Portrait Classroom: EYES

[peoplepainter]

Hi all! Thanks for checking out this classroom. I have never taught anything before so let me apologize in advance but I hope you get something out of the information I am posting here.

First, let me borrow from Dianne's superb classroom on the mouth by saying I hope you feel free to post anything you feel is relevant here in this thread. Comments, questions, critiques, ideas, suggestions, hints, tips, paintings and drawings of the eyes, and practice efforts of all kinds are welcome. I will do my best to check in frequently and assist if I can.

I am not an expert, but I think the basic guidelines I follow when painting or drawing eyes might be of some help.

Here is what I plan on posting:

1. EYE BASICS-I have created a series of steps in Photoshop to show the basic principles I follow when painting or drawing eyes. This is a step-by-step illustration that includes eye shape and structure (sans anatomy), shadowing and lighting, and a few other tips. This isn't an award winning drawing but it should be a good guide.

2. LISA'S HOT SOFT PASTEL TIP-A brief step-by-step in soft pastels which culminates in my favorite tip of all time and I think it's a hot one! I can't take credit for the tip. When I was 15 years old I saw a portrait exhibit by an artist who really impressed me (except for his name which I don't recall). He shared this hot tip with me and I have used it ever since. I think this tip can also be adapted to whatever medium you might use.

3. RESOURCE PHOTOS FOR PRACTICE-I am working on this. I hope to gather photos of eyes that have good lighting and post some of them to be used for practice for those interested. I am still getting all the photos together but I should be able to post them in a few days. I really could use some help here if you have any fantastic eye photos you would like to share with other participants. Feel free to e-mail them to me but make sure you note something in the subject of your e-mail about the eye classroom. Thank you.

If you would like to see anything additional, I am open to suggestions.

Well, I think that covers it. I hope you enjoy the classroom and I look forward to hearing from you! OFF WE GO...

Thanks,

Lisa

[peoplepainter]

Below you will see a series of illustrations in which I try to "build" an eye so you have a basic understanding of the eye. As I said, not the best drawings but hopefully it will help. Here we go:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED01.jpg


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED23.jpg


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED45.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED67.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED89.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED1011.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED1213a.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-ED1415.jpg

[peoplepainter]

As promised the following is a series of steps in soft pastel which build to the hottest tip I have ever received. I hope you will find it useful!

Here are the steps I use for eyes in soft pastel:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-HT1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-HT2a.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-HT3.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-HT4.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-HT5.jpg

[eileenclaire]

Excellent demonstration, Lisa! Thank you for the wonderful graphics and explanation! Though I don't work in pastels, I think that hot tip can apply to any medium - a sparkling white in the eye can really breathe life into a portrait.

[imperess]

wow !! great tutorial lisa thanks for sharing the " hot tip!!" I will have to try this on my next portrait. You have given some great advice!

thanks so much,

~Carol

[artbabe21]

wow, what am impressive demonstration!! What talented artists we have here! :D Thanks Lisa!!

[DLGardner]

Wow, thanks so much Lisa! You've really explained a lot of things I didn't realize, like how the light is affecting the entire eye. I see those things but didn't realize what was going on. This is going to help me tremendously. Great demo. Thanks!

One question that I have had from others and I know you can answer...how do you get the right size of the eye. For me it has just been observation and measuring in relation to other features of the face. But is there a rule of thumb or tip that you go by to figure this?

I love your drawings. Very bright and clear. Thanks so much for your hard work.

Dianne

[peoplepainter]

Eileen, Carol, Cathleen, and Dianne! Thanks for the nice words. I do hope this thread helps people understand the basic form of the eye as well as providing tips and hints. Carol, let me know if you try the conte tip. It's a little bit of a game of finesse, but it's amazing how it puts zing in the eyes.

Dianne,
I am so glad you reminded me! In my haste to get this thread up I forgot one other thing I had worked on....placement of the eyes. I am posting it here. This is a good and very simple guide for eye placement. Obviously people's facial proportions vary greatly and positioning of the head must be factored in but it is a good start. There are other relative proportion guidelines I might add later. I do pay attention to the distance between the eyes as it relates to the width of each eye. When I start sketching out a portrait, I put the eyes in first. I figure if I get their placment and proportion right I can build the rest of the face more easily.

Thanks again for reminding me!

Lisa

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Jan-2005/43849-PROP1.jpg

Note: As we age, our eyes move up on our faces. Our nose gets a little larger and gravity tends to turn it down. Furthermore, our faces tend to elongate.

Children have rounder heads. The younger the child, the lower the eyes fall on the face...babies having eyes at about the 1/2 way point from top of head to the chin.

[greenhoop]

One of the best tutorials that i have seen. Thanks again for the tips hopefully i will put them to good use. :clap:

[vee_209]

Thank you Lisa for your wonderful tips. :clap: Eyes has always been a problem in many paintings because it's the first thing in the painting people look at. It would be great if you could explore more on the difference of eyes in different races eg caucasian, oriental etc.

