MAKE A MOSAIC EYE | Part I: Understanding tonal value

Creating a human eye can be one of the most complex projects to tackle in mosaic. In this easy to follow video, Helen breaks down the process into simple steps that take all the stress out of making a human eye in mosaic. In Part 1 of this two-part mini series Helen shows you how to simplify the eye using tonal values - the amount of light and dark in the eye - so that you can easily translate it into mosaic. The great thing about this process is that it is transferable to lots of other representational mosaic projects.
For more information on mosaic materials, follow this link: • YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO...
00:00 Introduction
01:23 Excluding colour and finding the tones
03:09 Drawing the eye
04:06 Tonal value in bought materials
05:39 Tonal value in natural materials
06:40 Using contact paper
07:19 Choosing colours while considering values
12:26 Conclusion

[@kierstenchristian1329]

I love your videos. I have learned so much! I can’t wait to start my first smalti mosaic. I would love to see a video on how to represent flesh tones! Thank you for your videos!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You're very welcome! 😀

[@diffnstein]

This video is very educational. Thank you! I’m going to try it.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Great! I hope it goes well 😀

[@Aneta472]

Please, can you make a tutorial on the rest of the face too 😊. Thank you, very clear and helpful instructions!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I will try! It will have to be done in stages though because it will take a while 😀

[@tonyaregan6473]

I love learning something new! I'm glad you showed the process. It was very helpful, thank you!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I'm glad to hear it!

[@letterclips2430]

Very helpful, I find single eyes are very hard and two eyes on a face is good for patience and temper control training

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

So glad it helped!

[@coachpampeterson]

This is wonderful. Question: I’m making a mosaic pet portrait and it’s 8.5”x11”, zoomed in of a cats face and bust. The issue is the eyes are pretty small so it’s hard to cut the tessera down that small - I’m using stained glass. Any tips?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Thanks Pam! I wish I could help but I have no experience in stained glass so I'm afraid I will have to pass on this question 😀

[@coachpampeterson]

@@HelenMilesMosaics I’m so embarrassed-of course you don’t because I’ve watched your videos and you use smalti! My mistake! I’m working up to smalti as I am new to mosaics. You most certainly inspire! I look at smalti as the precipice of mosaic’ ing hehe. I’ll get there one day. I love and appreciate all that you do!! Thanks for answering :)

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

@@coachpampeterson Thanks for this Pam! I'm envious of you working with stained glass. It's a beautiful material but feels like a very different medium from mosaic so I am leaving it to the experts!