432. Modeling The Eye And Eyebrows

Modeling The Eye And Eyebrows. The next

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Illustration No. 26. Subject in Decollete - Second Stage - Etching and Retouching.

See Paragraph 431.

Illustration No. 27 Subject in Decollete - Etching, Retouching and Modeling Completed.

See Paragraph 440.

stage of the work is the modeling of the eyes, and then the eyebrows. Observe the appearance of these members in Illustration No. 25 of the unretouched plates. Note the improvement on them in Illustration No. 26. You will observe in the front view of the subject, that the left eye appears a trifle smaller than the right. The dark line between the eyelash and the eyebrow droops over the center of the eye. The fleshy portion beneath the left eyebrow is so large that it crowds the eyelid upon the eye, thereby closing it slightly. To correct this defect, with the point of the etching knife we carefully scraped away a small portion of the fleshy part above this line, curving it gracefully, and then, with a BB pencil, we raised the high-light a trifle on the eyelid sufficiently to match the right eye. We also raised the eyelid from the pupil, by scraping away a trifle of the eyelid, slightly arching it over the pupil.

433. You will observe in Illustration No. 25 that the line above the eyelid is wider at the outer edge than it should be to appear graceful. This we have reduced, as shown in Illustration No. 26, by slightly penciling the under side of the line. Next in order, we take up the dark shadows under the eyes. These lines, especially in women's pictures, are very displeasing, and should be modified considerably. In aged subjects they may be modified slightly, but must never be entirely removed. The modifying of these lines was done with an H lead. The catch-light, or white speck, in the left eye, as you will notice, is quite dull and needs strengthening a trifle. This we did with the point of a BB lead. Note the improvement which is presented in Illustration No. 26.

434. The eyebrow of the front view in Illustration No. 25, you will observe, droops on the end and is not perfectly arched. The addition of a few hairs, added with the etcher, (see Illustration No. 26), improves this member very materially.

435. In the profile view of No. 25 (unretouched), the eyelid droops slightly, thus giving the subject a dreamy appearance. This we corrected by merely straightening the

line over the pupil, penciling slightly, and then we subdued the shadows underneath the eye, thus giving roundness. (See Illustration No. 26, Fig. 2.) The eyes being turned from the light there would be no catch-light or white spot in the pupil; consequently, no work is required here. When the eyes are turned into the light, or where the light crosses the pupil, it supplies a catch-light, and this catch-light should be curved.