Drawing animal eyes can be an intimidating feat. But thanks to a steady hand and some helpful tips, you can bring your sketches to life and make your drawings pop. While it might take practice, getting started is easy. Here’s how to draw animal eyes like an absolute pro.
First, grab a pencil and paper and start with the basics: sketching the rough shape of the eye. When sketching, it helps to try out different eyeshapes. You can draw a circle, oval, slanted oval, diamond, and more. Keep things simple and use short, light strokes.
With the eyeshape down, it’s time to thicken and darken the outline of the eye. Do this until you get the desired amount of darkness – remember, animal eyes are usually dark! This will also help to ensure that your sketch stays sharp and neat.
The next step is to draw the fur or feathers around the eye. Depending on the kind of animal, use lines, dots and squiggles to draw the fur. Don’t forget to draw some fur extending beyond the eye and up the forehead, too.
Now it’s time to draw attention to the most important aspect of the eye – the pupil. Draw the pupil in the centre of the eye, then draw in highlights and shadows to give it depth and realism. Make sure to draw both the lashes and the eyebrow lines too.
Once you have the eyes finished, add a glint of emotion. This can be done by adding a smirk, sparkle, or emotion to the eyes. Finally, use a light-tone to blend and blend the furry areas with the whites and darker tones of the eye. Make sure not to go overboard so your drawing stays realistic.
Now for the real fun – adding color. With animal eyes, you’ll want to use vivid colors to make them stand out. Choose colors that will create a vibrant and realistic effect. Highlight the white sclera, use warm tones in the middle and cool tones on the edge. Once the colors are down, you can use slightly darker tones to finish the iris. Keep in mind that you might need a few more paint layers depending on the intensity of the eye you desire.
Finished your artwork? Seal it in with a few more details! Use a white gel pen to draw small veins around the eyeball and light outlines in the pupil to make it look alive. To make the eye even more vibrant and beautiful, use a glitter pen to fill in areas of the eye with sparkles.
So, that’s how to draw animal eyes! Remember to take your time, use light strokes and bold colors to really bring your drawing to life. With a bit of practice, you’ll be creating pieces of art you’ll be proud of in no time. So go ahead and get sketching!
Now that you know the basics of drawing animal eyes, learn how to add texture and dimension. Start by lightly shading the eyes to give it a three-dimensional look and add texture with small lines and dots. Bring further depth to your work by adding gentle highlights on the bottom, top and sides of the eyes. Once you’ve done this, soften the edges of the eyes with short white lines. This will give it a more realistic and dreamy look.
Another fun way to add character to animal eyes is to draw creatures with facial expressions. Start by drawing in the eye brows and adding a curve for a smiling look. You can also draw eyes closed for a sleepy look, draw wide-eyes for a surprised effect, and squinted eyes for a cautious expression. Adding a sly or humorous look to your drawing is also a great way to add character and bring it to life.
Lastly, if you’re looking for fun techniques, try bringing in sharp, bold and thick lines to your work. Think of an eye as a set of wings. Try making your lines curved and angled, and draw a single feather shadows around the eye. You can add even more detail with smaller and thinner lines, as well as little eyeglow details. Adding layers will give your drawing defined edges, a realistic shape and more softness.
By picking up a pencil and following these steps, you’ll be able to draw animal eyes in no time. Use bold colors, unique expression and fine details to make your drawing look alive with emotion. So go ahead and give it a try. Your drawing will surely be a masterpiece!
