybe you could do something similar with ears or the mouth. Before you know it, you'll have a tutorial!! All I know is the anatomy lesson with the carving lesson was great! I didn't know that my lower eyelid had no muscles! I had to run to the bathroom and wink at myself to prove it! Too bad it was a public restroom .... at work ..... Now I got some 'splaining to do! Thanks for making the effort to pass this on. Vic

[K_C]

Here is a picture of the set up and barrel shape

[K_C]

Here is a picture of the eye ball downward turn from the profile
Here is a picture of the Iris drawn in see how it is coverd top and bottom by the eye lid

[K_C]

And here is the rough finished face I will go back and nip and tuck it a little to clean and reshape anything that needs it . I gave him a pleased look because we finaly got this on the forum LOL By the way that right eye looks ok in person dont know whats up with the pictures.