highlight, on the iris.  In order to understand why this is so, refer to the previous graphic of the eye in cross section, and note that there is a gap between the cornea and the iris.  The iris itself is not rounded like the cornea, but flat.  Now take a look at the photo.  I put a flat piece of paper into a clear drinking glass, and then shone a flashlight  onto the glass, at an angle to the paper.  Note what we have: a small, bright highlight, and a lighted up area on the paper, but opposite the highlight.  The highlight is a reflection, but the cornea allows the rest of the light to go through to the paper = iris!

© 2007 Gisele Zeitler
Terms of Use:  The graphics in this tutorial may be used for private, non-profit use only.  Any other use please e-mail: giselezeitler@aol.com

STEP 10

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 10; Transparency: 85;  Soft Edge: 30
Hex #A75054  [MODE]

HIGHLIGHTS:

Let's talk about the highlights in the eyes.  You will find that if you remember the following principle, your eyes will always look more natural.  If there is only one light source, there will be only one highlight in the eyes.  Two light sources, and the highlights will be the reflections of both of them.  The highlight will be located on the eye orb closest to the light source.  However, there is another light in the eye, but it's not as bright and small as that highlight.  This is a larger, softer light, and it will always be opposite the

GALLERY OF EYES

Young ones, old ones, smiling ones, frowning ones, open ones, squinty ones, sketchy ones, finished ones.

Note what a difference the topography of the features around the eyes makes, to cause the personality and identity pop off the page.  This tutorial was just about eyes, but their setting is equally important.

If you want to improve your drawing and painting of the human face,  take a little sketchbook with you everywhere, look at your subjects closely, and sketch, sketch, sketch!

STEP 11

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 8; Transparency: 85;  Soft Edge: 30
Hex #C78A8E  [MODE]

STEP 12

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 4; Transparency: 85;  Soft Edge: 30
Hex #89453F  [MODE]

STEP 13

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 5; Transparency: 85;  Soft Edge: 30
Hex #7C6840  [MODE]

STEP 14

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 12; Transparency: 95;  Soft Edge: 50
Hex #7D7D69 [MODE]

STEP 15

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 10; Transparency: 85;  Soft Edge: 30
Hex #F09B80  [MODE]

STEP 16

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 15; Transparency: 90;  Soft Edge: 50
Hex #F4D5BE  [MODE]

STEP 17

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 6; Transparency: 60;  Soft Edge: 30
Hex #4E2923  [MODE]

STEP 18

Airbrush; Shape: Round;  Size: 12; Transparency: 50;  Soft Edge: 50
Hex #F0F1D4  [MODE]

Our eyes need a little definition, especially at the tear ducts and under the upper lid.  Set your brush size to something that will give you a reasonably thin line, and you will probably still have to go back and forth over it until you see the deep red appear.  This is an accent, so don't let the line get wide, and don't overdo, but were you see it below, it really gave the flesh some life, here.  SAVE.

Having put down the shaded part of the top of the lower lid, we now need to paint the lighter pink fleshy color on top of it, leaving the deeper tones to define some of the edges.  Below you can see where I sprayed it.  Note that I sprayed a small amount onto the whites of the eyes at the inside and outside corners of the eye.   SAVE.

Now we will begin to paint the top of the lower lid, as well as the tear duct space.    Since we are dealing in red shades, I've used blue as my paiinting shape fill color.  This first is a darker fleshy tone.  SAVE.

At this point, I decided that my irises needed a few more bright spots, so I put just a couple of camel-yellow colored points in them.  Take a look below -- they are so subtle, that I changed the fill-color to green, to help you see them.  Maybe I was a bit too subtle.  Feel free to increase the number of dots by a few, but don't increase their size.  This is not about highlighting, it's about the pattern in the iris.  SAVE.

So here we will add the light on the iris.  Note below exactly where I put it.  And now you know why the iris is always lighter opposite the highlight.  All of your people drawings will now look more realistic, forever!  SAVE.

It's time to paint the lids.  Although we are painting individual features, the lids are part of the eyes.  So paint this darker skin tone on the outside edges of the lids, as shown below in green.  Making it lighter in the center will give them the round form they really have.  At the moment, this light area is way too light, because it's the color of our digital 'paper.'  That changes in the next step.  SAVE.

And here we have the lighter part of the lids -- the shade that makes it come toward you.  Now you see how they eyeballs are really round and spherical.    SAVE.

Now we will paint the lashes.  If painting with a mouse, be sure to bring down your brush size until you can get a line that's thin enough to make soft lashes.  Can you tell that I painted each lash as a little arc?  And also, I sometimes started at the lid line a bit further from the previous lash, but then brought the tip of it up to that lash, creating a sort of triangle.  Our lashes do sometimes clump together like that, especially if we use mascara!  Notice also that since the upper lashes are pointed at the viewer, you don't see their entire lenght.    SAVE.

Finally, we need to add a bit more roundness to the eyeballs themselves.  This is achieved by highlighting them at the bottom with a complimentary, more yellow highlight.  While I have this tone in hand, I also added a tad at the bottom of the upper lid, where it's closest to us.  I also turned the transparency up to 80, and reduced the size of the brush, and sprayed a very transparent, tiny amount at the top of the iris light (the one painted in Step 14).  I think it adds life to the eyes.  SAVE.  So, how do your eyes look to you, now?  Did you enjoy yourself?  Did you learn something new?  I hope you did, and you will keep drawing and painting!

MOUSE VS. TABLET

Remember that things like brush size are just suggestions.  It's more important that you see what results you're supposed to be getting, and if you find you can't, undo, and set your brush size to something that will help you achieve that goal.  Since I'm using a tablet, and can set my brush for Size and Transparency, I will get a thinner line if I don't press hard.  This gives me more control.  However, you can get the same results by setting your brush to a thinner line than is given if you're using a mouse.  I began painting with a mouse, too, and while I wouldn't go back to it, I do remember being surprised at the results I was able to achieve. 

If you are working with a mouse, how much physical control you have over it will have a big impact on your results.  If you've been "mousing around" for a good number of years, you probably have enough control to be able to paint.  If you are enjoying this painting, you should consider treating yourself to a tablet and pen.  But if you don't have one now, no excuses.  You can still get fabulous results.

Now, let's continue painting our eyes!