Drawing Realistic Eyes: Proportions and Shadows

Ever stared at someone's eyes and wondered how you'd capture that depth on paper? Yeah, me too. Drawing realistic eyes feels like chasing perfection, but honestly, it boils down to understanding two pivotal elements: proportions and shadows.

Getting the Structure Right

The infographic above breaks down what I discovered after diving into various art resources—the eyeball is fundamentally a sphere, and those eyelids? They're essentially draped fabric over that curved surface. Pretty straightforward, right? When you're sketching a relaxed eye, the upper lid typically conceals the top portion of the iris, while the lower lid gently kisses its bottom edge. Also, here's a nifty rule: the space between two eyes roughly equals one eye's width. This maintains harmonious facial proportions and prevents that awkward "too close" or "alien" look.

Shadows Transform Everything

Here's where magic happens. That cast shadow from the upper eyelid onto the eyeball? It's essential—darkest right beneath the lid, then gradually melting downward. I researched techniques on Proko's drawing fundamentals and found that this single detail catapults your drawing from flat to dimensional. Don't forget the core shadow on the sphere's far side, away from your light source, and that crisp highlight reflecting the light—it makes eyes appear genuinely wet and alive ✨

Check out our infographic above for visual guidance on shadow placement, because seeing these principles mapped out makes all the difference when you're actually holding that pencil.

Sources:

• Proko - Drawing Fundamentals
• Drawing Tutorial Resources - Creative Bloq