Welcome to our step-by-step guide on how to draw an eye! Whether you’re a budding artist or just looking for a fun and creative project, mastering the art of drawing eyes is a fantastic skill. Eyes are often said to be the windows to the soul, and capturing their intricate details can bring your artwork to life.
In this blog post, we will walk you through each stage of drawing an eye with clear instructions and helpful tips. By following these steps, you can create a realistic and captivating eye drawing that will impress yourself and others.
So grab your sketchbook, sharpen those pencils, and dive into the world of eye drawing!
What You Will Need
You can use a few fancy tools or materials when drawing an eye. In fact, the basics will do just fine! Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- Paper: Choose a smooth and sturdy paper that can handle different types of pencils and shading techniques.
- Pencils: A set of graphite pencils ranging from HB (medium) to 6B (soft) will allow you to create different shades and textures.
- Eraser: Opt for a kneaded eraser as it allows for precise erasing without damaging the paper.
- Blending stump/tortillon: This tool is great for smudging and blending pencil lines together for smoother transitions.
- White Gel Pen: This adds highlights and makes the Eye look realistic.
Remember, these are just the basics! As you gain more experience, you should experiment with coloured pencils or different paper types. But for now, gather these essentials and draw a fantastic eye!
Step One- drawing of an eye
Outline the Shape of the Eye:
When drawing an eye, getting the shape right is crucial. Start by sketching a basic outline of the Eye using light and loose lines. Remember, this step is all about creating a foundation for your drawing.
Begin by drawing lines to mark the dimension of the Eye. This will serve as the main structure of the Eye. Next, add an almond-shaped oval in the centre of your paper in proportion to the lines.
To make your Eye appear more realistic, consider adding slight variations in shape or asymmetry. Keep in mind that no two eyes are exactly alike!
Once you’re satisfied with your initial outline, darken it with bolder strokes or a darker pencil. This will help define the overall shape and make it stand out on your page.
Step Two- drawing of an eye
Draw the Iris:
Now that you have outlined the shape of the Eye, it’s time to move on to adding more detail. The iris is a crucial part of the Eye and gives it unique colour and texture. To draw the iris, lightly sketch a small circle in the centre of your outline.
Next, add a concentric circle for the pupil within the centre of the larger circle. Make sure to leave a small space at the top for reflection.
Once you have established the basic shape of the iris, it’s time to add some texture. Use short, curved lines radiating from the outer edge towards the centre to mimic natural fibres found in real irises.
Step Three- drawing of an eye
Darken the Pupil:
Now that we have outlined the shape of the Eye and added the iris and pupil, it’s time to darken the pupil. The pupil is the black circular area in the centre of our Eye.
Start by lightly sketching a small circle within your iris. Remember to keep it proportional to your overall eye shape.
Next, darken this circle using a soft pencil or fine marker. Make sure not to press too hard, as you want to achieve a gradual transition from dark to light tones in your drawing.
To add depth and realism, shade around the edges of your pupil slightly darker than its centre. This will create an illusion of dimensionality and make your Eye look more lifelike.
Step Four- drawing of an eye
Draw the Upper and Lower Eyelid:
To begin, lightly sketch a curved line above and below the iris to represent each eyelid. Remember that these lines should follow the natural contour of your eye shape. Don’t worry about making them perfect at this stage – we can refine them later.
Next, add thickness to the eyelids by drawing slightly thicker lines along their edges. These lines will give depth and dimension to your drawing.
For added realism, you can also indicate folds or creases in the skin around the eyes by adding subtle curved lines near the inner corners of both lids.
Remember, practice makes perfect when it comes to mastering this step. Take your time, be bold and experiment with different styles until you find one that suits your artistic vision.
Step Five – drawing of an eye
Add directions for Eyelashes and Eyebrows:
Now that we have outlined the basic shape of the Eye, added the iris and pupil, and sketched in the upper and lower eyelids, it’s time to bring our drawing to life by adding some realistic details. One crucial step is to add direction to the eyelashes and eyebrows.
Now comes the fun part – adding lashes! Starting from the outer corner of each eyelid, draw short upward-pointing strokes for upper lashes and downward-pointing strokes for lower lashes. Vary their length and direction for a more realistic look.
Next, carefully draw individual lashes along these guidelines using short strokes that taper at the ends. Make sure not to make them too thick or too symmetrical, as this can give an unnatural appearance. Remember that lashes closer to the inner corner of your Eye are usually shorter than those on the outer edge.
Moving on to eyebrows, they help define expressions and enhance facial features. Begin lightly sketching two curved lines above each Eye, following its natural shape. The arch should align with about two-thirds of your brow length from its starting point near your nose.
To create realistic-looking brows, use short upward strokes with varying thicknesses along their length. Mimic hair strands by making some sections darker while leaving others lighter or sparser. This will add texture and dimensionality.
Remember that eyelashes and eyebrows vary in density, length, and colour intensity depending on individual characteristics such as age or gender; therefore, adjust accordingly based on desired results!
For a more detailed tutorial on drawing eyebrows and eyelashes, click the link below.
Step Six- drawing of an eye
Add depth and details to the drawing of Eye:
Now that you have outlined the shape of the Eye, added the iris and pupil, and drawn the upper and lower eyelids, it’s time to bring your drawing to life by adding depth and details. This step will genuinely make your Eye appear more realistic and captivating.
To add depth, shading around the iris using a lighter pencil stroke. Gradually darken this area as you move away from the iris towards the outer edges of the Eye. This creates a subtle shadow effect that adds dimension.
Next, pay attention to small details such as reflections on the surface of the eyeball or tiny blood vessels surrounding it. These intricate elements can be lightly sketched in with a fine-tip pen or pencil to give your drawing an extra level of realism.
Remember additional features like eyelashes and eyebrows! Use precise strokes to depict individual lashes along upper and lower lash lines. For eyebrows, consider their shape, thickness, and arch before delicately sketching them in.
Remember that practice makes perfect when adding depth and details to your eye drawings. Take your time observing natural eyes for inspiration, experiment with different techniques, and, most importantly, enjoy every stroke as your masterpiece unfolds!
Step Seven- drawing of an eye
Add Shading and Highlights:
Now that you’ve outlined the shape of the Eye, drawn the iris and pupil, added the eyelids, and created depth with details, it’s time to add shading and highlights. This step will bring your drawing to life by adding dimension and realism.
To start, observe how light hits an actual eye. Notice where shadows fall and where highlights are present. Use a soft pencil or charcoal to lightly shade in these areas accordingly. Remember to blend your shading smoothly for a more realistic effect.
Next, focus on creating highlights using an eraser or white pencil. These highlights represent areas where light is reflected off the Eye’s surface. Be careful not to overdo it – subtlety is key here.
You can also add shading around the eyelashes or eyebrows to enhance their texture and volume. Pay attention to how they cast shadows onto the surrounding skin.
Incorporating highlights using a white gel pen into your eye drawing will give you a more three-dimensional look that captures attention. So take your time with this step – experiment with different techniques until you’re satisfied with the result!
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist looking to enhance your skills, practising drawing eyes is a rewarding exercise that allows you to explore different techniques and styles. With each attempt, you will notice an improvement in capturing the intricacies of this complex feature.
So grab your pencil and paper, follow these steps, and let your creativity flow through your fingertips as you bring those eyes on paper! Whether for personal enjoyment or showcasing your talent to others, drawing eyes is a beautiful form of art that captivates viewers.
Now go ahead and give it a try – who knows? You might discover a hidden talent within yourself or find joy in creating stunning eye drawings. Happy sketching!
Remember – Practice makes perfect!
