Ok, so I’ve finally decided to share with you some of my cool eye-drawing ideas that any artist, from beginners to experienced artists, can draw.
Eyes are actually not too hard to draw but to draw better eyes than everyone else, you need to follow some simple tips and practice.
Some eyes will be basic and not too realistic while others can be very realistic. So pick the eye ideas that you are comfortable drawing and then pick a few harder ones so that you expand your drawing skills.
Eye Drawing Ideas
I’m going to break my drawing ideas into a few sections, from realistic eye drawings to cartoonish eyes to abstract and then beyond.
That should cover most types of eye drawing ideas that you should need.
Realistic Eye Drawings Ideas
When I talk aboutrealistic eyedrawings, I’m going all in on how to capture the mystery ofhuman eyes.
Thefirst step is nailing thebasic almond-shaped outline of the eye. I know not all eyes are almond shape but all eyes are a variation of them.
This might sound simple, but it sets the stage for everything else. Sketching thecurved linefor the upper eyelid and adding asmaller circleinside for the pupil are your keys to start.
Remember, keeping an eye on theposition of the eyesand theeye socketcan turn a good drawing into a great one.
Thebest wayto get it right? Practice. Start with apencil sketch, and don’t be afraid to erase and tweak.
After you’re happy, going over your sketch with anink penbrings your drawing to life.
Realistic Human Eye
Detailed depiction with attention to iris, pupil, and eyelashes. Best for hyper-realistic portraits. Hyper realistic eye drawings work best when drawn in a large format as you can fit in more detail.
If you try to draw a realistic eye like this on a smaller piece of paper or canvas, then it won’t have the same effect.
Cat Eye
Almond-shaped with a slit pupil. Perfect for fantasy creatures or animalistic characters.
Gothic Eye
Dark, heavy makeup, possibly a melancholic look. Suitable for gothic-themed artworks.
Egyptian Eye
Bold, lined, with a distinctive shape echoing historical makeup styles. Ideal for historical or themed illustrations.
Cyber Eye
Mechanical, with elements like circuits or glowing parts. Fits cyberpunk or futuristic themes.
Horror Eye
Bloodshot, dark circles, possibly gory. Perfect for horror or thriller genres.
Elderly Eye
Wrinkled, sagging eyelids, with a soft gaze. Great for realistic elderly portraits.
Child’s Eye
Wide, innocent, with sparse lashes. Best for children’s book illustrations.
Romantic Eye
Soft, with dreamy or teary look. Ideal for romantic scenes or characters.
Mystical Eye
Incorporating fantasy elements, like starry irises. Fits magical or fantasy artwork.
Animal Eye
Reflecting various species; textured iris. Suitable for wildlife art.
Steampunk Eye
With mechanical parts, brass and copper tones. Great for steampunk creations.
Retro 80s Eye
Exaggerated makeup, bright colors. Great for retro and vintage styles.
Cartoon Eye Drawing Ideas
Moving on tocartoon eyes, let me tell you, these are fun to draw. Cartoon eyes are all about exaggeratingfacial featuresto show offcharacters’ personality.
Want to make your characters stand out? Play withdifferent shapesand sizes.
Cute eyes,angry eyes, andsurprised eyeshave one thing in common – they express emotion in clear, bold ways.
Anime eyesare a hit if you’re drawingcute characters. They tend to be larger and more expressive.
My tip? Focus on theshape of the eyeand have fun with it. Sometimes, flipping the shapes in theopposite directioncreates a whole new look.
Cartoon Eye
Simple, exaggerated features, often large and expressive. Suitable for various cartoon styles.
Anime Eye
Large, detailed, with reflective highlights. Ideal for Japanese anime and manga.
Graffiti Eye
Bold, vibrant, often part of a larger colorful piece. Suitable for street art styles.
Comic Book Eye
Dynamic, with strong inking and shading. Ideal for American comic book art.
Pixel Art Eye
Made of pixels, usually very small. Fits pixel art for video games.
Chibi Eye
Extremely large and sparkly, minimal detail. Perfect for chibi-style characters.
Doodle Eye
Simple, scribbly, often part of a casual sketch. Ideal for casual or playful art.
Pop Art Eye
Bright, often with a dot grid or bold outlines. Ideal for Pop Art.
Manga Eye
Detailed like anime but often more subtle. Fits manga illustrations.
Abstract Eye Drawing Ideas
Lastly, let’s chat about Abstract Eye Drawings. This is where you can let your imagination run wild.
Abstract eyesdon’t follow the rules ofrealisticorcartoon eyes. They play with colors, lines, and shapes indifferent ways.
Ever tried drawing an eye with just onestraight line, or usingdifferent colorsto fill in aclosed shape? It’s fun and can lead to someaesthetic drawing ideas.
Abstract doesn’t mean anything goes, though. Themost common mistake is losing the essence of the eye.
It’s still good to start with asimple eye shapeand then twist it into something new and unique.
Use acolored pencilto adddashes of coloror anink penfor sharp lines. There’s noone and only wayto draw abstract eyes, so explore and see what you end up loving.
In each style, remember themost important thing: practice makes perfect. Whether it’seasy drawingsor complex ones, each sketch gets you closer to mastering those looks.
Abstract Eye
Non-literal, using shapes and colors creatively. Best for abstract art.
Stylized Minimalist Eye
Few lines, no details, abstract form. Works well with minimalist art.
