This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the process of drawing a lifelike eye with ease. You don’t need any prior experience as the tutorial offers clear and concise instructions accompanied by detailed illustrations.
The image above provides a preview of the different stages involved in creating the eye drawing.
If you’re a beginner, this tutorial is particularly suitable for you. It features a basic line drawing with minimal shading, making it accessible and straightforward to follow along.
To begin, ensure you have a pencil and start by making light lines when positioning the various parts of the eye. Once you’re satisfied with the placement, you can darken the lines.
Step 1 – Draw the Upper Outline of the Eye
Commence the drawing by sketching a simple curved line to outline the upper part of the eye, as shown in the example below.
Step 2 – Draw the Lower Outline
Next, define the bottom part of the eye using a second solid line. Leave a small open area near the inner tip to represent the tear duct.
Step 3 – Draw the Tear Duct Area
Connect the two lines from the previous step by drawing the tear duct. This will create one continuous outline for the eye.
Step 4 – Draw the Iris
Inside the eye’s outline, add the iris. Shape it round, with the upper part slightly covered by the eyelid.
To ensure the iris appears perfectly round, start by drawing the entire circle and then erase the portion behind the eyelid.
Step 5 – Draw the Pupil & Other Smaller Details
Within the iris, depict the pupil, overlapped by a small oval-shaped highlight representing the light reflecting from the eye. Keep the outline of the highlight light, as it will blend into the shading later on. Additionally, add the details of the tear duct.
Similar to the iris, draw the complete circle of the pupil first, and then erase the section overlapped by the highlights.
Step 6 – Draw the Eyelids
Above the eye, draw a curve to define the upper part of the top eyelid. Then, below the eye, draw another curve to represent the edge of the bottom eyelid, followed by a curve to depict its bottom.
You can now darken the lines but avoid darkening the outline of the highlight.
Step 7 – Apply Shading
To enhance the drawing, add minimal shading. Fill in the pupils with dark solid shading, excluding the highlight. Shade the iris with a smooth gradient that darkens toward the edges and lightens toward the center. Layer a second gradient shading that becomes lighter as it goes down.
The image above illustrates the desired shading.
Shade the tear duct area with solid grey, leaving a couple of highlights as shown in the example. You can either outline them beforehand or create them while shading.
Finally, add light shading to the upper/outer part of the white of the eye, darkening toward the edges and lightening toward the center.
Step 8 – Draw the Upper Eyelashes
Drawing the eyelashes may seem challenging, but it’s fairly manageable. If you’re using a pencil, press harder near the base of each lash and gradually lighten the pressure as you move toward the tip. This technique will result in lashes that are thicker at the base and thinner towards the ends.
Make sure to vary the direction and curves of each lash to create a natural look. Avoid drawing the lashes straight and aim for an evenly distributed fan-like formation along the eyelid.
Step 9 – Draw the Lower Eyelashes & Complete the Eye Drawing
For the bottom eyelid, draw the lashes in a similar fashion to the top lashes but make them shorter, especially towards the inner tip of the eye.
Once you’ve completed this step, you should have a finished drawing of the eye.
Conclusion
Drawing a realistic eye can be a challenging task, especially for beginners. This tutorial aims to simplify the process by providing a detailed breakdown of the steps involved, with minimal lines and shading. We hope you found this tutorial easy to understand and follow.
If you enjoyed this tutorial and would like to try similar ones, consider exploring the following topics:
- How to Draw a Smiling Face Step by Step
- Creating Expressive Eye Drawings in Simple Steps
- Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing a Shopping Bag
- Master the Art of Drawing a Young Girl in 12 Simple Steps (Including Proportions)
Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep honing your drawing skills and enjoy the creative journey!
