Prepare Face Basecoat
30 minutesApply skin tone base to face area with thin, even coats.
Intermediate1-2 weeks
Eyes and Faces Guide
Learn eyes and faces from scratch with a clear step-by-step workflow, recommended tools, safety guidelines, and expert tips.
character paintersdisplay modellers
Workflow
Shade Recesses
45 minutesApply wash to eye sockets, nose sides, and under chin.
Paint Eyes
1-2 hoursWhite base, then iris dot, then pupil dot using detail brush.
Highlight Skin
1-2 hoursLayer progressively lighter skin tones on raised areas.
Tools Used
Checklist
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Planning
Preparation
Safety
Execution
Quality
Documentation
Reference Materials
Eye Painting OrderTable
Steps for miniature eye painting.
| Step | Color | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fill socket | Off-white | Size 0 brush |
| 2. Iris | Eye color | Size 00 brush |
| 3. Pupil | Black dot | Toothpick tip |
Skin Highlight MixFormula
Each highlight layer = previous color + 15-20% highlight color
Face FocusStandard
Faces are the focal point — spend 30% of painting time on 5% of surface area.
Steady Hands
Rest both elbows on the table and brace your wrists together for eye work.
Fix Mistakes
If an eye goes wrong, paint over with skin tone and restart — it takes less time than trying to fix it.
Eye Strain
Use a magnifying lamp and take 5-minute breaks every 20 minutes of fine detail work.
Safety Notes
- Use magnifying lamp to reduce eye strain during fine detail work.
- Take regular breaks when doing precision painting.