How to Draw Eyes with Realistic Shading

Using shading to draw realistic eyes is not nearly as difficult as it looks. Follow these easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 4B drawing pencil
• Kneadable rubber eraser
• Tortillion or blending stump

1. 

   Start by drawing a lemon shape.

2. 

   Next, you will outline the eye ridge. The eye ridge is drawn right inside the lemon shape.

3. 

   Add an upper lid to your eye above the lemon shape.

4. 

   Draw in a circle for the iris. It should be partially hidden behind the eyelids. In other words, you will not see the entire circle of the iris (unless you are going for a look of surprise).

5. 

   Add a pupil in the center of the iris. Next, lightly draw a box that you will leave white as a highlight area. Be careful not to draw inside of this area.

6. 

   Fill in the pupil (except for that little box) and then draw radiating lines from the pupil to the edge of the iris. It should look a little bit like a sunshine.

7. 

   Take a tortillion or blending stump and blend the radiating lines into the iris. Remember to leave the area inside of your highlight area free of shadow.

8. 

   For the next step, you will actually be drawing with your tortillion or blending stump. This creates a smooth shadow. Use the stump to blend the upper lid and then use the stump to draw a shadow beneath the lower lid.

9. 

   Draw a line with the tortillion immediately beneath the top lid. Draw right on the eyeball. If you need to, go ahead and rub your tortillion on the pupil in order to pick up more graphite to draw with.

10. 

    With the tortillion or blending stump, make curved shadows in the corners of the eyes.

11. 

    Find the area on the iris opposite the highlight area. Use a kneadable rubber eraser to lightly dab the iris. This makes it look like light is passing through the eye.

12. 

    Add lashes. To make them look more dramatic, draw a reflection of the lashes into the highlight area.

13. 

    Make any adjustments that you need to make.

14. Practice your eyes. The more you draw, the easier it gets.

[edieness]

on 6/26/2009 Pretty good looking outcome on the eye. Creative and fun.

[sweetspirit]

on 6/25/2009 Very nice. Thanks