I’m sure this will be a multi part post. All of us have the need to fashion eyes into the pieces we make in some form or another. There are several ways to do this. I always do it the same way and am never satisfied with the result completely.
How I make eyes for my art pieces: I place roll on deodorant balls into my armature and sculpt lids around them. The eyes are the last part the of sculpture that gets painted. For most pieces I make this size and shape is appropriate. The problem I have with this approach is it tends to be difficult at times to keep them clean of debris during sculpting and even after cleaning them completely I have trouble getting a very smooth eye surface. I assume this is due to my painting process.
To remedy my painting process I have started looking at the monster painting master Jordu Schell. He has been kind enough to post a demo of himself painting an eye on youtube.
This is a very amazing process, I believe the round thing he uses near the end is a drill gauge.
Another way to make eyes that really intrigues me is the way that stone sculptors carve them into their pieces. I have watched Philippe Faraut do this when he works in clay and it always amazes me how effective it is.
I have recently ordered about 40 eye blanks. When things slow down in November I am going to hide in my basement and paint eyes for a month. I will post part 2 of this series and my findings and results and frustrations after I have painted them.
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Will have to practice Jordu’s technique on a bunch of ping-pong balls first – got a bunch at home – and then start to integrate them into regular sized eyeballs.
I never get tired of watching this video. Between the music and the craftsmanship, it's a visual mediation.
There's a reason Jordu is a tried and true hero of the sculpture/effects community and you can see it coming to life in this video. One of these days, I'll travel out west and enroll in his workshops. I'd gladly give up six months of work for the experience of being exposed to such a remarkable understanding of creature design and fabrication.
I will gladly join you, I have been wanting to head down south and attend his workshops someday.
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