Its all about the eyes ...

When I started to make my fairies, I used rocaille beads as eyes .  These beads were easy to get (in any craft of jewely making store) , available in lots of colors , heat resistant , cheap and easy to use but only for very tiny creations ...

Soon I started to make bigger creations and I also wanted a more " real like"  look so I searched for other alternatives ...

The glass (handblown and painted ) and acryl eyes are "ready made" eyes  and are really awesome because they look soo real having such  beautiful color shades and glossy transparence  in the iris . I've tried out some 3 mm glass eyes but  I found it difficult to insert the eyes in the head so I always ended up having lounzing eyes like these ...ihihih ....

Ive never used the acryl ones because they are only available in big sizes (from 6mm up) .

OK, these eyes  may be quit expensive but if you're a good sculptor and know how to insert eyes correctly they are really worth working with !!

Buy great glass / acryl eyes :

Wy wycked Ways (UK) : http://www.mywyckedways.com/Eyes.html

Hannie Sarris (netherlands): http://www.hanniesarris.nl/page.php?page=Doll%20Materials&lang=en

TriskelFantasy (netherlands ) : http://www.triskelfantasy.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=359

                                          http://www.triskelfantasy.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=164

Glass bear /animal eyes are available in lots of colors and sizes and are very cheap. i use them for my gnomes Gili Flautas and Gigli Flower

Buy glass bear eyes :

Zwanette Sprookjesbos (netherlands): http://www.zwanettessprookjesbos.nl/winkel/N_frame.html?http://www.zwanettessprookjesbos.nl/winkel/

So now I made heads with inserted white eye balls which were painted  afterwards .

The eye balls were actually white glass head needles ...

...Or I make my own eye balls with an eyemold I made myself with Alley Good mold putty  (http://www.clayalley.com/goop.htm ) in which I introduce white airdrying clay . After letting the clay  dry inside the mold (10 minutes ) , I could demold very easily without the eye ball getting deformed and end up in no time having  perfect eyeballs in different sizes reday to be used ...

Once the eyeballs inserted and the rest of the head sculpted , the head is being baked and then I just paint the iris with gouache paint and fix the color with fimo lacker ...

Dont forget to check out the cool tutorials for making your own eyes ( in the category " other artist's tutorials " )...

Comments

[Sprite]

Hello Annabel! :) I'm happy to be able to visit your blog. Great and helpful entry.

I adore you and your work sweetie!

I've given you The Proximidade Award.
It is on my blog, if you'd like to please come over and pick it up :)

BIG hugs,
Sprite