Sculpture Tutorial - 4

SCULPTURE TUTORIAL - part 4

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EYES

Now we get to the eyes. First add some clay in the area, shape it into eyelids and then hollow out the eye sockets couple millimeters deep. Take white clay and carefully stuff it inside. It has to be shaped carefully to create the illusion of smooth round eyeball. Do not fill the whole depth of the socket because you'll need a millimeter or two for irises.

It is very important to choose the right color for irises. Begin by finding a large photograph but before you start examining anything make sure the lighting is white (find some presumably white object in the view and check whether all three colors are in reasonable balance - most editing programs have the dropper function). Then check for balance of colors of the iris itself. The prevalently reddish tint of skin all around can play tricks on you but numbers don't lie. For example what may seem like blue eye is most likely merely a gray one. Normally eyes range from various shades of brown to slightly greenish or gray. Remember that the perceived color may be also affected by what is reflecting on the glossy surface of an eye but what need not be visible on the picture.

brown - red>green>blue
green - red=green>blue
blue - red=green=blue

Once you picked the right color take a little bit of the clay, roll it into a ball and then flatten in. Put it in the center of the eyeball and press it against it until it becomes attached. Then take some clay of slightly darker shade and apply very small amount to the rim of the iris. Scratch some lines into the clay from the rim to the center to break the flat uniformity.

When this is done take a mechanical pencil in make little hole in the center of the iris. The holes look much more realistic than black clay added on the top as pupils. It is best to partially fill the holes with black clay to hide the white foundation.


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