One of my favorite parts of painting birds is the eye. It is often the area that brings the whole subject to life. Even in a soft or atmospheric piece, the eye usually holds the focus and gives the bird its presence. When I paint bird eyes, I do not see them as simple dark shapes. I look for structure, value, edge, color, and the small surrounding details that make them feel real. What makes a bird eye feel alive For me, realism in a bird eye comes from both accuracy and rest