Would you like to learn how to draw a realistic eye?
This realistic eye tutorial will explain exactly how I draw realistic eyes.
If you are interested in painting wildlife with pastels, visit How To Paint A Wolf Eye With Pastels.
In this post, I will share with you:
- My favorite art supplies
- Art supplies needed for this tutorial
- The different parts of the eye
- How to draw eyes accurately
- How to add depth to the eye.
- Essential tips to make make your drawings pop off the surface
- Watch the entire sketch on video at the end of this post.
Drawing eyes is so much fun, and one of my favorite things to draw in humans and animals.
The eyes are the windows to the souls and what brings life to an animal or human.
The eyes tell a story. You can almost tell what a person is thinking just by the expression of their eyes, and in my opinion, it should be the main focus of the portrait.
Drawing sketches of eyes is a great way to improve your skills as an artist. You will learn how to capture the intricate details of the human eye, but you’ll also gain a better understanding of facial proportions and symmetry.
Supplies
Before we get started, here is a list of all the supplies I have in my studio:
I purchase all of my art supplies from Blicks. They have great prices, free shipping if you spend a certain amount, and ship items quickly.
Paper
- Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Board Pads 9″ x 12″ Smooth
- Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Board Pads 9″ x 12″ Velum
Strathmore Smooth Bristol Paper Review
Blending
Shading Pencils Set
Value Finder
Erasers
- General’s Factis Magic Black Eraser
- Tombow Mono Zero Refillable Eraser
- Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Erasers
- Alvin Dry Cleaning Pad
Extras
What You Will Need For This Tutorial:
- Reference image (The reference I am using for this tutorial is courtesy of Pixabay.)
- A Set of Tombow Mono Professional Pencils or your favorite graphite pencils.
Pencil grades needed for this tutorial:
- 2H
- HB
- 2B
- 4B
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Board Pads 9″ x 12″ Velum or your favorite paper.
I recommend practicing on a surface you will use for your final drawing.
Over the years, I have tried multiple brands of paper. For my artistic style, Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Board Pads 9″ x 12″ Velum is the best. I use this paper for all of my commission drawings and original drawings.
Erasers needed for this tutorial:
A blending stump is optional. The majority of my drawings are done with graphite and erasers. I create soft value changes by adding multiple layers of graphite on the surface. I will, however, use a blending stump for softening lines.
Extras:
Some artists use a mechanical pencil to draw, but I find it challenging to create soft value changes with a mechanical pencil.
Step 1 – Draw The Eye Shape
The first step of an eye drawing is to lightly draw the eye’s contour (outline of the eye) on the drawing surface.
You can use several different techniques to draw an eye’s shape.
- Draw the eye freehand
- Use the grid method
- Trace the eye with graphite tracing paper
- Use a lightbox
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Sketching the contour of a subject accurately is an essential step in a realistic drawing.
You can shade the eye perfectly, but the finished illustration will look off if the proportions of the eye socket, inner corner, upper lid, lower eyelid, and pupil are incorrect.
If you want to draw a realistic eye, the proportions must be accurate.
I use the grid method for all my realism drawings.
I know many artists who trace the subject or use a projector.
One of the problems I have encountered with tracing the subject is that the line traced on the surface will be difficult to erase. The dark line will create a problem when you start to blend in the values.
If you are unfamiliar with the grid method, you can watch how I use the grid method step by step in a tutorial I have on TableWise, or you can purchase the video tutorial.
Realistic Eye drawing tips:
- Use an H2 pencil and lightly sketch the basic shapes of the eye so you can remove and blend the lines more easily.
- Make sure the proportions of the eye are correct.
- Use a reference image. (The reference I am using for this tutorial is courtesy of Pixabay.)
Pixabay is a vibrant community of creatives sharing copyright-free images and videos. All contents are released under the Pixabay License, making them safe to use without asking for permission or giving credit to the artist – even for commercial purposes. (Source: Pixabay)
Step 2 – Add Graphite To The Darkest Areas
Now that you have the eye sketched lightly, it is time to add graphite to the eye’s darkest areas.
