How to Paint Luminous Eyes
Eyes in a painting can come alive when they appear to have a luminous quality. Anyone can achieve this technique with practice. Experienced painters may begin by painting the face and eyes, but less experienced painters or beginners, should always sketch out the face before painting. This will allow the painter to know exactly where the eyes should be positioned on the face. If you need a sketching tutorial, complete Section Two before starting on Section One.
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Things You'll Need
- Black
- Brown
- Canvas or canvas paper
- Eraser
- Flesh colored paint
- Fine tipped brush
- Gold
- Pencil
- Ultramarine Blue
- Violet
- White
Instructions
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Painting Luminous Eyes
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1
Carefully paint the upper and lower outlines of the eyes using a fine tipped brush and either a blue or violet tone. Gold can also be added for definition, but use gold sparingly. Make sure that the outlines are not heavy. Heaviness can make the eye appear to be watery.
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2
Use white paint to paint the whites of the eyes, and varying hues of white and ultramarine blue to paint the shadowy areas of the eye. Remember that shadows may be cast into the eye from either the nose or the eyebrows.
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3
Make sure to use thin paint on the pupils. Paint can be reapplied as the paint dries. Pupils should appear to be transparent and always round.
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4
Allow the pupils to dry completely before adding the detail to the painting. Make sure that the detail such as the eyelashes are painted with great care so that they are detailed.
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5
Next, paint the eyebrows with warm colors. This will help the eyes to appear brighter. Make sure that the eyebrows are thin enough that the skin is seen through the eyebrows.
Sketching for Beginners
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6
If painting is a new art form to you, start by sketching the face and eyes before painting. Select a well sharpened pencil to sketch the eyes and face. Sketching helps to determine what the eye should look like and where its exact placement needs to be before painting. Don't be afraid to erase your work and start over at any point.
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7
Divide the face into thirds. Determine the proper placement of the subject matter's eyes in relation to the rest of the face. The eyes should sit on the bottom of the upper division line.
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8
Draw the pupils. Pupil size can vary in people. Some pupils appear quite large while others seem small. Unless the subject is to appear angry, always intercept the top half of the pupil with the upper eyelid.
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9
The direction of the eyelids, and size and shape of the eyes can determine the character of the subject. The position and details of the eyes can make a person appear mischievous, kind, grumpy and evil.
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