Many thanks,

Vee

[Striver]

Thanks Lisa, another warm human article by the team. Will dig out those pastels and try the conte trick.
Les

[llanpe]

Thankyou Lisa, fantastic, I am going to start working with eyes, I will post some when I have something no too bad.
Peter

[mothsailor]

This is a wonderful tutorial. It must have been a huge amout of work to put it together. Thank you so much. :clap: :clap:

[peoplepainter]

Greenhoop, Vee-209, Striver, and llanpe, ad Dave,
I am happy to see you think this might be useful!

Striver, do try the conte thing! When you do, please post it along with your thoughts on whether it worked for you and maybe any additional tips for that method.
Vee, you have a very good point. Fortunately with eyes, there are few differences among us. The structure is very similar and the differences are mainly in how the eyelids form over the actual eye. I do see your point so I will try very hard to include a nice variety when I post some photos that people can use for practice.
Peter, I am really looking forward to seeing what you do! I know it will be wonderful.

Looking forward to setting my eyes on all your eyes!

Lisa

[Mikki Petersen]

Lisa, as a novice to portrait painting, these classrooms are so valuable. Thank you for a very cohesive lesson on creating lively eyes. I love the conte tip. Lick it, eh?

[laudesan]

Fabulous!!!!!!!!!!

I have signed up for email updates on this classroom too.

I shall join in soon, but I want to do the mouth first..

Thanks guys for these classrooms they are just great!!!!!!

Cheers..

[Enchanted]

I add my thanks to Lisa for a great lesson on eye construction.

It would be great if you could explore more on the difference of eyes in different races eg caucasian, oriental etc.

Many thanks,

Vee
With the modern-day methods of cosmetic plastic surgery, one of the specialty fields is in the surgical "Asian Eyes" procedure. Here is a brief explanation excerpted from one of the numerous web sites "selling" this beauty enhancement technique - although it is a hotly debated topic as to weather it is really a beauty enhancement or a cop-out to the Western ideal of what beauty is.

THE EYES, the saying goes, are the windows of the soul. It's the first thing you notice about a person. You can tell if someone is lying or lecherous--or both--with a swift glance. Asians, faced with doubts about the size and beauty of their eyelids, are flooding into plastic surgery offices to outfit themselves with a new pair.

The eyelid crease, a dominant genetic trait, is determined by the structure of the levator muscle, which controls the opening of the lid. While everyone--Asians and non-Asians alike--has this muscle, in non-Asians an extension of the muscle causes a crease to form when the eyes are opened. Asians do not always have this extension, but instead have an extra layer of fat. During surgery, the doctor removes the fat and stitches the eyelid to the levator muscle, creating a crease.

Figures from the American Association of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery indicate that there has been a 35 percent rise in cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States since 1990. The surgery is catching on nationwide, in image-conscious California, and especially in the Bay Area, where both Asian and plastic surgeon populations are growing every year.

[keishamari]

Wow! Lisa!
Thank you so much...I am printing this for future reference...You have really gone to much work for this tutorial. I really appreciate it. The tip was extraordinary. Obvious in your tutorial. I hope someday I will feel I have something to share here also and take the time out to do so.
This is so helpful!
Diane

[peoplepainter]

1mpete, Laudesan, jaxas, and keishamari,

Happy to have you join the thread! I hope some of you (or all) will post your efforts on eyes...even the ones you are working on now as part of your portraits. 1mpete, let me know when you try the conte thing.

Jaxas, your excerpt was a very interesting read and I am glad you posted it but it saddens me. Part of the fun of painting portraits is in seeing all the different shapes and forms people take. I love that we have different characteristics. I must say that I personally find Asian people to be beautiful and I think it's a shame that American culture has somehow sent the message that we should all look the same. How boring.

Thanks for commenting ya'll!

Lisa

[alfredart]

Lisa, wonderful job on this. I'm sure this will help alot of people. One thing you may want to add... right, like you want to do more. But, you may want to include 3/4 angle and side views since they are so different from drawing straight on.

Just a thought.


Oh yeah, I just noticed you're from Mo. So am I, born in St. Charles and raised in Rolla.

Peace,
AL

[Pars]

Lisa, thank you so very much for this thoroughly wonderful "birdseye" view into eyes.

Not that you need another bit of work, but may I ask if you have any references to the closed eye that you can refer me to, struggling with one of those now--all socket and eyelashes

[peoplepainter]

Al!
I live in O'Fallon! Come home!
You have a great point about the different angles. I will try to do that. Problem is most of my refs are more straight on views. I'll hunt around.

Pars, I don't have any refs but let me put out the work right here and ask that anyone who has photos of closed eyes and are willing to post them as a ref for Pars, please do! Hope it helps.

Below are some reference images I borrowed from my own small collection, friends, and the image library. Many of them have great lighting so you can see how the direction of the light affects the coloring on the iris. Some of them are nice and clear so you can see how the eyelashes grow. Feel free to use these for practice and post them here!

Thanks,

Lisa


Thanks to JulieBoyles, Duncan Berenice, Canis Lupess, Jocelynsart, JCoop and
Dave's in Florida for the great refs.

