How to paint realistic eyes that will make your art look alive! | MSM 11

Eyes may be the windows to the soul, and they’re also the secret to compelling portraits and artworks! Watch and learn my secrets to painting the most realistic and lifelike eyes. Follow me on Insty: / fieldey and sign-up to my MadSkillz MasterClub newsletter: www.fieldey.com/madskillz-mast... and get ready to take your art to the next level!
In this tutorial I will be painting a realistic eye with acrylic paint, and I will show you tips to create lively looking eyes by breaking the process down into four basic areas: around the eye, the iris, the whites of the eye and the most important part of all: the highlights!
For the area around the eye I will add in shadows to the inner edge of the eye and over the eyelid crease to give the socket a 3D appearance. I’ll be discussing eyelashes and how to paint them.
I discuss the iris and demonstrate how to layer colours and add some highlighting to make the iris look more realistic.
For the whites of the eye, it’s important to add shading to make the eyeball appear “rounded” and add shadows under the top eyelid.
The highlights are the one ring that rules them all, and are the effect that will make the eyes look bight and alive. Highlights aren’t only a white circle near the pupil, there are many different lighting effects and I will be showing you some different highlighting styles that you might see in your reference photos.
If you have any ideas for further Mad Skillz Masterclasses, leave a comment below. Also, if you followed this technique and you’re on Instagram I’d love to see the end result so be sure to tag #MadSkillzMasterclass or @fieldey
Mad Skillz Masterclass • Mad Skillz Masterclass... are a series of in-depth KZbin tutorials where I demonstrate some of my most popular art techniques for surfboards, skateboards, walls and canvasses… they’re also dead easy but super effective so that anyone can give them a go.
My name is Fieldey, I’m a surf, skate and street artist from Australia. I started this channel 5 years ago when I was an unhappy corporate designer yearning to become an artist. Since posting my very first video I’ve been on a crazy journey from teaching myself to paint surfboards and skateboards, to painting large-scale street art murals!
Turning my passion into a full-time career has been a massive learning curve and I want to pass on the skills and knowledge I’ve learned, as well as inspire others who’re just starting out on their creative journeys.
I post on Saturday every fortnight, sometimes more, and you can expect to see easy to follow, Mad Skillz Masterclass tutorials, Artist Insider vlogs and inspirational projects that I’ve been working on.
Grab your brushes, hit that subscribe button and join me on an artistic adventure! / @fieldeytv
For business enquires or to enquire about a commission please visit: www.fieldey.com/
Let’s be friends!
Instagram: @fieldey
Facebook: / fieldeyart
Wordpress: fieldey.wordpress.com/
Official website: www.fieldey.com/

[@JoanneMFirth]

Your tutorial on painting eyes was very helpful. You make it look so easy and your work is stunning. Thank you!

[@raymondcarson9084]

Fieldey! As always a delight to watch you work.

[@FieldeyTV]

Why thank you kindly! +raymond carson

[@rebellworldwide1776]

It's a crime that you don't have a million subscribers yet😊

[@FieldeyTV]

I know right?!

[@WanderlustWolf7]

all these videos are amazing thanks for posting !

[@ramongarcia1641]

Thanks for the insight on how to capture realistic details on the real colors in an eye!

[@paulboone4344]

Love your videos...always very informative and fun to watch. Thank you for putting them together and sharing your talent. I always "draw" inspiration from what you put out...thanks.

[@FieldeyTV]

+Paul Boone Lol! Love a good bad pun! I'm glad to hear they're both fun and informative, it's a tough balancing act sometimes.

[@tnicholas3030]

Tips and tricks, for painting large murals. Looking forward to your tutorial.👍🏻 I enjoy your videos.

[@343634]

Awesome sauce. Love these tips. Thank you!!

[@FieldeyTV]

+BlueAdept You're welcome!

[@billfbrasky373]

I love painting eyes but never tried for this kind of realism I’ve got to try this out 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MrJackFalafel]

I'm really enjoying your masterclass series. Thanks for the tips 😁

[@FieldeyTV]

You're welcome! Thanks for the comment!

[@patindaytona]

New subscriber here...I really like how you get to the point of how things are done. I tend to over thing and your tutorials really help alot!

