The Secrets to Drawing: The Eye
Lesson Description
Lesson Twenty-Two of The Secrets to Drawing Course focuses on the intricate and expressive subject of drawing the human eye. The eye is often referred to as the “window to the soul,” and mastering its structure, proportions, and subtle details is essential for creating realistic and expressive portraits. In this lesson, students learn how to draw an eye from start to finish using graphite pencils on white drawing paper, incorporating all elements of observation, proportion, and shading learned in previous lessons.
Introduction to the Human Eye
The lesson begins by examining the anatomy and key features of the human eye. Matt Fussell emphasizes that understanding the structure is essential for accurate drawing. Students are introduced to the major components: the sclera (white of the eye), iris, pupil, eyelids, eyelashes, tear duct, and surrounding areas such as the brow ridge and eyelid crease. Each element is discussed in terms of proportion, placement, and relationship to the other features of the eye.
Matt highlights that while eyes vary from person to person, there are consistent patterns that can guide drawing. Learning these patterns allows students to capture not only accuracy but also subtle expressions that convey emotion and personality.
Step 1: Establishing Proportions and Outline
Students begin by lightly sketching the overall shape of the eye, using an H or HB pencil. The basic outline includes the almond shape of the eye, placement of the iris, and eyelid lines. Matt explains the importance of measuring the width and height of the eye and positioning the iris correctly to maintain proportion and symmetry. Light guidelines are drawn to ensure the pupil is centered and the corners of the eye align with the natural curve of the eyelids.
This foundational step ensures that the drawing is structurally accurate before shading and detailing begins. Students are encouraged to work lightly and make adjustments as needed, reinforcing the importance of observation and planning.
Step 2: Drawing the Iris and Pupil
Next, students focus on the iris and pupil, which are central to conveying realism and expression. Matt demonstrates how to carefully draw the circular shape of the iris and the smaller, central pupil. Students learn to observe the subtle textures, radial lines, and variations in value within the iris. Graphite pencils of different grades are used to create depth, contrast, and a sense of transparency, capturing the natural complexity of the eye.
Highlights are left intentionally blank or lightly erased to suggest reflection and catchlights, adding a lifelike quality and dimensionality to the eye.
Step 3: Shading the Eyelids and Sclera
With the iris and pupil in place, students move on to shading the eyelids and sclera. Matt emphasizes that the sclera is rarely pure white; it contains subtle values that reflect the surrounding light and contours of the eyeball. Light and soft shading is applied to indicate curvature, depth, and the shadow cast by the eyelids. Similarly, shading the upper and lower eyelids creates a sense of volume, suggesting the roundness of the eye within the socket.
Students learn to use blending tools, such as stumps or tissue, to achieve smooth transitions and avoid harsh lines, enhancing the realism of the eye.
Step 4: Adding Details and Texture
The next step is adding details such as eyelashes, the tear duct, and fine textures around the eye. Matt demonstrates how to draw eyelashes with natural curves, varying length and direction to achieve a realistic appearance. The skin surrounding the eye is shaded delicately to suggest form and subtle textures, capturing the softness and natural shadows of the area.
Students also learn how to refine highlights and reflections in the iris and cornea, which are critical for conveying life and expression.
Step 5: Final Refinement and Contrast
In the final step, students enhance contrast and refine details to bring the eye fully to life. Darker values are intensified in the pupil, iris, and lashes, while highlights are sharpened for realism. The surrounding eyelid and brow area are carefully adjusted to ensure the eye sits naturally within the face. Matt encourages students to step back and evaluate the drawing from a distance, making subtle adjustments to balance proportion, shading, and texture.
Benefits of Studying the Human Eye
Mastering the human eye enhances overall portrait drawing skills by teaching students about proportion, value, texture, and subtle observation. Drawing eyes improves attention to detail, understanding of light and shadow, and the ability to convey expression and emotion. This lesson consolidates technical skills learned in earlier lessons while providing a focused study on one of the most important and expressive facial features.
Mastery of Drawing the Human Eye
By the end of Lesson Twenty-Two, students have completed a detailed graphite drawing of a human eye from start to finish. They have learned to construct the eye accurately, render realistic textures and values, and capture lifelike expression. This lesson provides a strong foundation for drawing complete faces, enhancing confidence, precision, and artistic observation. Mastery of the human eye prepares students to tackle more advanced portrait work with greater skill, control, and expressive capability.
Lesson Materials
Graphite pencil, white drawing paper.