[peoplepainter]

Here are some more eyeballs for reference.

Lisa

[peoplepainter]

Here is one more batch. Try 'em!

Lisa

[JCoop]

Lisa, your classroom is magnificent! There is no wonder that you are a tremendous artists... your insights are terrific. I for one, am a better artist having known you!

I've finished my assignment using the principles that you teach in this thread... the pupil is a bit off center. Even though my style is loose, the same rules do apply...

Hey Teacher, do I get a sticker?!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Jan-2005/30872-eye_painted.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Jan-2005/30872-eye_ref.jpg

Digital Painter 9 _"Virtual Oil" Technique.

[TxAggieDarlin]

HI and yes, thank you....I even did an eye that looks like an eye......thank you so much for doing this :wave:

[Judi1957]

Missed the start of this. Wow, great demo!
:clap: :clap: :clap:
Thanks!

[peoplepainter]

Jcoop, yes you get a sticker...a big gold star with a smiley face on it. Thanks for posting your eye. I think people will learn from it. It's so nice and big and clear! Hooray! You are a good pupil (lol, lol, lol-I love eye puns).

TxAggieDarlin and Judi1957, thanks! Feel free to post your eyeballs!

Lisa

[mothsailor]

Here is a first attempt. Now I post it, I can see that the pupils aren't right! Any other comments?

[Rosic]

Lisa... you have put together such a concise and visual piece of eye candy... pun intended! Thanks for all the work you have put into this.
Bernie

[peoplepainter]

Hey Mothsailor! An excellent pair of eyeballs. I think you caught yourself on the pupils. For some reason they don't bother me much, but you could even them out a tad by centering them and rounding them. Other than that, great job. I'm fairly sure you have duplicated your ref well. Seems the light is coming from our right side. You may want to watch that most of the time the lighter part of the iris would then be on the left side but this may not have shown in the ref. That being said I am so glad you posted and think you have rendered it very well!
:clap: :clap:

Rosic, eye thank you for the compliment :) .

Lisa

[kordelia]

glasses, straight on, angled, reflection??, glasses, glasses!!!! pleeeeeeeze... this is so great... thank you SO much!

other tip i picked up i thought i here and used once: the tip of that white conte on lower lid, about the width of the iris... makes eyes open up too, and look liquidy.... worked in a child's portrait.....IMHO

[GoldCoin]

Lisa.. Thank you...you have offered so much to learn. What a fun classroom to share knowledge.

Okay, to put that "tip" in effect... I moisted my mouse & he didn't seem to mind. :)

[peoplepainter]

Kordelia,
Glasses are difficult, that's for sure. I wouldn't really know where to begin there as glasses are so different in style, often mask a good view of the eyes, and sit so differently on each person. That is likely a completely new classroom idea...
Great thought on the lower lid using conte. I'm glad you mentioned it! I think I have done that too a few times. Really makes the yes look like they have tears on them.

GoldCoin,
Thanks tons! LOL. The mouse didn't even squeek? You're too funny. Your eye is awesome! What brush did you use?

Lisa

[laudesan]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Jan-2005/22284-acrylic_paintings_007.jpg

Back to the practice board..:(

[Mary Woodul]

This is an incredible class Lisa, thank you. I have never painted portraits except one recently in the drawing and sketching, 101 class, and I would like to start learning also. I hope I'm not to late.

[pastelist]

What a wonderful demo. Very informative.
:clap:

[laudesan]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Jan-2005/22284-eyes_002.jpg

Nearly midnite here so I am off to bed. but I shall have another go tomorrow!!

[JulieBoyles]

This is a great lesson Lisa! I learned a lot, especially about the parts of the eye. Now I know the names of the parts and I don't have to keep saying, "You know the black part inthe center of the eye" or " the round colored part of the eye" :D Thanks for taking the time to do this great class!

Here's the eyes I've been working on lately. The finished painting will be unveiled sometime this weekend!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Jan-2005/21314-eyesportraitpost.jpg

Thanks for looking,

Julie

[peoplepainter]

mlelevier and pastelist! Great to have you join the fun. I really do hope this either refreshes the memory or plants ideas. Please don't hesitate to post your eyeballs!
Laudesan, way to go! That second batch shows you really put your mind to it! I think practice can really be relaxing as well. Not having the pressure of a commission makes it easier to try new things. Thanks for posting and keep it up!
Julie (a.k.a Red Riding Hood), MY, what beautiful eyes you have (posted)! They look real. Really real. So glad you posted them. Everyone should go find you post of the entire portrait. It is excellent.

Happy you all are here!

Lisa

[Precious Mazie]

I will be posting my eye practice soon but I wanted to comment on the glasses problem. I read somewhere that when you do a portrait with a person who wears glasses draw or paint the face first then add the glasses. I have followed this advice and find it much easier to do than to put the glasses in the picture while I am working on the face. If you are working from real life this is easy to do just ask to have them taken off but in a photo just do your best to ignore them till your done with the head.

