Every Holiday with Evelyn Guide

Painting Eyes & Faces

Eyes are usually the part everyone worries about most—but they are also one of the easiest details to fix. Work slowly, paint both eyes together and make one small correction at a time.

Painted blow mold face with detailed eyes beside brushes and painting tools.
Before you start

Set yourself up for success.

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Use bright lighting

Good lighting makes uneven pupils and tiny edges much easier to see.

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Keep your phone nearby

A quick photo often reveals uneven eyes faster than staring at them.

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Support your hand

Rest your wrist or hand whenever possible for better control.

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Keep the face color nearby

You will use it to shrink, reshape or clean up the eyes.

Evelyn’s Tip Paint both eyes at the same time instead of finishing one completely. Add both whites, then both irises, then both pupils and highlights.
A simple order

Paint the face in layers.

1

Paint the face color

Let the base color dry fully before starting the eyes.

2

Add the whites

Follow the molded eye shape and keep the coats thin.

3

Paint the irises

Match their size and placement before moving on.

4

Add the pupils

Choose one point for both eyes to look toward.

5

Add tiny catchlights

Use one very small white dot in the same spot on both pupils.

6

Finish the brows and lashes

Keep them light at first. You can always make them darker later.

Helpful tricks

Eye-painting hacks worth trying

Choose a focal point

Decide exactly where the blow mold is looking before painting the second pupil. Both pupils should point toward the same spot.

Use a toothpick for dots

A toothpick, dotting tool or sewing pin can make cleaner pupils and catchlights than a tiny brush.

Try the reverse method

Paint the dark center first, then use the eye white or iris color around it to shrink and reshape it.

Use the phone camera

Take a straight-on photo. Uneven pupil placement or mismatched eye sizes usually become obvious immediately.

Step back often

Eyes that look slightly uneven from six inches away may look perfectly balanced from across the room.

Use magnification

Reading glasses, a magnifying lamp or a headband magnifier can make tiny details much easier.

Evelyn’s Tip If the eyes suddenly look crazy, stop. Let them dry and come back later. Repainting wet eyes over and over usually makes them harder to fix.
Use whatever gives you control

Brushes, paint pens and dotting tools

Use a brush for

  • Eye whites
  • Irises
  • Larger facial areas
  • Reshaping uneven eyes

Use a pen or dotting tool for

  • Pupils
  • Catchlights
  • Eyelashes
  • Tiny touch-ups
Fillable paint pens can be useful for tiny areas when you want to use the exact acrylic color already on the blow mold. Follow the pen manufacturer’s filling and cleaning directions so the tip does not clog.
Tiny detail, big difference

Catchlights make eyes look finished.

A catchlight is the tiny white dot inside the pupil. It adds shine and makes the face look more alive.

  • Keep the dot very small.
  • Place it in the same spot on both pupils.
  • Use a toothpick, pin or dotting tool.
  • Let the pupils dry before adding it.
What looks wrong?

Common eye problems and quick fixes

The eyes look cross-eyed. The pupils point toward each other. Cover one with the iris color and move it slightly outward.
They are looking in different directions. Choose one focal point, then adjust the pupil that is too high or too far over.
One eye is bigger. Use the surrounding face color to shrink the larger eye.
The pupils are too large. Reduce them with the iris color in small passes.
The pupils are too small. Enlarge both gradually so they stay balanced.
Too much white is showing. Use the face color or iris color to reduce the white.
The lashes look too heavy. Let them dry, cover them with the face color and redraw with lighter pressure.
The eyebrows do not match. Fix only the one that looks off. You do not need to repaint both.
The catchlights do not match. Cover one tiny dot and repaint it in the same position as the other.
I hate the whole face. 😂 Walk away and look again tomorrow. Then fix one small thing at a time.
Evelyn’s Tip Use the existing face color like an eraser. It is usually easier to shrink and reshape an eye than to repaint the whole face.
Quick double-check

Before you call the face finished

  • Look at the face straight on.
  • Take a phone photo.
  • Check that both pupils face the same direction.
  • Compare the eye sizes and heights.
  • Check the brows and catchlights.
  • Step back and look from normal viewing distance.
Real community inspiration

Search “eyes” in the group.

Tons of members have shared close-up photos, finished faces, before-and-afters and eye-painting ideas in the groups.

Search the word eyes before you start painting. You can also try face, pupils, eyelashes or eyebrows.

Evelyn’s Tip Save a close-up you love and zoom in while you paint. It is much easier to copy the pupil, lash and eyebrow shapes when you can see the details clearly.
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Frequently asked questions

Eyes and faces FAQ

Should I paint the eyes before the blush?

Usually, yes. Finish the eyes and brows first, then add blush after the face is balanced.

Can I use paint pens for eyes?

Yes. Fine-tip or fillable paint pens can be helpful for pupils, lashes and tiny details.

What is the easiest way to paint pupils?

Use a dotting tool, toothpick, pin or fine-tip paint pen and test the size first.

How do I fix crossed eyes?

Cover one pupil with the iris color, then repaint it so both pupils point toward the same spot.

What if one eye is bigger?

Use the surrounding face color to slowly reduce the larger eye.

Can I repaint the eyes after they dry?

Yes. Dry eyes are usually much easier to correct than wet ones.

Still nervous about the face?

You can fix almost anything.

Paint slowly, let each layer dry and correct one small detail at a time. Then visit the community for more real blow mold eye inspiration.

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