The Mistake Every Beginner Makes | How to Draw Realistic Eyes, by Emily Rose Wildlife Art - Pastel Pencil Tutorials on YouTube. 26 min 58 s.
- Video length
- 26 min 58 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Transfer your lion eye outline onto the sand-coloured Pastelmat. Keep the lines light so they do not show through the pastel layers.
Study the eye socket before drawing. Note how the brow bone sits above the eye and the cheekbone curves below it. This structure makes the eye look set into the skull.
Block in the darkest areas first. Use a dark brown pastel pencil for the pupil, the top eyelid shadow and the deep corner of the eye.
Build the iris with ochre and orange pencils, working from the outer edge inward. Leave a small light gap for the highlight so the eye looks wet.
Add the eyelid rim with a black or very dark pencil. Keep the line thin and slightly uneven so it reads as skin, not a drawn circle.
Layer short fur strokes around the socket, following the direction the hair grows. Start light and press harder only where the fur is darkest.
Soften the transitions between fur and skin with a soft brush or your fingertip. Blend gently so the texture stays visible.
Add white and pale highlights on the brow, the inner corner and the shine in the eye. Sharpen the pencil for fine lines.
Step back and check the socket shape. Darken any hollows that look flat and lift excess pastel with a kneaded eraser.
Tips and common mistakes
Draw the socket shape before the eye itself, since a correct socket makes any eye look alive.
Keep your pencils sharp for fur lines and highlights, and use the side of the tip for soft shading.
Place a sheet of glassine over the drawing between sessions to stop smudging.
Do not outline the whole eye with one hard circle, as real eyelids are uneven and partly hidden by fur.
Questions
Do I need expensive pastel pencils to start?
No. Stabilo Carbothello pencils are a good beginner choice. Faber Castell pastels give richer colour once you are comfortable.
What paper should I use for pastel pencil eyes?
Sanded pastel paper such as Clairefontaine Pastelmat holds many layers without tearing. Smooth paper fills up quickly and limits blending.
How do I make the eye look wet and shiny?
Leave a small gap of bare paper for the highlight and add a sharp white dot at the end. Keep the highlight edges crisp, not blended.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