I am looking in everyday at these lessons wishing I had more time to practice! Thank you all for all the information! :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Precious Mazie]

Oh I forgot to mention the only exception to this rule is when the person wears glasses so thick that it distorts the look of the eyes (like my grandson poor baby) then if you are doing a portrait where you are looking through the glasses it is better to do the face except the eyes add the glasses then do the eyes inside the glasses. Hopes this helps!

[red_ironoxide]

this is a great class! thank you. here's my eye...well...not my eye, i got the ref from the image library.

[peoplepainter]

Precious Mazie, That is fantastic advice. Thanks so much for reminding me of that.
Red_ironodixde, Your eye is superfantabulous! Really fantastic. I am so glad you posted it. Your style is different from some of the others posted here and so it is a great example that the basics are the same regardless of technique. You really did an awesome job. Those eyelashes are perfect! I love your technique by the way...


Lisa

[kordelia]

hi, wanted to drop off my homework, Teach..... the pencil sketches are for a wedding portrait i'm slowly assembling... i got Him... i got her mouth, but the eyes dont work on her..... BTW, in the mail came the perfect teaching tool for glasses: a sale brochure from Lenscrafters!!!! yea for junque mail!!!! C&C, please... do you do that here??? thankew... Kory

[red_ironoxide]

superfantabulous.....you're making me blush

ps. i thought this classroom would be more popular than "the mouth"

[peoplepainter]

Kordelia, good for you! 3 eyeballs on one page! Almost new-agey, huh? You have the highlights in there very nicely. You also remembered the beveled lids! I am so happy you posted. You are right about the glasses brochure. Perfect practice for those who want to challenge themselves with that.

Red_ironoxide, are you blushing a red iron oxide color? LOL. Sorry to make you turn red but I had to call it as I saw it. Superfantabulous. Extraordanific. Feel free to post more, even former eyeballs from other paintings/drawings. I am sure they would be of benefit and I will get to come up with new words!

Thanks,

Lisa

[PAMIVAN]

What a great lesson!!!! I honestly didn't know about how every ones lids lay on the human eyeball! Very cool!
Here are some "weee little baby" eyeballs in prismacolor pencil. The one thing I can offer about working on toned paper, is SAVE YOUR WHITES! ...For me, that means putting bright white highlights down early, then going back and laying it on thick at the end. Hope that helps someone!
Pam

[roger41]

Wow.......very cool thread,
Well here are a few of my offerings. Eyes a relatively new area to me, because I've only been doing portraiture for a couple of years now.....still have away to go, so I'm gonna stick to this thread and learn some stuff.

Roger

[peoplepainter]

Pam,

I knew your eyes would add something to this thread and I think we needed some examples of younger eyes. I really appreciate you posting yours. They are excellent. Also, thanks for adding the tips for working on toned paper. Sometimes I forget about colored pencil and pencil folks which brings me to:

Roger,

Thanks so much for putting your eyeballs here. I was really struck by them in your thread and I know everyone can benefit from seeing them. They are very intense and I think you did an awesome job on them. You really have amazing control of those pencils!


Both of you have drawn your eyes with great lighting in mind and I am so glad you were kind enough to share them here. I really think you have helped everyone, but especially the colored pencil and pencil folks!

Thanks again,

Lisa

[sultry]

Hi Lisa,
Hope I am not too late to join this very informative and great class. I was in the mouth class and finally had enough breathing room to do the eyestudy. Just wanted to tell you I have learned alot from your demos. Thank you so much. I am a student in JayD's 101 course and I have sketched eyes before I started the course. First sketch of eyes are b4 the next set of eyes are what I did yesterday.
oops forgot to say what I used... reg #2 pencil on first set. 2nd set done in HB mechanical pencil and a little blending with stump. :)

[peoplepainter]

Sultry,

Never too late! I'm really glad you posted your eyeballs. I think your most recent set of eyes shows you learned something...Not sure from whom, but they look great and I hope I had a littel something to do with it. You reallly have the eyelash shape right and the lighting on the iris is really good. What do you think? Do you like the most recent batch better than the older ones? It also seems like you have developed a bit more control of the pencils. In any case, glad you posted.

Lisa

[sultry]

Hi Lisa,

Yes I agree I do like my second set of eyes better. The first set of eyes (done in Oct 2004) I was trying to hard to make them look wet and not looking to sketch what was really there.

I feel I learned alot from you in applying the highlights and the realization of how the lids cover the eye. I have learned alot in 101, like how to apply my pencil looser (I have also learned how to shade and at the current time I am struggling with values :rolleyes: )

I do love your work Lisa I was looking at your past threads of beautiful artwork. Your eyes are so full of life and show such personality in each piece you have done.

I am currently doing a portrait of my daughter and I owe alot to you for showing me how to make her eyes shine. Thank you soooo much :) If you were in front of me I would hug you. lol (inserts hugging smiley here).

