Seeing is Believing: Tips and Tricks for Drawing Convincing Eyes in Portraits

“The eyes are the window to the soul.” This well-known expression, found in English and many other languages, highlights the significance of eyes. It’s understandable why errors and imperfections when drawing eyes are frustrating—it may seem like the entire portrait is off. 

So, in this blog, we will help you overcome these challenges, and give you some tips on drawing convincing eyes in portraits.

1.Think 3D

We all know eyes are not two-dimensional. However, many beginners approach drawing them from that standpoint, which is why they often look off.

You need to start thinking about eyes as 3D objects. For instance, an eye is not just a circle, but a sphere embedded in the eye socket. The eye socket is shaped by the facial bones, which are also three-dimensional.

There’s also light to think about and how it interacts with the eye’s surface. The cornea often reflects highlights, while the iris may have a subtle gradient of color and tone. These details contribute to the depth and realism of the eye.

1.Start with the bone structure

We touched base on this, but now we need to get into the details.

As mentioned, the entire eye is embedded in the eye socket, which is visually bordered by three bones: the frontal bone, going across the top, the zygomatic bones, known as cheekbones, and the maxilla, which goes around the nose and on the inside of the eye socket.

Before you start drawing eyes we suggest that you lightly mark the boundaries of the eye socket. Here’s what you should draw:

• • Eyebrow, as it helps locate where the brow ridge begins to turn towards the eye socket
  • Eyelid crease, which marks the top border of the socket

• Tear duct
• Infraorbital canal, marking the bottom border of the socket (looks like an undereye crease).

Use a really light pencil, as these are just placeholders for the rest of the eye you will later erase.

1. Outline the eyelids

Once you’ve sketched out the eye socket, you’ll need to outline the eyelids. 

Now, in reality, eyelids are stretched over the eyeball as they cover it. However, they’re not perfectly elliptical despite the eyeballs’ shape because they’re pulled by the bony structure of the eye socket and the cornea.

Here are some guidelines that will help you draw the eyelids:

• The top of the upper eyelid is exactly where you put the eyelid crease. Keep in mind that this line may not be rounded, depending on your model. Some people have hooded eyes, so the top of the eyelid could be a bit angular.
• The bottom of the upper eyelid follows the top of the upper eyelid, but they’re not parallel due to the shape of the eye. Because of that, this line tends to be less rounded.
• The very bottom of the bottom eyelid is right above the infraorbital furrow. This line may be less or more visible.

When drawing the inner and outer corners, pay attention to the orientation of the eye. Most people’s eye corners aren’t on the same level, as eyes are often upward-turned or downward-turned.

1. Add the iris and pupil

Oftentimes, artists struggle to get the size of the iris and pupil right. Drawing them too big can make them look like they’re anime characters. If they’re too small, they look completely off.

Generally speaking, the iris takes up about ⅓ that of the whole eyeball. However, as the eyeball isn’t entirely visible, you’ll need to use your imagination here to get the proportions right. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, especially if your model is not turned directly to you.

Also, don’t forget that the pupil sits on an iris, not the cornea. This is important when you’re drawing a side profile.

1. Start shading

Before you start randomly shading, determine where the light source is. This may seem simple, but it’s not always that way, especially in studios where there’s light coming from all sides. 

When you start shading, always add the darkest parts first. This will help you establish your range and not overshade by accident. Usually, the darkest parts are the upper eyelid crease and the pupil of the eye.

Once you’ve established the darkest parts, move on to more shading, keeping in mind your reference values. When shading, pick small areas first, as they’re easier to work with. When you’re done with it, move on to the nearest one. It’s easier to compare the values of two areas right next to each other.

After doing this initial shading, take a closer look at the drawing and start working on the gradients. You want everything to look smooth, kind of like a sculpture.

1. Add the details

As we’re approaching the end, it’s time to add details to our drawing. The first thing you’ll want to add are the eyelashes.

Many artists draw individual hairs because that’s what eyelashes are. However, they are also congregated into groups, which is why we recommend this approach instead. After you finish drawing these groups, you can add individual strands of hair where needed.

Also, pay attention to the direction of the strands, as it changes with the shape of the eyeball. Those in the middle tend to go completely forward, making them barely visible. On the outer corners of the eye, they are curved to the side.

Don’t forget to add other details, such as pores and wrinkles, to make it look truly authentic.

Instead of a conclusion

While these are general directions and guidelines, it’s impossible to cover everything. Each eye is a story in itself. What matters is to adopt the general approach of viewing and treating eyes as 3D objects.