The Eye
The eyes are windows to the soul. This phrase has been stated in many ways over the centuries by many writers, poets, and artists around the world who have discovered this feeling for themselves. My story relates to looking very carefully into my brother's eyes when we were little. I freaked out because I thought I saw into his core being, and it was frightening; something I knew was beyond comprehension.
There is really no detail in a bust as important as the eye because this is the part of the individual that looks back at us and acknowledges our existence. Sculpting the eye is difficult and detailed, but working to understand its curves, volumes, and even function makes sculpting it easier.
One of the most essential aspects of the eye is that it is a sphere, and that all others - the lid, eye socket, the muscles above and below the eye, the tear duct, and how the eyelids overlap and intersect, all relate to this spherical form.
The part of the eye that brings the most life to a portrait is the iris/pupil. Because the actual eyeball contains a clear lens with muscles that manipulate the lens and pupil diameter, and the fact that clay is an opaque, homogeneous material, it is necessary to create the illusion of color and transparency in these details. Out of all details in a bust, the most unlike the real living form is the eye. By carving back in space, the shadows of this cavity creates a convincing volume and color to the eye, persuading us that the person is looking back at us.
Iris color can be depicted by how the iris is sculpted. A very dark eye may be sculpted with no iris at all; instead a large, deep pupil encompassing the iris. Light irises can be depicted by a shallow carved ring around the deep pupil. Any depth between shallow and deep can be created, giving the illusion of color.
Roundness of the iris and pupil is very important because it is a detail that is noticed very easily. If it is out of round by even a little, viewers will know. This is a result of our brain's incredible power of observation dedicated to recognizing the subtle differences between people. A large part of our brain is dedicated to facial recognition.
A specular highlight, or glint, can also add realism to the eye. This is a raised detail in the upper part of the eye that is contoured to resemble a reflection on a wet, shiny sphere. The shape of this highlight gives a clue as to the environment that the subject is posing in. This detail needs to be framed by shadow to become effective. When a small light area is surrounded by darkness, it will appear lighter in comparison to other light areas than it really is. This is a useful optical illusion.
The position of the iris and pupil in the eye socket tells us if a person is glancing left or right, or looking up or down. It also tells us of the model's mood. A calm looking person's iris is slightly overlapped by the upper eyelid, and the bottom of the iris is close to the bottom eyelid. If the upper part of the iris is completely visible, the model is expressing strong emotional response, such as fear, surprise or excitement. Pupil diameter also expresses emotion, or simply the light level in the room.
Eyebrows are distinctive features of a face, and must be taken into account, but eyelashes are quite difficult to depict in reference to the eye because they are delicate and dimensional in space. Notice that the eye in the center of the images above, depict some eyelashes towards the outer part of the eye. They are incised to create darkness, which results in an optical illusion of raised lashes.
At the bottom of this page are two photos of students' eyes. Study how they differ, even though the anatomy is the same. Sculpting these eyes requires careful observation of the unique volumes, folds, intersections, and proportions describing their individuality.