[peoplepainter]

Sultry,

Yes, I agree with you. The second set it better. Isn't it great to see you have improved so much?
I don't think I deserve that much gratitude. You obviously know what you are doing! Still, we can all use a hug-----so thanks!
Thanks also for the kind words about my work. I keep trying to learn more and get better. I do love painting eyes.
I hope you will be posting your portrait of your daughter in the Portraiture Forum and I will look forward to that.

Thanks again for the words and the hug. Hugs back at you too!

Lisa

[Mary Woodul]

Hi Lisa. Your work and your demo are excellent and makes anyone want to try portraits, which in my case will be a tremendous challenge. I am in JayD's 101 drawing class and needed another object to paint in charcoal, so I thought of killing two birds at a time, using your indications on drawing eyes. I took a picture of my eye and drew it in charcoal so that I could cross post it. I also want to try some of the other eye photo's you posted but in the meantime here is my eye. Thank you Lisa, for this extraordinary class. BTW, I cheated a little, and left out the wrinkles. :D

[peoplepainter]

mlelevier (I had to retype that 3 times-lol),
What an awesome eye---both the photo and the drawing! I don't even see wrinkles in the first place. I am going to have to go see if you have posted other work. From just the eyeball, it looks like you have a reallly unique style..a very nice one! You did a great job. Your value balances are excellent. I'm thinking portraits won't be as much of a challenge as you might think.
Hey, thanks for the nice words on the classroom. I hope people learn something even if it is just to look more carefully at things.
Would you mind if anyone else wants to paint your eye? It's such a good photo and a slightly different angle than the others that I think it would be great practice if anyone is up to trying it.

Thanks for posting your good work! Now go do a portrait and post in in Portraiture for us to see...

Looking forward to that,

Lisa

[Mary Woodul]

Thank you Lisa for the nice words and comment, and yes, by all means, if anyone wants to, they can use my eye with wrinkles and all. :D I will stick around this forum and learn portraiture.

[CKing]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS] :clap: :clap: Terrific tutorial! I don't use pastels either, but the information should work with oil portraits too. I will use your tips when painting my next (my 4th) one!
Thanks!

[cmwynn]

My daughter has fairly thick glasses, so I went over early to take a picture of her eyes before she put on her contacts (or fixed her hair.) The baby's eyes were a bonus
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Feb-2005/29839-Eye_photoxm.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Feb-2005/29839-Teyesxm.jpg

[Judi1957]

Morning :wave:
I thought I would try one with the 3/4 view Al was talking about. (At least I think this is what he was refering to.)
C & C welcome.

Hey Connie,
Great post, very helpful to see what distortion glasses can do and shadow of the frames! Beautiful baby eyes too! :D

[peoplepainter]

CKing, thank you and I agree the basic ideas should work with oils too. Please post when you do our 4th painting!
cmwynn, thank you for posting that. It's great practice and those are nice and clear photos.
Judi1957, great job on difficult angles. So glad you posted.

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I was in between computers and am finally up on running on the new one. Yipee!

Thanks ya'll.

Lisa

[Blah]

Lisa, thank you for such a clear and understandable lesson, and sparing the time later to comment on all our attempts.

Since we are currently learning to use charcoal in the Basic 101 class in the D&S forum, I have used a charcoal pencil and one of the references provided by you.

Blah

[peoplepainter]

Blah,

You are so welcome. Thankk you for the nice words.

WOW! WOW! You did a superb job on this and I am so glad you posted. Charcoal is such a great medium and you are obviously extremely skilled at it! You have created a perfect eye.

Thanks again for posting!

Lisa

[artbabe21]

Thanks again Lisa!
For all of you who are following this series the next feature, the NOSE can be found here... :D
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249234

[CKing]

Here are eyes from my first 4 portraits. If resizing them made them blurry, I apologize, but I'm just getting the hang of this picture posting business. :rolleyes:
So far, eyes are my favorite part!
Thanks so much for these tutorials! :clap:
Christi

[rosebard]

Lisa thanks for giving us these great demos. They are really good. Following up your first demo I have redone most of the demo with graphite and CP. I am not so good with cps. But I love colors, I do better with them, then with graphite values. Before I started I exercised wiith 3 reference pic. After the I did the demo I can see what I didnt do right in the exercises pics.

I know this is a 2 class behind from the current one. But just know my life schedule is starting to fit into place. So I should be practicing the eyes, mouth and nose for the next couple of weeks. Soon my projects will be up to date.

Thanks eillen and Lisa for this wonderful class!!

Saw all the posts and wanto to congratulate every eyes drawings. I could learn from each one of them.

By the way, what is a conte? I havent get used of all the art words yet.

[rosebard]

Eillen I dont know if it is all right to come in now.

Today I bought a little set of pastel, just basic colours.

Tried the eye demo again with pastel this time. I got a little bit lost with colors. This time I used my son's eyes as reference from life.

[peoplepainter]

Christi,
Great job and I sure agree with you about eyes. That's the best part of ny portrait. Even when you only see eyes they still tell a lot about people, don't you think?

Bard,
Look at you go! Fantastic! There is lots of hard work in what you posted. You son's eye is really well done. Pastel is sometimes hard to handle but you have done a really nice job.
Conte is like a pastel but much harder, smaller and quite thin. Lots of people use the sienna colored version for drawings. I hope that helps So glad you participated. Thank you.

