How to Paint Eyes on Ceramics

Painting the eyes on ceramics like this doll's head takes a careful hand.

Making dolls from porcelain, a type of ceramic, became popular in 1800s Germany, Denmark and France. In the middle of the 19th century, a doll manufacturer in Germany began mass producing the heads, arms and legs. Making dolls with ceramic heads, arms and legs is a popular craft, even today. One of the most tricky parts of the process is the face. When you paint eyes on ceramics, it takes care and a steady hand.

Things You'll Need

• Paint brush
• Acrylic paint, white
• Acrylic paint, black
• Fine-point paint brush
• Acrylic paint (your choice of color)

Instructions

1. Paint the whites of the eyes. You may have to apply more than one coat of paint to make this look opaque. Let the paint dry before continuing.

2. Paint the outline of just the top of the eye with black acrylic paint. A fine-point brush works well for this step. Let the paint dry.

3. Use a fine-point brush to paint the pupil of each eye. Make sure the head is very still as you do this, so that the pupil is as close as a perfect circle as you can manage. The pupil should be twice as large as a normal pupil.

4. Add color to the eye by making a "c" inside the pupil; the open ends of the "c" should point in the same direction, either to the left or to the right. The choice of color is up to you. Let the paint dry.

5. Add sparkle to the eyes. Use a fine-point brush and white paint for this step. Make a short, vertical dash toward the top right of the eye. Make two smaller dashes toward the bottom left of the eye. Do this for both eyes.

References

• Antique Antiques: A Thing or Two About Antique or Collectible Porcelain Dolls
• Dolly and Ernie Ceramics: The EYES have it when painting ceramic bisque.