[@88Doug]

Eye, really enjoyed this, I will reflect on this video!

[@AMStudios22]

Great vids, I have the same "1000 Pin-up Girls" book too, I see on your bookshelf in intro.

[@Toofastfourluv]

You have a good eye, lol. I never knew the light was shaped like a window

[@georgepetrakis3571]

really helpful cheers !!! thumbs up again!

[@Orlanzepol123]

Beautiful

[@UnusualElan]

very useful, thank you

[@lois228gmail]

Good instructions for quick lesson.

[@ramongarcia1641]

Fieldey, Great way to get the eye to look realistic and easy to follow instructions ! I would like to know if you ever use Molotow's Neon fluorescent colors for any of your projects and if not could you do a class on it . I'm currently about to use Molotow's neon green and oranges. For a project that I've been working.

[@FieldeyTV]

+Ramon Garcia Thanks man! I've used them once before on a surfboard during a workshop - they looked boss, but the texture when the paint came out of the can was weird... it was really powdery - not sure if we hadn't shaken the can enough or were doing something wrong.

[@88Doug]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[@AlexJohn2us]

THANKYOU x

[@aflart3009]

It's a beautiful eye-painting, I like it very much. Greetings from east Indonesia

[@blueballs8599]

Awesomesauce!

[@marsgreen948]

Super~!

[@karinaleef1580]

Fantastic! Thanks for the tips. Noses? What about those strange things, shading and highlights!👍

[@FieldeyTV]

+Karina Leef Noses... good idea! They can be pretty tricky sometimes for sure.

[@sikabo3376]

Great Tut thumbs up :))

[@FieldeyTV]

+Silvia Geleta Thank you!

[@JamesSoosai]

Great

[@paintboxitalia]

You're awesome...I consider quit painting every time I see you working. I won't never ever ever learn to work like you :-(

[@FieldeyTV]

Nooooo! That's not true at all - I couldn't even really paint when I first started out, you're just seeing the end result of a lot of practice. You're totally capable of learning to paint like this, you just have to practice all the time.

[@paintboxitalia]

You're so kind, really. I started painting on shoes 4 years ago and after seeing your first video tutorial about Molotow markers (on surfboards) I totally changed my mind abuot my work. You were my inspiration and I admired you so I tired to move my works on different surfaces and with different materials. Filled my house with Molotow sprays and markers (lol) and noticed that my work won't be appreciated here, in Italy. Sorry, don't want to take too much of your time reading, but I stil following you trying to be LIKE you. Thank you for support and kind words...you're also a really good human besides you're a great paiter. See ya.

[@bmoneyrancidfan91]

Emiliano Maggiolini Duuude please dont quitTRUST ME YOULL GET IT!!

[@lois228gmail]

Save your work and date it. Compare the newer stuff to the older stuff and learn where to make adjustments. Take photographs with the shadows and highlights of different times of lightings for reference. You could also practice drawing with sharp pencil and soft pencil like HB for shadows. Practice drawing all kinds of things even if it is only once a week. You will get better. Also learn prospective drawing of live scenes. You don't have to put everything in the picture. Pick out the most important things. 1) background, -look smaller; 2_middle ground- larger than background and 3) foreground - will look even larger than and go off the canvas. I believe the original The Mona Lisa by Leonardo DeVinci portrait has these elements.

[@alissandra_green_offical2047]

Yay 😃

[@Darlene5541]

I know I ask a ton of questions but I'm having problems with my canvas. What brand do you use? You're strokes are flawless and smooth!

[@FieldeyTV]

No worries at all Darlene! I actually prefer to use masonite panels to canvas, but it's better to get the best quality smooth canvas you can afford and then do 3 - 4 coats of gesso, sanding in between coats.

[@Darlene5541]

Thank you for responding:)

[@lois228gmail]

I use Bristle smooth, heavy card paper, board, and white wash with white of the medium I am using. I let that dry. If I need to make a drawing I do it before the white wash and make it thin enough to still be able to see drawing underneath. When I started using this medium called varnish (comes in gloss/shinny or mate/not shine) for acrylics I mixed the white with some of this instead of water. This seals the board. I paint thin layers using the varnish with color and can also put different colored layers to make different colors for trees for example. The layer can also be sanded if there are lumps or unwanted stuff that should not be there.