Lisa

[maria_khurram]

HI Lisa see my study about eye from one of the photographs.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Mar-2005/59753-Image-36.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Mar-2005/59753-B6.jpg
and see this too this is tiger's eye.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Mar-2005/59753-Tigers_eye.jpg

[jhercilia]

Here is my Eye contribution from my imagination with Artist's Oils

[peoplepainter]

Donald_weasely, you have some good skin tones there and the eye is good. Watch those bottom lashes and keep them looking natural. You have a good basic eye here.

jhercelia, so glad you added to the thread! Those artist's oils are hard to control but you have done a nice job with them! If you darkened the outer edge of the lashes just a tad, I think it might shape the eye a tiny bit more.

Thanks to both of you for adding to the posts!

Lisa

[jhercilia]

Ok Lisa,
Here is the new version of "The Eye". What do you think. I think that now it is more complete. The first one, was done at 1:30 AM. I was tired. :o

[peoplepainter]

Much better! I see you have that lower lid bevel in there too and what you have done with the lashes makes it look much more finished. Keep it up!

Lisa

[maria_khurram]

Now see my study of eyes
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Mar-2005/59753-Eye6.jpgWatercolorshttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Mar-2005/59753-Eye7.jpgGraphitehttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Mar-2005/59753-Image-11b.jpgAcrylics
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Mar-2005/59753-Image-15aa.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Mar-2005/59753-Image-15bb.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/29-Mar-2005/59753-Image-15cc.jpg
The first one is in pastel, 2nd one is in graphite and last one is in postercolors.
See this eye I made this in computer.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Apr-2005/59753-Eye.jpg I made this in Black colored pencil as an experiment.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/07-Apr-2005/59753-Portrait3.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Apr-2005/59753-006.jpg
Now I have put just persian blue in darks and tint in pupil in basic colors.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/09-Apr-2005/59753-009.jpg
Now I have put some orange, Blues and sienna. And I mentioned the colors which I used.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Apr-2005/59753-002.jpg

[Masque]

Hi Lisa, I just found your wonderful tutorial and (after reading every word) have it safely copied and filed. I hope it isn't too late to throw a question at you.

My question? How do you paint (in pastels) the black iris and have it read realistically. my mind tells me it has to be a very dark brown as I've always believed that without exception, the iris of the human eye is multi-colored. Now, I'm not so sure. I have a portrait commission of a 2 1/2 year old girl who, believe it or not, has irises that are so dark if you are 12 inches away you cannot distinguish the pupil or the rim around the iris. Even when closer and looking at them under good light and magnification you can barely distinguish them. It's almost black against blacker black.

This childs eyes are incredibly intense and compelling; they smile, they shine, snap and crackle and fascinate everyone who meets her. If this portrait is to be successful I must somehow find a way to capture them. The essense of this child is in her eyes. She seems a very quiet child exept for those eyes. They literally pull you in. In fact, her mother wants a painting because professional photographer(s) have not been able to capture whatever it is that this child projects to the mother's satisfaction. My gut tells me it can be done with the luminosity of pastels, I just don't know how yet. Any advice?

[peoplepainter]

Gloria, that is a great question! My sister has eyes just like that...almost black. In fact, mine are very close to that as well. It's very hard to find the pupil except in bright daylight. I think the best way to deal with that is not to falsely lighten the iris, but to look for highlights that will give them the life they need. Nothing can throw off a likeness more than eyes that are the wrong color (in my opinion) so I don't think I would change the color. Do look very hard for any subtle color change and do put that in but for the most part tell the story of the eyes with the proper shape and accurate highlights. Maybe, depending on the direction of the light you will have aslightly lighter area opposite the light source. It might be so subtle but if it is there you should put it in. Does that help?

I would love to see it when it is finished!

Lisa

[Masque]

Many many thanks, Lisa; just to know that I've got a way to go is comforting. I've started some preliminary sketches (2 separate 2 hour sessions) and taken some digitals more to ease my excitment over this portrait than any other reason. It will give me something to work on while Mom and daughter, "elisa" are in Switzerland for a time. Expected back mid-July. (The name is pronounced elis, but spelled with a lower case "e"-- something Mom made quite a point about). The child is a wonder to work with. It's like she is a 20 year old model in a 2 & 1/2 year old body. Very relaxed, very calm. She has instincts that are strange and wonderful to behold. Seems to know what I need before I know what that is.

I've got 4 children, 3 of them girls and not one of mine were anything like this little girl. Nothing at all.

I consider myself so fortunate to have this experience--and it is that--an experience. Above and beyond anything else and no matter how it goes.

Keep your fingers crossed that she doesn't come back from Switzerland a totally different child. If I don't succeed in this endeavor, I'll refer her to you.

Yes, I will post, but probably not until I'm finished and only then if I feel I have succeeded. Incidentally I ordered a 18x24 Hudson Highland canvas for it and I'll keep you posted how that feels regardless.