Lesson Resources
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Founder of The Virtual Instructor, artist and teacher. Matt makes learning art easy to understand and enjoyable.
Dude! Talk about a complicated eye!
Excellent instructions and I loved it! I always had tough time when drawing eyes.Not anymore….
Great to hear Razi!
I loved the instructions. They made so much more sense than any directions for drawing eyes I have ever watched. They were logical and easy to follow.
Thanks Aria!
This was fantastic. Thank you.
wow i thought i was bad but now I know in not
I loved the checkmark rule! Really made it easy to follow. I have always been amazed at eye drawings, as many say they are the gateway to the soul and you can create so many feelings from drawing an eye. Proper placement of the highlights really makes them pop! Great video.
Hi Matt …. Just finished looking at the “Drawing the Eye” video. I also just completed a drawing of the eye in my scratchpad. You make it look too easy! I am keeping a record of my drawings, and when I finished with my latest drawing of the eye, I looked back at a sketch that I made of the eye approximately a month ago. The one I did a month ago actually looks better than the one I just made. This makes it easy to get frustrated, however, I think I am still on the learning curve. I will keep trying. Thanks for your help!!
Hi LaMar! Yes, every drawing that we create can’t be always be the best. But the important thing is that you gain the experience and learn from it. Drawing is a life long endeavor, and perfection is unlikely to ever be reached.
Awesome instruction! That was the best eye I ever drew.
Awesome Cynthia!
As usual Matt, great video and in depth instruction of drawing eyes, I love eyes because as we know they are the Windows to the soul.
The markings on the iris around the pupil was great as to the starburst pattern you see when you look at your eyes 🙂 It was easier to manage than I thought, strangely the eyelashes I seemed to find the hardest just getting them to flow along the eyelids, but knowing the “check mark rule ” was great.
After completing this course eventually as I should of had it done by now, my health issues affected the rate I’ve gone through it, but after finishing it I’m going onto doing your portrait course which will a great transition from these facial features.looking forward to starting my 2nd course with you 👍👍
I also did an eye about a month ago. Watching this helped so much following that earlier effort because I could see why I struggled in some areas. But the initial effort was done somewhat fluidly as an initial attempt and my more “formal” effort will be thru this module. LaMar’s comment will be helpful as my tendency to overwork toward “perfection” can tend to increase my expectation and decrease my spontaneity. A little OCD, perhaps 🙂
Great instruction. My eyes are definitely improving. Thank you.
Matt,
I want to thank you for bringing the kid in me back out to play. I used to draw in my early teens and somewhere along the way I just stopped doing it. lately I have been searching for a hobby to give me something to do and I decided to see if I can learn to draw and not just sketch or doodle. I’ve always wanted to create pictures like the ones you are doing. Well, anyways I am rambling on here and I just want to thank you for this website and your wonderful style of teaching. I may be 56 years old but I feel like a kid again! Thanks again, I cannot wait to start the other courses. I want to learn everything 🙂
Awesome! Thanks Timothy!
Great, Matt! My eyes are quite realistic now. Love the checklist idea and the order you do the lashes. If doing a very accurate full face is it better to start with a grid? Thanks
Very clear tutorial, and jamming music too. 🙂
What type of pencil did you use Matt?
Yes , I have same question as Andrew . What pencil are you using and looks like you used the same one for the entire eye drawing ?
Thank you so much. Excellent instruction. I think I will try again.
I subscribe to your drawing classes and have enjoyed them. I have one concern. Your pictures in this section and in the portrait classes are of Caucasian people. The presence or absence of an epicanthal fold makes difference in drawing th eyelid. Half of my family is from Asia. They do not have an epicanthal fold but many people do.
Hi Carol,
Yes, every eye is different. This is the case no matter what the ethnicity or race of the person. You’ll likely notice that every “Caucasian” eye is very different from the next also. This is why it is important to observe your subject closely. There isn’t a drawing formula that fits every eye, therefore the ethnicity of the subject is largely irrelevant. This video demonstrates a simple process of drawing an eye (any eye) using a specific order. This order of mark making can be applied to any eye you wish to draw from observation. The drawing created in this lesson is very generic and was not drawn from an observed subject.
I do love your site and your informative lessons, but I do find the background music very loud and very distracting. I don’t know if anyone else has mentioned this, but I really don’t need the music at all. Thanks!
Loved this, I found it really helpful, the music i find relaxing. I am in the middle of a fun art class I’m attending and starting to look at portraits, so this teaching is very helpful..Thankyou 🙂