Samhain Contact Lenses

To create a well-rounded character from head to toe, one must consider all aspects of the body.

The eyes are one of the most crucial parts of a character makeup, especially since they are the first things we look at.

In the niche world of custom contact lenses, Chuck Silva, the artist behind Samhain Contact Lenses, is at the top of the food chain. His hand painted contacts are sought after by cosplayers and film directors alike, and he manages to run a successful Hollywood business from the comfort of his home in Alabama.

Contact lens expert Chuck Silva gives us an inside look into the unique world of lens painting.

I originally went to college and majored in Illustration with a dream of being a comic book artist. That didn't pan out, so I went to work with a local contact lens company in 2001, actually cutting contact lenses. A chance came up for me to show my artistic abilities in hand painting lenses, and the rest is history.

How do you approach designing a pair of lenses for a specific character?

I'll take instructions from the client on how they want the lenses to look. Then we will discuss what will work and what won’t work for both the concept and functionality of the character, and make adjustments that will work for both of us.

Lenses are most commonly used to create fantasy or horror characters. What other uses for effects lenses are there?

A lot of clients come to me with a damaged eye and want to have a lens designed to look like their good eye, so that they both match. Also a lot of clients just want to change their eye color for aesthetic reasons, and I fulfill their wishes that way as well.

How can effects lenses enhance a beauty look?

Tremendously. It can change a person’s whole look by going from brown to say, green. It may give them a boost of confidence or enhance their sex appeal, or even help them channel their alter ego.

From where do you derive inspiration for your designs?

Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, zombies, gore; anything dark and spooky, or gross. Needless to say, Halloween always provides an endless supply of ideas and inspiration.

What lens project was your favorite to work on?

At the moment I would have to say doing the whole 2nd season of Defiance.

What would be your dream project to work on?

I would love to work on The Walking Dead, I’ve always been a fan of the show and I know I would have a great time being a part of it.

For more Samhain Custom Contact Lenses Check out: www.samhaincontactlenses.com