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TamiL Jan 9, 2006

Hi, I noticed on a lot of the bears there seems to be a curve of white
under the black glass eye?
Is it paint, material, felt or what?
I like this look but just don't know how to get it.
Thanks, 

ellen Jan 9, 2006

hi Tami!
i've used small pieces of white felt behind the eyes - just poke a hole in them first and slip it onto the eye post thingy before you insert the eyes.  i've seen some artists use paint too though.  justa little line or dab on the edge.  makes all the difference, eh?!  good luck!  i'm sure others here will have suggestions.

TamiL Jan 9, 2006

Oh okay,
thanks Ellen  :hug:

shantell Jan 9, 2006

Tami,

I personally use white felt which I cut in a not quite oval shape (more round) and slightly larger than the eyes I'm using.  Like Ellen, I poke a hole with my awl and slip in over the wire loop and put a drop of glue on it to keep it from slipping.

I've read that others use thread, ultra-suede, etc.  I also think and I don't know this for sure that you can paint a small white line on the eye itself but I would think that would take a very steady hand which I do not have. 

Have fun...

P.S.  Your first bear is adorable...great job.  You will be making your own patterns in no time.

Shantell

TamiL Jan 9, 2006

Thanks Shantell, your bears are adorable, I thought about the painting idea too
but didnt know how the paint would hold up on the glass eye? And if you would
have to seal the paint and if it would make the glass eye look funny.
I have a pretty steady hand from painting on little barbie face. hahahaha

Marie_ Jan 9, 2006

Hi Tammy !
I do exact same as Shanttel does.   
My avatar bear has a white felt on back of the back eyes.

I know Michelle Lamb's bear " Caramella " has lovely eyes
which black eyes(or brown)then eye lids then white color painting under
the eyes.  This bear was winner of TOBY 2003 !  :clap: 
You can see Caramella 's  photo on her website(page of Awards)
http://www.oneandonlybears.com/awards.html

I hope she doesn't mind posting her webpage info here.... 
Hugs/Marie

kbonsall Jan 9, 2006

I am sure she doesnt mind - free publicity is awesome!!!    and so is her work!!! WOW!  I have just painted mine... but only on my one felted one... I was actually going to go this direction - I want to make more anime-style bears (along with my regular bears)

Judi Jan 9, 2006

Kimmy, youcould just try felting white felt right under the eye on your felted bears.

As far as painting goes for scleara(whites) I think it could work.  I do think white felt would work the best.  ML on her website did not have sclera on the bear but rather painted highlights under the lower eyelids.  It looks fabulous but is not sclera.

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorJan 9, 2006

Actually, I'm pretty sure you guys are off on your descriptions of Michelle's CARAMELLA.  This particular bear, I'm fairly certain -- near 100% -- has lower eyelids ONLY, which are then dusted with some kind of highlight powder, paint, or finish.  So what you're seeing isn't an "eye white" per se, but rather, a HIGHLIGHT not under, but on, the lower lid.

Your suggestions for creating eye whites would work.  They just don't describe THIS particular piece, I don't think.  Way back when, near the time of her awards, I saw huge photos of CARAMELLA in the web, so I'm pretty sure I'm correct on this point.

I'm not trying to be argumentative or point out mistakes!  I just don't want you guys to steer yourselves toward this outcome by using eye whites, because this outcome wasn't produced with eyes whites... so you won't GET this outcome with that technique!

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorJan 9, 2006

Here's a Michelle Lamb bear with eye whites!

shantell Jan 9, 2006

Good grief...I just love her stuff!!!  I'd love to reside in her creative head for just a day!!!

kbonsall Jan 9, 2006

WOW! THAT IS A FAB BEAR! I love unusual colored bears! WOW! I wonder if she hand painted the fur or it came that way.. WOW!  I need to find some if she bought it that way!  I have also painted my eyelids on my bears, I usually accent them with golds or bronzes …  I need to needle felt some more on my mohair bears… I should just make a head and test it out – I don’t want to felt onto a bear that is completely done and screw the whole thing up – thanks for the tip, Judi… I have gotten so many ideas today, my head is swimming!  … I better jot them down.  I wish I lived closer to you Judi, I would be over there every weekend to try to learn from you… if you needed me to milk moo cows as repayment I would (I wouldn’t know where to start with that though!)  I feel sooo lonely here in the east!

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorJan 9, 2006

She handpainted the fur; I remember her auction listing!  Isn't it spectacular?  I always get so much inspiration from Michelle, and her wide eyed cubs, specifically, are what really inspired me at the outset to get into bearmaking.

kbonsall Jan 9, 2006

WOW! A lot went into making her! I am speechless