Eye of Chaos

[MoonBlazE]

I drew this during a class, and would like any possible critism or advise. I'm learning on eye pupils, learnt some from Dalspots although I would like to take it further as the eyes is such a beautiful part of a character.

<object width="450" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf"></param><param name="flashvars" value="id=47165030" /><embed src="http://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" flashvars="id=47165030" height="385"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/47165030/">Eye of Chaos</a> by ~<a class="u" href="http://murkshadow.deviantart.com/">Murkshadow</a> on <a href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant</a><a href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART</a>

Keep in mind that I'm not trying to drawn a human eye in a realistic style. It's intented to be a comic style, somewhat simple but colors are always lovely to have. ~<3

[Xobim]

If you're trying to draw a reflectation on te eye, you should use less vague colours and shapes. Now it looks as if the eye is dirty.

[Fawriel]

Indeed.. it needs to be sharper.
Unlike the gradient from white to grey at the edges. That needs to be a lot smoother. It's an eye-<i>ball</i> after all.

[MoonBlazE]

I updated the devotion with your hints. What do you think now? :)

[Fawriel]

I'm not really able to compare anymore, but when I first saw it again without knowing it was updated, I was wondering whether I've commented too harshly last time. ...so I guess it's obviously better than before. \o_
The strong spots of light seem unnatural still, at least kind of. Unless this eye is looking right at three lamps. Of course, that would have to make the pupils shrink.
And the pupils also should have sharper borders, I think...
But yeah, all in all it's much of an improvement.

[Xobim]

The reflection looks better, and I really like those lines on the iris...

[Radium]

Keep in mind that I'm not trying to drawn a human eye in a realistic style. It's intented to be a comic style, somewhat simple but colors are always lovely to have. ~<3This is your problem. You aren't drawing an eye in the first place; you are drawing three concentric circles with relatively random shading and hoping it'll look like an eye.

A comic style is not about simplifying everything, it's about selective simplification. If a small part of a larger image, this eye would look fine. But since it is the sole focus of the picture, it needs more detail than it would otheerwise. Even if you're not drawing a photorealistic eye, you have to understand how an eye is built and what it looks like.

This picture (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/nikon/coolpix990/EyeCloseup2.jpg) shows a very extreme closeup quite well. The iris isn't just a circle with lines on it; it contains muscle tissue that dialiate the pupil, and is covered by a transparent, moist lense. The reflections in the lense tend to be VERY sharp, and not only reflect a specular highlight but fully mirror the lighting in their surroundings. With a closeup of an eye, you should at least have a vague idea of what the person is looking at.

And don't forget to shade the white part of the eye! Unless this eye is out on an inspection table and under a bright light, there is SOMETHING casting a shadow over it or tinting it. It could use some veins too.

This (http://www.faemalia.net/USPictures/PhiloPortraits/closeup-eye.jpg) is another pretty good picture; this guy has prettier eyes than the last one. The photo was taken in a dark room with a desklamp as the only light source. Note how the pigment from his iris fades into the whites, and the sort of marble-like quality to the eye.

Now, I'm not saying you need to toss comicness and do something photorealistic, but you are simplifying all the wrong things. Tint everything, especially the eyewhites, based on the surroundings. Have the iris pigment bleed into its surroundings a bit. Sharpen the reflections and try to give the iris a more marble-y, fiber-y look.

[MoonBlazE]

I'm sorry, Radium. What do you mean? After reading your text through, I'm still not sure about what I'm supposed to learn from it.

The eye that I painted isn't human but belongs to a demonic character and is supposed to represent his destructive and evil side. Therefore, I tried to make it liquid and fiery. If that explains anything to you.

I shall try to work more on the eyeball tommorow. But veins make the eye look quite bloody. Any tips on techniques are welcomed.

[Xobim]

What Radium says:
Since the picture is focussed on the eye, you need to make it more realistic, yet keep the realism to a certain level.

EDIT: Try drawing your own eye. Then make it more...err, "abstract" by removing certain effects and adding the characteristics you think the eye needs.
I hope you understand anyting of this. This sentence was the toughest one to write in my whole life...

[MoonBlazE]

I had a new go, this time more comic style and less (attempts at) realism. Please tell me what you think.

<object width="450" height="455"><param name="movie" value="http://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf"></param><param name="flashvars" value="id=53932025" /><embed src="http://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" flashvars="id=53932025" height="455"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53932025/">Evil Within</a> by ~<a class="u" href="http://murkshadow.deviantart.com/">Murkshadow</a> on <a href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant</a><a href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART</a>

[Fawriel]

It looks spiffy. I'd get rid of those black lines scattered inbetween, though, and form the lighting in a way that more accentuates the evilness of the face.

[MoonBlazE]

Hm. I don't know. I kind of like that it appears more of a character than some eyes in the dark, you get what I mean? I could shade up more accurately but it would utterly kill the feeling of the character you get.