[ArtsyMom x3]

Here are some eyes I've done on portrait commissions, thought I would add them into the references....

these are in order of oldest paintings to newest painting, with the best last, in my opinion...the last set are my best so far....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-emerson_eyes.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-christopher_eyes.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-hannah_eyes.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-dad_eyes.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-william_eyes.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-rebecca_eyes.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-catherine_eyes.jpg

my current portrait, a WIP on watercolor forum and on portraiture forum:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-Liz_eyes.jpg
here are the same eyes, individually, a little closer:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-Liz_eye_left.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-Liz_eye_right.jpg

and...last but not least, the ref. photo of the eyes that I got this from...I took liberties, as you can see, lol...
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Aug-2005/30384-Liz_eyes_photo.jpg

[peoplepainter]

These are just stunning examples of many different poses. I know they will be a great help to anyone! It is so wonderful to see up close how you handle eyes in watercolor, something I know very little about.

Thank you so much for going to the trouble of posting these!

Excellent! A+ samples.

Lisa

[Striver]

Something to aspire to, thanks
Les

[laudesan]

Monique these are just stunning, you should put a link to the watercolour portrait classroom, ask Genna, I am sure she would love it..:)

[ArtsyMom x3]

Monique these are just stunning, you should put a link to the watercolour portrait classroom, ask Genna, I am sure she would love it..:)

Thanks!!! put a link to it where? I just woke up and I don't have my wits yet...put it in where? lol sorry!! :confused:

Thanks so much Les and Lisa!!!

[laudesan]

Into the Watercolour Classroom..;) It's o.k. I did it..;) :D

[ArtsyMom x3]

Into the Watercolour Classroom..;) It's o.k. I did it..;) :D

boy oh boy, I didn't even KNOW that there was a watercolor portrait classroom!! How in the world I missed that is beyond me...i'm off to see it now. Thanks!!

[laudesan]

Click on Monthly Classrooms in my Sig' Line..:D ;)

[rosebard]

Hi all!

Monique those are beautifully done!!:clap: :clap: :clap:

My next class on art course is watercolor. Thanks Laudesan for the link about Watercolor Monthly Class. I will surely stop by there, surely it will help me practice more and submit a better watercolor painting.

:wave:

[jinxy]

I havent been here for so long but wow this is great! How the eyes just sparkle! thank you very much. Jinxy

[asmith38]

Hi,
I just found this wonderful tutorial. Thank you so much for presenting it!

Is it permissible to copy the "demo" part of it?

Thanks!

[laudesan]

Yes that is what the Demo is for. Please post your efforts here for comment as well we would love to see it... :)

[asmith38]

My question was not clear. I meant, is it ok to copy the file and save it on my computer? I do want to practice it, but, right now, I'm not able to find the time.

[laudesan]

Sure it is. That is what this site is all about..:)

[asmith38]

Thank you, just wanted to be sure :)

[peoplepainter]

Just wanted to echo that. Absolutely use the files. I am so glad you found them helpful! I'd love to see the practice as well.

Lisa

[asmith38]

Thank Lisa, yes this is going to be very helpful to many of us. I know that people will keep referring to it, as it is very well done, very clear and detailed. Love your "simulation" at the beginning :D.

I promise I will practice and post it. But you better sit down before you look at it, I'm just a beginner, so... LOL!

[Trish_Brady]

Wonderful techniques, thanks for sharing! I'll agree lighting is the key to bringing the eyes to life. I paint portraits in pastels and would like to share a piece which I get a lot of positive responses on the way I've drawn the eyes.

[AZartlady]

Great tip about putting in highlights. Thanks

[dex]

[QUOTE=peoplepainter]As promised the following is a series of steps in soft pastel which build to the hottest tip I have ever received. I hope you will find it useful!
Hi Lisa,:wave:
I'm glad i found you;) ,a great demonstration,superb eye's(they certainly are,windows to the soul!),i cant praise them enough!,i am ovewhelmed!(so!,lifelike!),with eye's like that,the viewer wont see(if any!!)faults in rest of the face:) ,i only hope i can do half as good!(will try my best ;) ).
And the hot tip is really a HOT!!!!!!!!! tip,thanks.
regards
dex

[dex]

Hi all! Thanks for checking out this classroom. I have never taught anything before so let me apologize in advance but I hope you get something out of the information I am posting here.

Lisa
Hi Lisa:wave: ,I'm back!,
for the SECOND TIME!!.:clap:
you say you've never taught anything before!,:eek: ,you could have fooled me!!,
you've done yourself proud!:clap:
sorry cant stay!!:D (have to go look at those eye's again,WOW!!)
regards
deks(oooops,so excited forgot how to spell my own name!:D
dex

[ArtsyMom x3]

WIP on eyes...current commission....larger than real life eyes, too!! This is really a challenge!!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Oct-2005/30384-eyes_photo.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Oct-2005/30384-eyes1.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Oct-2005/30384-left_eye_1.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Oct-2005/30384-right_eye_1.jpg

The pupil needs to be round, not oblong, I know, lol...it will be fixed, next painting session!