[@Darlene5541]

Fieldey I'm having a hard time getting the shadowing right around the eye. could you a tutorial step by step?

[@FieldeyTV]

Hi Darlene, I'll put it on the list - but it's really a case of looking carefully at your reference material and trying to paint exactly what you see, also of course, practice practice practice!

[@gabriellacollar3441]

😮

[@user-du7kl7tj4r]

what colours are you using

[@lilangelsbuddy]

You should pause longer between the clips, it took forever to rewind and pause. but loved your video! going to practice tomorrow

[@FieldeyTV]

Good point Ashley - I tend to keep it pretty snappy as people get bored easily!

[@caveycavemartinez1203]

you are beautiful. as is your work. i love it.

[@FieldeyTV]

+CaveyCave martinez Hey thanks! I appreciate it!

[@caveycavemartinez1203]

No problem no problem at all.

[@xandermander76]

He wants it

[@caveycavemartinez1203]

+Xandermander 7 lol she is pretty.

[@ashok_creations4874]

Tq madam

[@igormandic3553]

you're so attractive and a wonderful artist and teacher blessed be

[@FieldeyTV]

Thank you!

[@minusgreen]

Awesome channel.!! I m a new subscriber. I think your artwork would look great on helmets, Wondering if you have done any motorcycle helmets. If not do you plan to do so? 😃

[@FieldeyTV]

Welcome aboard +minusgreen! I think a helmet would be awesome as well, I'd totally do one if someone offered me on to experiment on!

[@minusgreen]

+Fieldey TV. Hmmm .. Would it be possible for me send one to you ?

[@FieldeyTV]

+minusgreen I'd love to do a big skull helmet if you think that'd work for you? Might be easier to talk via email if you want: hello(at)fieldey.com

[@minusgreen]

+Fieldey TV just checking if you received the e-mail. 👍🏼

[@365customs2]

what kind of paint do you use acrylic oil?

[@FieldeyTV]

Just regular water-based acrylic :)

[@365customs2]

Thankyou

[@mfdoom1898]

awesome videos, I'm wondering if you can do some tutorials in real time? that would be great, peace

[@FieldeyTV]

Hahaha! Then you'd have to sit through me saying "um" a lot and also fluffing my lines... all. the. time.

[@mfdoom1898]

+Fieldey TV: Art & Tutorials no worries I love your style it's close to what I do. it will be worth the fluffing of your lines. Just throw some tunes in between what you need to say , no fluffing haha

[@jahman8041]

just like your eyes

[@FieldeyTV]

Hahaha! That is my eye ;)

[@jahman8041]

nice

[@jahman8041]

UNOS OJASOS HERMOSOS. WHAT A WONDERFULL EYES

[@snapdragon9793]

Can you please make a video on how to paint lips please 🙂

[@FieldeyTV]

Good idea! I'll add it to the list

[@guadalupenava1293]

I want to be a artist but i try to make a eye

[@prettynoose8497]

I think she painted her own blue eye, lol!

[@FieldeyTV]

+Kim Cornell Yep - good way to avoid being sued over copyright infringements ;)

[@BentleyS6336]

this is probably a first, but im just here for the irises and pupils. my dad is making Doc Hudson from the movie Cars to put down at his texaco in Galena KS, (yes, i might as well promote his business), and he wants me to paint the eyes. seeing as im hardly good at proportions... this video is the best im getting in terms of painting eyeballs

[@markbrock4170]

OH REALLY, TEXACO IN Gelena! I will be sure to stop in and check out your work.

[@christypriest30]

I really enjoyed your video but you said something that made me lose my concentration and I couldn’t get it back. You said that eyelashes don’t come directly out of the eyeball which made me wonder if people really thought they did

[@uplateagain687]

Did you know that a white ring indicates high cholesterol; prevent possible stroke

[@amandahilleary2581]

Can you please leave the writing up for a little longer, I have to keep going back to pause the video to read them.

[@urielflores8987]

you are very beautifull. love you :3