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Van Gogh's self-portrait (detail) is an exercise in line, but notice how it
varies in thickness and direction, especially around the eyes .
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If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then a painter
needs to get them right when creating a portrait. But the "oval, circle, dot"
anatomy of the eye that we all first learned as children is far removed from
how to give the illusion of a real eye in your work. Here are a few tips about
painting the eye that I like to keep in mind. I hope these will help guide you when it comes
time to depict this particular facial feature.
There are two lids to the eye, one above and one below. The
lower lid is the one most people tend to forget, so be mindful to define it.
This will prevent the eye looking like it is hovering above the face instead of
securely seated in its socket.
It isn't just the eye that gives the sense of roundness or
three-dimensionality in a work. The cheekbone and brow ridge give a sense of
the curve around the eye as well.
Highlight the upper eyelid and cast the lower lid in subtle
shadow--that's the way to give it roundness. Also don't forget to depict the
crease where the upper lid folds when the eye is open.
As with most features on the face, nothing is really defined
with strong, unbroken lines. Use varied lines and shading to create the peaks
and valleys that turn the form.
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Jusepe de Ribera's Penitent Magdalene
(detail) is an example of how emotive eyes
can be. Notice how convincing the eye
socket and area around the eye is painted. |
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We all love the idea of bright eyes, but that doesn't mean
the eyeball itself is pure white. Try a pale grey or beige and lighten it up
with a bit of skin tone color for the eyeball. It'll look more natural that
way.
The facial features of every person are so unique, and yet
there's a commonality about them. If you can master these intricate features,
you put yourself in a position of painting anything well. For that reason, I'm always on the hunt for more insight and feedback on what
makes a compelling, believable portrait.
In Ron Hicks' DVD download, Mastering Oil Portrait Painting, the
artist takes the complexity of the human face and breaks it down to shapes and
values--a lesson that can never steer you wrong and has practical applications
for any painting you attempt. David Leffel's Self-Portraits showed me how an artist can learn and create
stirring self-portraits that teach lifelong lessons for the artist.
And then there's always my go-to: Portrait Highlights. I keep it open on my computer all the time, learning from
practicing artists and Old Masters alike. I've gained a lot from these sources,
and will continue to do so in the hopes of bettering myself as an artist. I
hope they put you on the same path. Enjoy!