Adding values to the eye will create soft shadows that give the drawing a three-dimensional illusion.
Begin by studying the reference image and identifying where the darkest values are.
- The pupil is the black circular iris opening, letting the light in. The pupil will be the darkest part of the eye.
- The iris is the colored part of the eye and will have several different values.
- The Sclera is the white of the eye. Even though the sclera is the white part of the eye, it is not truly white. There will be smooth values that you will want to identify.
- Observe the dark shadows that the upper eyelid creates.
- Observe the values out of the corner of your eye.
- Observe the values of the tear duct.
- Observe how dark the edge of the iris is.
- Observe the values around the eye.
Related Post: Realistic Drawing Tips You Must Know
How To Draw Pupils
Start by adding graphite to the pupil with a 2H pencil using light lines overlapping.
Why start with the pupil?
I start with the pupil because it is the darkest area of the eye.
The values I add after the pupil will determine how dark the pupil is. The shadows, eyelid, eyelashes, area around the pupil, and the eye corner have different values. It is easier to draw from dark to light than from light to dark.
Draw short straight, and curved lines to add value to the pupil.
Make sure that there are no spaces between your lines. You want to have an even layer of graphite on the paper. There will be times when there will be a space between the straight lines. When this occurs, draw in the spaces.
Conditioning the paper with a 2H pencil will prevent the finished drawing from having “white dots.”
Using a harder lead allows you to add graphite to the paper’s valleys of the “tooth.”
Notice in the image above how a 2B pencil leaves a lot of white dots, and the one that started with a 2H pencil has no white dots.
A paper’s tooth describes the surface feel of paper. Generally, the more tooth a paper has, the rougher it feels. You could easily exchange the term for the words, “texture,” or “smoothness.” In general, charcoal artists prefer paper with a rougher texture, as the charcoal adheres better to unsmooth surfaces. (Source: Nitram
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Board Pads 9″ x 12″ Velum has a lot of texture which allows you to add multiple layers of graphite.
This is an example of how smooth value changes create a realistic drawing.
Do not rush the drawing process.
Take your time with your eye drawings and add values slowly.
Some artists get impatient and use a softer lead to draw the darker values to speed up the drawing process or use a blending stump to spread the graphite.
A softer lead will draw a darker line, but there will be a lot of white spots that will be noticeable because softer pencils do not reach the bottom of the valleys of the “tooth” of the paper.
A blending stump will damage the tooth of the paper if not used correctly. A blending stump should be the last thing used for any subject you draw.
Use different grades of pencils to create smooth value changes and a blending stump to soften your lines.
The white imperfections will make your drawing not look as realistic.
When drawing a realistic eye, take the time to condition the paper with a more complex lead.
By drawing over the conditioned areas with softer leads, you can add value to different areas after you have conditioned the drawing surface.
The final drawing will be well worth the extra steps you will be taking.
Step Three – Continue Adding Value To The Iris And Sclera Of The Eye
The two things you need to focus on when drawing realistic drawings are the proportions of the subject and the values.
Your finished drawing will look off if you do not get both the subject’s proportions and the values correct.
Values are how light or dark something is.
The lightest area of a subject is where light is directly hitting the surface.
The darkest area is where light is not hitting the subject.
Before you start to draw, study the reference photo, and identify the light source.
For more information on shading, visit – The Elements Of Shading.
How To Draw An Eyeball
Start by adding graphite to the darkest areas of the iris and sclera with a sharp 2H pencil.
I always start with the darkest area first because all other values will be determined by how dark my darkest dark is.
Notice in the images above I am working from dark to light. I continue to add value to the darkest areas and gradually use less graphite for the lighter sections.
It is essential not to go too dark at first.
Doing so will make the drawing process more difficult because everything will have to be adjusted accordingly.
Use the eye pupil to guide how dark you draw the iris and sclera.
Remember that it is easier to add value than to take value off. You can always make the drawing darker as you go along by adding more graphite to the areas you want darker.
