painting eyes

[grumpy560]

I usually paint my carvings ,with fair to good results, and I usually leave them with a flat finish. The question is how can you paint a life-like eye and give it that shiny, glassy look?
I read somewhere of a person who used clear finger-nail polish but I'm not getting good results from it. It seems to react with the water base acylics that I use.
As a rule I don't seal the wood before painting, instead I paint, then wipe it down with a wet cloth to give it that old faded look. Would the results be better if I sealed it first?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[Guest]

Re: painting eyes

I heard that you can use epoxy to give life to those dull, painted eyes. Use it just like the fingernail polish. Why not use glass eyes like those offered by Tohikan?

<wildfowlart.com> has a forum section and they recently had information on the painting of glass eyes by Lori Corbett.. She is a top carver so she should know what she is talking about.

Good Luck...

[grumpy560]

Re: painting eyes

Never heard of using epoxy but I'll give it a try.Glass eyes
make me feel like I cheated by letting someone else do part of my homework. When someone asks me if I carved this piece I feel obligated to say (except for the eyes, someone else did that).
Know what I mean?

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to find out more about that epoxy thing, maybe it'll give me the results I'm looking for.

[Shimmy]

Re: painting eyes

I give the eye a highlite with a dot of white with a toothpick.When I am all thru with all the painting I give each eye a touch with acrylic varnish.

[Guest]

Re: painting eyes

I don't know if you thin your paints or not but if you do try painting the eyes with full strength paint.

Dave

[pinefeathers]

Re: painting eyes

After the eyes are painted and the paint is dry, put a drop of 'super glue' on each. in three minutes you will have that glassy look. :

[grumpy560]

Re: painting eyes

All kinds of ideas, keep them coming, and thanks for the response. I'll try them all, one of them is bound to work.

[pineyknot]

Re: painting eyes

You shouldn't have to use a white dot for a hi-lite if you are glossing your eyes with super-glue. Ambient light will give you all the twinkle you need.

[grumpy560]

Re: painting eyes

Tried the super glue thing. The result was about the same as finger nail polish, only it didn't make the paint react.
Only thing is,it isn't thick enough to dome up, which is what I want it to do. I want it to have that deep look to it in the middle. Would the epoxy be any thicker? I already know that varnish doesn't do what I want.
Thank you everybody for the responses. You are all very helpfull.

[Nancy_G]

Re: painting eyes

Grumpy, I carve an eye so it and the iris are slightly dome shaped before I begin painting.

I was admiring the eyes on a Santa carved by a Florida friend and she said she used varnish made by Plaid and available at any craft store and she mailed me a bottle. I haven't tried it yet. It's a 2 oz. bottle .... 'Treasure Crystal Cote' 'The thick, high gloss finish, finish coating and preserative. Danger, harmful, fatal, causes cancer, contains toluene, xylene, etc.'

She says that after she's finished painting the eyes she puts one tiny drop of this stuff on each iris and then lays the Santa on his back to let it dry. As I said, I haven't tried it but her eyes sure look great.

[Shimmy]

Re: painting eyes

What is wrong with Arylic Varnish which is inexpensive and non cancerous.?

[grumpy560]

Re: painting eyes

Thank's Nancy,I usually dome my eyes also, but on this particular carving I messed up and popped the eye out. (I was carving outside in the lawn, never found the piece) And that is why I'm trying to find a way to build up the eye to make it look like glass. I really dislike having to glue in a piece to make a repair, instead preferring to improvise.
That stuff your friend sent sounds dangerous, be carefull when using it.

[Guest]

Re: painting eyes

You may be able to get a build up by using the thick super glue. It is designed for use where there is a gap to fill when gluing. I may try that myself! The main use for my super glue has been closing wounds for my friends that haven't bought carving gloves yet.

Good Luck...

[pinefeathers]

Re: painting eyes

Well, The whole story finally emerges! Forget useing nail polish or super glue for a build-up. They are too thin. Try a product called Apoxie-Sculpt. This is a clay material with excellent adhesive quality. Biuld up the damaged area then recarve it after it cures.(About 12 hours). Or, you can sculpt it to shape while still pliable. Working time is up to three hours. Apoxie accepts paint well and a drop of super glue at the end gives that gloss look. Apoxie is used by many wildfowl carvers for repairs and constructing the delicate toes of birds.
Good luck.

[grumpy560]

Re: painting eyes

Thanks Pinefeathers, I think we have a couple of winners!!
I never knew there was a THICK version of super-glue, but that might work too.( thanks moonraker)
Now, who knows where to get the THICK super-glue or the APOXIE-SCULPT? Can this be bought in craft stores or do I need to buy it from a catalog ?