How to Draw Eyes

Every artist drawing portraits should know how to draw eyes that look realistic. Eyes are one of the most important and distinct features on a face, yet they can be difficult to draw.

Here are some tips for drawing realistic eyes:

· Shape: Consider the shape of the subject's eyes. People have varying eye shapes and sizes. A common mistake is to make eyes that are football-shaped. If you look at a picture of someone, you will see that this is inaccurate. Shape is also especially important when drawing eyes on animals. For example, cats have long, almond-shaped eyes, but a horse has round eyes with long eyelashes.

· Anatomy: If you're drawing a subject from the side, remember that the eye slopes at a downward angle and the upper eyelid protrudes farther from the face than the lower. Don't forget the inside corner of the eyes, where the tear ducts are.

· Size and placement: Determine the size of the eyes in relation to the rest of the face. Also consider the placement of the eyes in relation to other features, such as the nose and ears.

· Details: Eyes will not look realistic unless the small details are correct. Study the subject's eyebrows, eyelashes and eye color. Remember that upper eyelid eyelashes are thicker, longer and curve slightly upwards. The inside of the eye will require shading and highlighting.

· Age: The eyes of babies are different than the eyes of the elderly. Take this into account when drawing your subject's eyes, as you will need to include age lines if applicable.

· Emotion: Eyes are incredibly expressive. You need to determine whether your subject should have happy eyes, sad eyes, angry eyes, etc. before you draw, because it will affect other aspects of the face.

The key to making any drawing look realistic is observation. Spend time studying your subject in person and in photographs to make sure you don't miss a detail. Drawing realistic eyes will make your drawing look more accurate and professional.