Surreal Eye
Dream-like, with impossible elements (e.g., eyes with landscapes inside). Fits surrealism.
Impressionist Eye
Soft edges, pencil lines and strokes visible. Fits Impressionist style paintings.
Watercolor Eye
Blended watercolor pencils, soft edges. Suitable for watercolor paintings.
Tips for Drawing Eyes
Drawing eyes can seem like a bit of a puzzle at first. But don’t worry, I’ve got some tips that’ll make it feel more like solving a fun riddle.
Eyes are the windows to the soul, right? So, let’s make sure your drawings have some pretty awesome windows.
Study Eye Anatomy
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Anatomy sounds like we’re back in science class, not art. But hear me out. Learning a little bit about how human eyes and facial features work is a game-changer.
The first step is knowing that the position of the eyes on the face is key. They’re usually right in the middle.
And here’s a fun fact: the space between the eyes is about the size of another eye. Pretty cool, right?
When I started drawing, I thought eyes were just almond shapes. The iris was a circle in the middle, and the pupil was another one inside that, and I was done. Wrong.
There’s more to it. The eye socket, the curved line of the eyelids, and the inner corner all play big parts. The eyelid needs to go over the iris a little; shadows and lighting make all the difference.
Knowing these can turn your simple eye drawings into something more realistic and alive.
Practice Different Styles
Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to explore. There’s a whole world of cool eye drawings out there – from anime eyes with their big, expressive looks to cartoon eyes that are all about being fun and, sometimes, a bit silly.
And let’s not forget about realistic eyes. They’re all about capturing those little details that make human eyes… well, human.
I love trying different shapes and seeing how it changes a character’s personality. And here’s the thing, there’s no one way to draw eyes.
Want to make cute eyes that make your characters look like they’re always having a wonderful day? Or maybe you want to try something edgy with colored pencils? Go for it.
It’s all about practice. Grab your pencil sketch or ink pen and just start drawing. I always find that a step-by-step guide is a good place to start.
They show you different ways to approach an eye drawing, step by step. And the best way to learn? By doing it over and over. Each time you’ll find out something new.
Remember, making mistakes is just another step in getting better. If the eyes end up looking a bit wonky, just try again.
Flip your drawing to see it from the opposite direction. This little trick helps me see if both eyes are matching up or if one’s going on a little adventure of its own.
And there you go. Keep these tips in mind next time you sit down to draw, and you’ll see how your drawing skills grow.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one giving out tips on drawing the perfect set of anime eyes or creating that realistic eye that seems to stare right back at you.
Eye Drawing Tutorials
Eye drawings can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with a blindfold on. But don’t fret, I’ve got some tips up my sleeve that’ll have you sketching peepers like a pro in no time.
Let’s break it down into bite-sized pieces, shall we?
Step-by-Step Guide for Realistic Eyes in 4 Steps
Kicking things off, let’s chat about drawing realistic eyes. The first step in this adventure is nailing the basic almond-shaped outline of the eye.
Step 1 – Think of it as drawing the top view of an almond on your paper.
Step 2 – Then, draw a curved line for the eyelid.
Step 3 – Next, let’s tackle the iris. Picture drawing a smaller circle inside your almond.
This part is fun, it’s where your eye starts to develop its personality. But don’t just slap a dot in the middle for the pupil; play around with different shapes and sizes.
Don’t forget that the eye reflects light so find your light source or make it up and make sure you have a smaller circle near the pupil that is not colored as that will be your light reflection.
Step 4 – The last step involves adding those tiny details that make your drawing pop.
The white of the eye isn’t just a blank space; add some light gray tones to give it depth.
And remember, the position of the eyes and the shape of the eyelids can tell a story all by themselves.
Drawing Tips for Adding Expressions To Eyes
Let’s spice things up a bit with expressions. The real magic happens when you play with the eyebrows and the corners of the eyes.
Want to draw someone looking surprised? Raise those eyebrows like they’re trying to fly off the face.
Angry eyes have a subtle downturn.
A common mistake is thinking the eyebrows don’t matter. They’re the secret sauce that can turn a meh drawing into a masterpiece.
They’re like the conductors of the face’s orchestra, setting the tone for the whole piece.
And don’t even get me started on the fun you can have with different eye shapes.
Human eyes, anime eyes, cartoon eyes – each has its unique vibe. Anime eyes are like windows to the soul, big and expressive, while cartoon eyes are more about getting a laugh or telling a story in a simple, exaggerated way.
Joseph Colella
Joseph Colella (Joe Colella) is an Editor and Writer at WastedTalentInc. As a frustrated artist with over 40 years experience making art (who moonlights as a certified Business Analyst with over 20 years of experience in tech).
While Joseph holds a Diploma in Information Technology, in true wasted talent fashion he spent years applying for various Art degrees; from the Accademia di Belle Arti (Napoli), to failing to get into the Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) at the University of Western Sydney.
While he jokes about his failures at gaining formal art qualifications, as a self-taught artist he has had a fruitful career in business, technology and the arts making Art his full time source of income from the age of 18 until 25.
His goal is to attend the Julian Ashton School of Art at The Rocks Sydney when he retires from full time work. Joseph’s art has been sold to private collectors all over the world from the USA, Europe and Australasia.
He is a trusted source for reliable art advice and tutorials to copyright/fair use advice and is committed to helping his readers make informed decisions about making them a better artist.
