Ever wanted to know how to draw a realistic-looking eyeball? Well, here’s your guide. Drawing a human eye is not as hard as it seems, and it can be a great way to practice your art and increase your skills. You just have to have the right tools and techniques. So, let’s get started!
To get started, you’ll need a pencil, eraser, and some sketch paper. You may also want to have some H or HB pencils, a few rounded blending tools, and a kneaded eraser. To get started, draw an oval outline of your eye using the pencil and paper. This should be fairly large so that you have plenty of room for drawing details later. Keep in mind the shape of the human eye is a bit more curved and elliptical compared to just drawing a regular egg-shaped oval.
With the outline ready, start adding in the detail. Start at the bottom and draw a black circle for the pupil. This is the most striking feature of the eye and gives it life. Next, add two half-moon crescents for the upper and lower parts of the iris. Draw the curvature of these parts as you like, but be sure to make them smaller than the circle you drew before.
Now that the eye has a basic shape, it’s time to make it look realistic. Using soft pencil strokes, start adding in the non-pigmented portions of the eye. These are the shadows, highlights, and reflected lights of the eye. You may have to take a few passes, adding in light and darker areas until it looks the way you want it. You may also want to use blending tools to soften the transitions.
The next step is to draw the eyebrow and eyelashes with H pencils. Start with the eyebrow, using fast, steady strokes. Draw eyebrows in the direction of the hair growth and remember to start thin and build upon it as you reach the peak. For the eyelashes, use the same pencil and draw curvy lines that box in the eye from all angles.
Once you’re finished with your drawings, use the kneaded eraser to smooth out those small imperfections and to make the eye look more 3D. Remember, take your time and periodically take a step back to admire your results.
To create the depth and realism of a human eye, don’t forget to add veins and highlights. Start with the veins – use the pencil to draw thin, curvy lines around the iris. Then, use the kneaded eraser to erase parts of the lines so they don’t appear too harsh. For the highlights, place a light source at the top of your eye and use the eraser to create a bright spot in the center. Both the highlights and veins will help make the eye look more alive.
Finally, you can use an applicator or brush to darken the areas around the eye. This will help frame the eye and give it an even more realistic look. And with that, you’re done! Your eye should now look more realistic and usable as a reference for your other creative projects.
