How to Oil Paint Children's Eyes
Eyes can be one of the most difficult features to oil paint on any portrait. Oil painting a child's eyes can be even more of a challenge since you are typically working with less detail and still need to bring out the personality of the subject in the oil painting. By using a few simple techniques and selective color, you can learn to bring a child's eyes to life through oil on your canvas.
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Instructions
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Use a reference photograph especially if you're painting a real child. Young children don't typically sit for long. Choose a simple photograph.
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Sketch the image you wish to draw. Use a pencil and make the sketch lines light and lacking detail. You want the details to come from your oil paints and brush.
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Paint the face and hair first. Save the eyes for last, since the details you choose to add there will depend upon the way the rest of the face is painted. The eyes will play a big part of the overall facial expression.
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Pay attention to the shape of the eyes. Round or oval, the shape of the eyes will ensure you capture the child you want to capture. Paint sparingly when you add lines to the corner of the child's eyes. A few light strokes of a darker tone over the flesh tone beneath the eyes is all you need to add a fleshy emphasis.
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Paint lighting patterns in the pupils. Emphasize the angle of the light by brushing in a little white with the tip of a small brush. This also adds moisture to the eyes and give them a slight twinkle, which is ideal for bringing out the effect of youthful excitement in the eyes.
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Add a very light wash of black around the edges of the eye lid to give the impression of detail without adding hard lines that will make the eyes appear too wrinkled.
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Tips & Warnings
When painting a child's eyes, less is usually more. Too many details take away the smooth characteristic of a child's eyes.
