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How do you all paint the eyes on miniatures? And more importantly, what tools do you use? Brush? Pin? Toothpick? I'm having a bit of trouble on a model I started recently.

(Not sure where to put this, so I figured here was a good place)

I use a lot of patience. It runs out a lot, so I have to get more, but it does the job!

Seriously though, the finest brush you can find, the pin idea sounds like a plan actually, never thought of that. The trouble I've always had was keeping my hand steady, nowadays I keep the model attached (blue tack or similar) from the nuderside of the base to a cork, hold that fairly firmly in one hand, brush in the other and get your elbows on your desk and keep your wrists touching. you can usually get steady enough that way to hit the mark.

If not, try controlling your breath (if you're a gamer, a bit like sniping in CoD4) or have some sugar...relax a bit.


...or have a w**k.

I paint the eyes first before doing anything else.

1) thin but even layer of white .
2) controlled amount of black ink for it to be just enough
around the eye sockets
3) add pupil
4) start doing the skin color and coat over the black ink thats not needed.

Thanks

Luna nailed it. Do it that way, and they will be perfect every time

Check out Jen Haley's face tutorial (check out all her tutorials!!):

http://www.paintrix-miniatures.com/articles.php?&art=7&page=1

I use a fine brush, and shade the eye socket black, then use two dots of white in the corners of each eye - it's quick and less fiddling about. However, this technique only lets you control if the model is looking left/right - if you want them to loook up/down, use Luna's technique.

If the model has large eyes remember that the iris (the colour ring) is normally part concealed under the upper eyelid. If you paint a round dot in the middle of the eye, it looks starey and unnatural.

See Wikipedia article for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(anatomy)

I use Toothpicks for drawing detail on the models such as squad markings, names, etc. That's if I can't use a fine detail pen. I use pins for the eyes.

same as other only I use a small sharpie for the pupil (just make sure it a permanent one)

For my orks I try to keep it as simple as I can (and some of the ork images on the GW website actually don't have seprately paninted eyes...)

I just wash the eye red, normally, even with my fine brush, I normally paint "outside the lines" so I just wait for it to dry and go back with the skin tone to clean it up.

Fortunately, most guys in 40K are wearing helments. I like Luna's tip though, I'll have to try that sometime (or the sharpie idea, I've got some copic pens I need to use someday)

I does just tend to be patience.

Hold the mini firmly down take your time.
I find sticking your tongue out and scrunching up your face also helps but thats a personal preference.

You need 3 things for eyes a small brush a micron pen and steady hands.
First paint the eye black as mentioned before then leaving a black outline paint it white then put in the dot with the pen.

I usually paint the eyes after painting the skin (reverse to LunaHound's method) in a very simple way. First I paint the eye all black. Then I make a small horizontal white line, and finally a black spot for the pupil/iris. Everything with my thinnest brush.

However, I have some Escher and Sisters of Battle minis wainting to be painted, and I'm seekin alternative methods. I would like to add some colour to the eyelids and iris. Well, and lips, but i'm worried, I don't want them to look like a clown (o like a wh**e) :\