The way I make eyes has evolved over 5 years from using small hole punches and printed irises embedded between polymer clay and UV cured sculpture gel, to an early version of these.. Eventually I came to this method, but initially I followed the actual anatomical structure of an iris which is more of a disk. It wasn't until last Summer, when I began my journey into 1/12 scale dolls and needed to make irises more bowl shaped to accommodate the pupils, it was then that a realization struck me why not make all my eyes that way? So after a few batches of making these eye in 1/6 and 1/12 scale serendipity struck, and I finally made the eyes that grabbed my attention and really have a depth that whispers as an animate living soul.
This technique for me is as good as it's going to get, that was my missing puzzle piece, the only aspect that I might attempt in the 1/4 scale size is to paint threading on the irises, but the present way I create them shown in these video tutorials is effective enough in 1/12 and 1/6 scale that I will not modify it for those sizes, now I'm ready to make the dolls I dreamed of.
Not without sharing this first because I feel as Tesla described
"The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power." — Nikola Tesla
The knowledge which comes as ideas fueled by desire to create, and perfect that which I create is a gift from Divine Being, and I don't mind giving it forward unconditionally.
In honor of Nikola Tesla, I'm naming the mouse on my Venus Gaze watermark for 2015&2016 Mr. Tesla Mouse he will be your guide for all tutorials, and creations I share online for the next 2 years.
The first video is on how to make the eyes themselves from polymer clay, I use Fimo Classic White
They are easy to make, this technique is a way of bypassing many of the frustrating aspects of previous ways I've made them, and less complicated, it's definitely a lot easier using the tools, than making individual balls by hand. In this video I explain the first two steps making the eyes baking them, the first baking is 275°F (130°C) for 10 minutes after preheating. I place these on a glass dish start the oven once it reaches the temp, I set the oven timer to 10 minutes, once the 10 minutes are up I shut the oven off, wait 5 minutes and open the oven door to speed up the cooling.
Step two is painting, I keep that simple I use Genesis Heat Set paints, Viridian Blue 01 and Carbon Black for any shade of Blue & Green Eyes, Burnt Umber & Carbon Black for any shade of brown Eyes. When I bake the paint, I let the temp reach 275°F (130°C), then shut the oven off within 5 minutes. I also describe safety, this technique requires the use of an razor craft knife to remove the eyes before use, I explain that in the first video.
Now in the second video, I make the Irises. This way of making them is a lot easier than printing them out on transparencies and using a hole small punch, or cutting them out, I can color 5 pair of these eyes in the amount of time it took me to print and cut a single pair of those earlier eyes I made. This method also gives me more control in the size I make the irises. Below the video are graphic files that walk you the steps this third process. The recipe for this eye color, and mixture of Pearl-Ex Powder. These are baked repeating the first baking process.
All of this is covered in the video, these images can serve as reference charts.
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| The end results. |
The Most Important supplies list, Pearl N Etch Tools Set by Polyform!
UV- OPI Sculpture Gel Clear Pearl Ex pigment powders Michaels Crafts stores carry the microbeads, color is ebony, the microbeads I use in the 1/4-1/5 scale eyes are these Micro Marbles from an etsy seller. Ball Stylus tools are readily available, the polyform set is available at Michael's Crafts, and the kemper ones are in ceramic supply shops, but nail suppliers sell them too, and the link to the etsy shop selling the micro marbles, has set with 5 different ones.
Comments & Suggestions for the next video Tutorial are welcomed, and Thanks for watching.
