Eye cane tutorial-Intermediate level
Many people have asked how I make the eyeballs in my DragonEyes. Many thought they were glass eyes. Nope, they are polymer clay only. So, I decided to take the mystery and share it with all. I have finally found the time to write a tutorial on how *I* make them. So, are you ready? Then let’s get started! I recommend that you read through the tutorial first before claying along. (The images are clickable to a larger picture behind the scene)
Supplies:
pasta machine, blade, 4 different shades of one color, black clay, extruder with square “hole”, and a “pupil” cane.
Step1:The first thing I do is take each color and put it through the extruder to get square logs.
Step 3: Then I cut each color into same length sections. these will be what I use to make the color variations of the iris. You will need 2 pieces of color A, 4 pieces of color B and C, and 6 pieces of color D
Step 4:Once I make sure I have enough of each color I take a sheet of black (sometimes I use white or pearl instead) and run it through the pasta machine on a #6 (I have an atlas and #1 is the thickest). I then wrap each of the needed sections on two sides of the log.
Step 5: Once I have the sections all *half wrapped* I am ready to construct the cane. There are several ways color wise you can lay it out, but no matter if you have dark on the outside and light in the middle, or how I chose to do so on this one, here is a layout of how the colors are stacked.
Kerstin Rupprecht shows another variation on her eyecane tutorial page.
As you can see by my layout, I chose to use a medium color in the center and the light on the outer two corners.
Step 6: Once the cane is formed and compressed nicely I then turn it on point and begin pressing it down with my hands and brayer. I make sure I am compressing C color to C color.
Step7: Even skinnier still and it is getting longer.
Step 8:I keep working the cane down until it is thin enough for the pasta machine. I make sure one end is tapered to start through the rollers easily.
Step 9: Now I run the strip through the pasta machine at the thickest setting (a number 1 on my atlas)
Step 10: Once it is run through the pasta machine I then lay it out and divide it into 6-8 equal size pieces.
Step 11: Now we get to start having fun! I take the sections and mirror them, making sure the registrations marks line up.
Step 12: Then I stack the three sections together black to blacks until the sections are all together in a “neat” stack (Neat being a relative description…who’s ends are ever totally neat?)
Step 13:I take the stack and turn it on the side and begin to turn it into a triangular cane. Squishing the top down and lengthening it some, rotating it so as I change it to the triangle it is equal on all sides.
Step 14: Next reduce the cane to at least 6 inches since you will be cutting it into 3 parts.
Step 15: Bet you can’t guess whats next eh? You got it, divide the reduced cane into 3 equal portions.
Step 16: Put the three pieces together to make a half “circle” cane.
Step 17: Carefully reduce this portion so it is long enough to cut in half. I usually try to have a 4 inch section to cut in half.
Step 18: In this step I will be inserting the pupil of the eye. For dragoneyes, the pupil is an oval shape, for human eyes it would be round. Either way, you will need to make an indentation in the cane to lay the pupil cane in. I usually use a puffinwand for this but mine went MIA on the cruise so I am using a large knitting needle.
Step 19: Carefully lay the pupil into the channel and close the two cane sides, making sure they are well compressed against the pupil cane.
Step 20: Reduction time! I reduce my cane down to the size I wish the eye to be using a flat sheet of plexiglass and gently rolling it back and forth. This allows me to control the “twist” you would get if it was rolled by hand. This one I took down to a bit bigger then a penny.
Step 21: Creating the eye: To shape my eyeball I use a metal 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon. I spritz it with water for release. I take a slice of the cane about as thick as the penny. I lay it in the measuring spoon and gently push it into the shape of the spoon. Next I fill the back with polymerde (scrap clay) and use my thumb pad to rotate it in the spoon, smoothing and shaping it, then sliding it out.
Now you have a nicely shaped sharp looking eyeball. What will you do with it?
Please feel free to email me if you have questions