Step 4 – Add Depth To The Iris
Now that you have a solid foundation of where the darkest values are, it is time to add depth to the iris.
To start, add some more value to the pupil.
The pupil is going to be the darkest area of the drawing.
Observe the soft value changes in the pupil.
Notice that the pupil in your reference image is not one solid color. There are darker areas and lighter areas of the pupil.
Add value to the iris slowly. Identify where the highlight is on the iris, and do not add too much graphite to that section.
Work from the darkest areas first.
Next, you will want to draw the dark spokes to the iris.
Notice how the spokes are shaped on your reference image.
They are not all uniform, and a slight curve follows the eye’s contour.
Lighten areas by tapping off graphite with a kneaded eraser and your Tombo eraser.
Continue adding and removing graphite until everything looks smooth.
Notice how the iris has a three-dimensional illusion because of the different values.
Step 5 – Add Value To The Skin Around The Eye
Every line you draw on paper will look lighter or darker depending on the value next to the line.
Adding value to the skin will help you see if you need to make any adjustments to your eye drawing.
Start by adding value to the skin as you did to the eye.
Start with a 2H pencil and condition the paper.
Work from the darkest section and draw towards the lightest part.
Always study your reference image and continue to look at it while adding value.
If you need to make an area darker, use a softer lead like an HB or 2B pencil after conditioning the area with the 2H pencil.
Continue this process until you are satisfied with the values. The next step will be to draw in the eyelashes.
Notice how the eye looks lighter now that you have added graphite to the skin.
Draw The Eyelashes
The last step is to add in the eyelashes.
Hair, eyelashes, and fur is a challenge for many artists.
When you are drawing eyelashes, the thing to remember is that a line does not create an eyelash.
An eyelash is a cylinder, not a line.
Observe your drawing reference and observe where the darkest values are around the eyelashes. They will not be a solid color. There will always be a soft value change due to how light reacts to them.
The eyelashes are soft in the reference I used for this eye. I focused on where the eyelashes started and the shadow to create the illusion of eyelashes.
Realistic Eye Drawing Completed
I am often asked when a drawing is completed.
There is no simple answer to this question.
I advise you to put the drawing away for a day and return to it with fresh eyes.
Often I will go back to a drawing and see some areas I want to adjust.
When you are delighted with the outcome, you can sign your artwork then your work is done.
Charcoal Versus Graphite
One of the most critical elements when creating a drawing is the eyes. They are often referred to as the “windows to the soul” and can help convey many emotions. It is essential to choose the right medium for your drawing.
Two popular choices are charcoal and graphite. Both have unique benefits and drawbacks that you should consider when deciding which to use.
Charcoal is a natural medium that artists have used for centuries. It is made from burning wood or other organic materials and produces a rich, black pigment. Charcoal is well suited for creating detailed drawings with fine lines and shading. However, depending on the paper used with charcoal, it can be challenging to control and smudge easily.
Conversely, graphite is a man-made material that comes in various forms, from pencils to bars. It produces a lighter shade of gray than charcoal and is much easier to control. However, it does not offer the same level of detail or shading as charcoal.
Ultimately, the best medium for drawing eyes depends on your preferences and desired outcome.
How To Draw Eyes Easy
- Use high-quality art materials
- Practice drawing eyes daily
- Start with a basic outline
- Keep your pencil sharp
- Do not touch your drawing surface
- Always refer to your reference image
- Add layers of graphite slowly
- Work from dark to light
- Lighten areas with an eraser
- Only use blending tools for the finishing touches
- Do not rush the process, have fun drawing
- Make highlights pop by adding value next to them
More Drawing Tutorials
- How To Preserve Pencil Drawings
- How To Keep Graphite Drawings Clean
- How To Draw Realist Hair
- How To Shade Drawings
- The elements Of Shading
- How To Draw Using One Point Perspective
- How To Draw A Bee
- What Should I Draw
- How To Draw Water Drops
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