Why Eyes?
When people come to my house and see my tables covered with eye paintings, eyes looking this way and that, with different colored backgrounds and emotions spilling over, the first thing they ask is always, “Why eyes? Why do you paint eyes?” And I always answer the same way: because that’s what keeps happening. I dream about them. Almost every night, I dream about faces, gestures, and what grabs me most in those dreams is the expression in their eyes, what those people are saying without words.
In my dreams, many of these people stay silent and speak to me only through their eyes. Their eyes move, shift in colour, change character depending on the person or the scene, everything else might blur, but the eyes are always the centre of my attention. Sometimes their eyes enter my own face, and sometimes my eyes fall out, turning into binoculars or microscopes, trying to understand them better.
Yes, I know… none of this really makes sense, and that’s exactly why I paint. To give it a three-dimensional, human kind of meaning. On the canvas, everything suddenly finds a way to make sense, even if only a little, a place where emotions, stories, and curiosity can all coexist.
Dreams and Inspiration
One of my most recurring dreams is that the eyes pop out of people’s faces, and I run after them, trying to catch them like they were precious stones. Another dream I often have is walking through a gallery where all the portraits’ eyes follow me, changing subtly depending on my mood. Sometimes they smile, sometimes they frown, sometimes they just stare…silent.
All of this sparks my curiosity, but before trying to find a psychoanalytical explanation, I just stop and paint what I remember. Because it’s fun, because it’s relaxing, and simply because it fuels my art therapy through the painting vein.
Another strong reason I paint eyes is because I’ve seen them so many times during my psychedelic experiences, with ayahuasca, LSD, DMT, and mushrooms, and it’s incredible the amount insights I gather from eyes. I know it might sound cliché, but they truly are the windows to the soul.
During these experiences, colours appear more vibrant, light seems alive, and every gaze feels like a story. The intensity of emotions I perceive from the eyes is unmatched: curiosity, fear, love, serenity, all captured in a single look. And when I wake up, there’s this rush, this urgent need to run to my canvas and start sketching before I forget even a single detail of what I saw.
My Creative Process
I start every eye painting thinking about the emotion I want to capture. Sometimes it’s anger, sometimes vulnerability, sometimes pure sadness (oh, how I love acrylic sadness!). I choose colours that speak to that feeling. Blues that whisper, reds that scream, yellows that glow. Each brushstroke is a different voice.
I often begin with a sketch, but the canvas comes alive when I let instinct guide me. I let my hands follow the memory of dreams, of dream-inspired art, and of the intense gazes I’ve witnessed throughout my life. Each painting becomes a dialogue between what I see and what I feel.
Why Eyes Matter
Eyes have always fascinated artists, not just as features, but as powerful tools for storytelling. In the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci mastered the art of capturing lifelike eyes that seem to follow you around the room. Jan van Eyck used tiny reflections and light in the eyes of his portraits to add depth, making viewers feel as if they were peering directly into someone’s soul.
Fast forward to the 20th century: Frida Kahlo made eyes the centre of raw, personal expression, conveying pain, defiance, and intimate truths without a single word. Meanwhile, Chuck Close and Lucian Freud turned eyes into entire landscapes of texture, emotion, and human complexity, showing that a single gaze can hold countless stories.
Understanding this history makes you see why eye paintings are so compelling; they are more than what you think. They are a bridge between artist and viewer, a way to feel emotion, curiosity, and connection instantly. That’s why, when you look at one of my pieces, whether it’s inspired by dreams, psychedelic art experiences, or pure imagination, you’re stepping into a conversation that artists have been having for centuries about the power of the human gaze.
Owning an expressive eye painting is like holding a piece of that history in your hands, something alive, something personal, something that speaks without words. ¡Qué bonito!
Tips for Artists and Collectors
Look closely at the pupils and colours, they often reveal the emotion behind the gaze.
Notice the background and brushstrokes; they carry subtle feelings that complement the eyes.
Take a moment to breathe and feel the painting. Painting emotions isn’t just about what you see, but what you feel.
Try observing eyes in everyday life. Notice how light, colour, and subtle expression tell a story.
Have you ever tried eye gazing with your partner or friends? You should try! It’s amazing what a few minutes of just looking can reveal. Lindo, lindo.