Wow, looking at it online really shows you the problems!! The lash trail on the right eye...(his left) goes upwards, making him look wrong...makes the eye look too turned up on the end...if the lashes go just strait to the right, it will not look so harshly turned up...

[laudesan]

WOW what gorgeous eyes ........ :)

[dex]

Hi Lisa,:wave:
here's my attempt at eye's,tried to add a bit of colour but drawing was on shiny paper and pencil crayons wouldnt take:mad: ,best eye's i've done, EVER!!,thank's to you:wink2: .(so u can imagine what other's were like!:D ):wink2: .
regards,
dex

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2005/69694-image0.jpg

[dex]

This is a great lesson Lisa! I learned a lot, especially about the parts of the eye. Now I know the names of the parts and I don't have to keep saying, "You know the black part inthe center of the eye" or " the round colored part of the eye" :D Thanks for taking the time to do this great class!

Here's the eyes I've been working on lately. The finished painting will be unveiled sometime this weekend!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Jan-2005/21314-eyesportraitpost.jpg

Thanks for looking,

Julie

Hi Julie,:wave:
"the eye's have it!",a great pair!,most realistic,(would like to see the finished painting!:wink2: ),keep those brushe's bristling!:cat: .
regards
dex

[dex]

Wow.......very cool thread,
Well here are a few of my offerings. Eyes a relatively new area to me, because I've only been doing portraiture for a couple of years now.....still have away to go, so I'm gonna stick to this thread and learn some stuff.

Roger
Hi Roger,:wave:
Great drawings,thanks for your contribution.
regards
dex

[dex]

Hi Lisa,
Hope I am not too late to join this very informative and great class. I was in the mouth class and finally had enough breathing room to do the eyestudy. Just wanted to tell you I have learned alot from your demos. Thank you so much. I am a student in JayD's 101 course and I have sketched eyes before I started the course. First sketch of eyes are b4 the next set of eyes are what I did yesterday.
oops forgot to say what I used... reg #2 pencil on first set. 2nd set done in HB mechanical pencil and a little blending with stump. :)

Hi Sultry,:wave:
I have to concur with Lisa,great eye's and fab lashes.
regards
dex

[peoplepainter]

ArtsyMomX3 and Dex, you are on it!

ArtsyMomX3 you always amaze me. I can't believe you start with the eyes! I love doing them also so I save them for last.

Dex, you have really done a nice job. I noticed you have the eyelashes growing in the right direction which a lot of people ignore. Also, I like how you have done your side-view eye. Keep up the good work! Remember that the materials you use are important too. Good paper and pencils will make a world of difference.

[dex]

ArtsyMomX3 and Dex, you are on it!

ArtsyMomX3 you always amaze me. I can't believe you start with the eyes! I love doing them also so I save them for last.

Dex, you have really done a nice job. I noticed you have the eyelashes growing in the right direction which a lot of people ignore. Also, I like how you have done your side-view eye. Keep up the good work! Remember that the materials you use are important too. Good paper and pencils will make a world of difference.
Hi Lisa,
thanks for compliment/encouragement,but it's all down to you(couldn't have done it without you,and fab tutorial:wink2: ).
regards
dex

[dex]

here's my 2nd attempt at eye's,(couldn't make up mind what medium to use!),so used pencill/pastel/oil pastel/coloured pencil:D


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Nov-2005/69694-image0.jpg

[laudesan]

Not sure I would have outlined the iris?? Beautiful eyes tho'..:) You have the glint on opposite sides, was there a multiple light source?? ;)

[dex]

slight adjustment,any better?,took ref from JulieBoyles eye's,(nothing like them!?:) ),will do again later!(hope I have better luck ,next time):evil: .


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Nov-2005/69694-image0.jpg

[laudesan]

The glint looks much better..:)

[Simon1265]

Wow, thanks for sharing this! I have always had trouble getting the shape of the lids just right. I think this will help me tremendously! Thanks again.

Simon

[ArtsyMom x3]

Here are finished eyes...notice the reflection of the sky and the lovely red spot I was taught to put in there to create a sparkle!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Nov-2005/30384-left_eye.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Nov-2005/30384-right_eye.jpg

[Striver]

great, am most envious
Les

[dex]

Here are finished eyes...notice the reflection of the sky and the lovely red spot I was taught to put in there to create a sparkle!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Nov-2005/30384-left_eye.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/14-Nov-2005/30384-right_eye.jpg

EYE!,EYE! Monique,:evil: ,great job!!:wink2: (love the sparkle!)
dex

[Limey]

Re Portrait Classroom :Eyes

Thankyou Lisa for a great demonstration.It is the best instruction I have seen since I took up pastel portraits.
Peter S.

[mauricar]

How would you do puffy eyes? See Puffy Eyes in the CP forum for my subject and various attempts. The eyes are almost closed, but not quite. When I blow of the photo I can see his eyes peeking out, but when I draw them, they look way to big. I tried smaller and it looks stupid. Any suggestions?