Drawing Realistic Animal Eyes: Beginner's Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 7 min read

Immersing oneself in the art world is a journey filled with discoveries, and if you're just getting your feet wet in drawing realistic animal eyes, you're about to uncover a new and exciting facet. Mastering animal eye drawing is not only an enriching skill to develop but also a stepping stone towards achieving more intricate works of animal portraiture. Let's get started on this captivating journey together!

Getting Started with the Basics

Before you dive into the specifics of animal eye drawing, it's important to familiarize yourself with the basic tools, understand the structure of animal eyes, and practice some primary sketching techniques.

Tools and Materials

While there are various drawing tools available, some basic ones will serve you well in your animal eye drawing journey. Here's what you'll need:

A quality set of pencils, ranging from soft (B) to hard (H). Soft pencils are great for shading while hard pencils help in sketching fine details.
Sketch papers: A smooth, heavy-duty sketch paper is ideal for animal eye drawing.
Eraser: Preferably a kneaded eraser for its flexibility in removing pencil marks without damaging the paper.
Blending stumps or tortillons: These are for blending and smoothing your shading.

Understanding Animal Eye Structure

Each animal species has a unique eye structure, which makes the world of animal eye drawing so fascinating. Take a moment to study the eyes of various animals—notice the shape and size of the pupil, the overall shape of the eye, the placement of the eyes, and the surrounding features like eyelashes and eyebrows. Each of these details contributes to the animal's distinct look.

Practicing Basic Sketching

Before you can perfect the art of animal eye drawing, you need to build your sketching skills. Start with simple shapes like circles and ovals, which are common shapes for animal eyes. Practice drawing these shapes, and then progress to more complex shapes and details. Try sketching the eye structures you learned about earlier. Remember, each pencil stroke is a step closer to your goal.

Drawing Different Animal Eyes

Once you've got the basics down, it's time to explore the specifics of drawing different animal eyes. Let's start with three of the most common ones: cat eyes, dog eyes, and bird eyes.

Cat Eyes

When it comes to animal eye drawing, cat eyes are a favorite among beginners and experts alike because of their distinct shape and mesmerizing colors. Here are some key features to keep in mind:

Shape: Cat eyes have a unique almond shape that's often slanted.
Pupil: Unlike humans, cats have vertical slit pupils. The size of the slit can change drastically depending on the light.
Colors: Cat eyes come in a variety of beautiful colors—green, yellow, blue, and even multicolored. Use your colored pencils to bring these hues to life in your sketches.

Dog Eyes

Just like humans, dogs express a lot through their eyes. Capturing these expressions can make your dog eye drawing incredibly lifelike. To draw a realistic dog eye, consider the following:

Shape: Dog eyes are typically round or almond-shaped, depending on the breed. Some breeds also have visible whites in their eyes, unlike cats.
Pupil: Dogs have round pupils, similar to humans.
Colors: Dog eye colors range from dark brown to light blue. Some even have heterochromia, where each eye is a different color!

Bird Eyes

Bird eyes offer a different kind of challenge in animal eye drawing. From owls to eagles to parakeets, bird eyes come in a wide variety. Here are some general tips:

Shape: Bird eyes are usually round, with a protective ring of bone called the sclerotic ring visible in the eye.
Pupil: Most birds have round pupils, but some birds of prey may have more oval-shaped pupils.
Colors: Bird eye colors are extremely varied. Some birds have dark brown or black eyes, while others may have bright orange, yellow, or even red eyes.

Adding Depth and Realism

Now that you've explored drawing different types of animal eyes, let's focus on making them more realistic. This stage involves shading, highlighting, and adding texture to your animal eye drawings.

Shading Techniques

Shading is crucial for adding depth and dimension to your drawings. It helps illustrate the curvature of the eye and the depth of the pupil. Here are a few shading techniques to try:

Cross-hatching: This involves drawing intersecting sets of parallel lines. It's a great way to add richness and depth to your animal eye drawing.
Stippling: This technique uses small dots to create varying degrees of darkness. It's especially useful for adding texture and depth in bird eyes.
Blending: Use a blending stump, cotton swab, or even your finger to smooth out graphite or charcoal in your drawing. This technique is particularly effective for creating the soft look of a dog or cat's eye.

Highlighting Techniques

Highlights are the lightest parts of your drawing, often representing where light hits your subject. In animal eye drawing, proper highlighting can make the eyes look moist and lifelike. Here are some methods:

Leave White: The simplest technique is to leave the area you want to highlight blank. This works well if you're drawing on white paper.
Erasing: If you've already shaded your drawing, you can use an eraser to create highlights. A kneaded eraser is particularly good for this, as you can shape it to a fine point.
Opaque White Mediums: For darker papers or more pronounced highlights, consider using white charcoal, a white colored pencil, or a white gel pen.

Texture Techniques

Finally, let's add some texture to your animal eye drawing. Texture can make your drawings more realistic by mimicking the surface of the subject. Here are a few techniques:

Layering: Apply multiple layers of pencil at different pressures to create a textured effect. This is useful for drawing the fur around an animal's eye.
Scumbling: This involves moving your pencil in small, circular motions to create a texture. It's a fantastic technique for drawing the irregular surface of a bird's eye.
Scratching: Use a sharp tool to scratch the surface of your paper to create texture. Be careful with this one—it's permanent!

Perfecting Your Technique

Starting to get the hang of your animal eye drawings? Great! But remember, art is a journey, not a destination. Let's dive into ways you can further perfect your skills.

Practice Makes Perfect

It's a saying as old as time, and it holds true for a reason. The more you practice drawing animal eyes, the better you'll get. Here's how to make the most out of your practice sessions:

Draw regularly: Whether it's 15 minutes a day or a couple of hours every weekend, find a schedule that works for you and stick to it.
Vary your subjects: Don't just stick to one type of animal eye. Try drawing cats, dogs, birds, and more. Each eye is unique and will present its own set of challenges.
Use reference photos: Photos provide a wealth of detail that can help you improve your accuracy and attention to detail.

Critiquing Your Own Work

Learning how to critique your own work can be a game-changer. Don't be too hard on yourself, but do look for areas of improvement. Here are some tips:

Take a break: After finishing a drawing, take a short break before critiquing it. This can help you see your work in a new light.
Compare with references: Look at your drawing and your reference photo side by side. Do they match up? What differences can you spot?
Ask for feedback: Don't be afraid to ask others for their opinions. They might notice things you've missed.

Continual Learning

Even the most experienced artists never stop learning. There are always new techniques to try and skills to sharpen. Here are some ways you can keep learning:

Take classes: Look for drawing classes in your local community. You'll learn from experienced teachers and get to meet other budding artists.
Read books: There are plenty of great art books out there. Some focus on animal eye drawing specifically, while others cover drawing techniques in general.
Watch tutorials: There are countless art tutorials online. They can be a great way to see techniques in action and pick up tips and tricks from other artists.

Once you've mastered the art of animal eye drawing, why keep it to yourself? Sharing your work can be a rewarding experience and it's a great way to get feedback and engage with other artists. So, where should you start?

Social media platforms are a great place to share your art. They're easy to use, and you can reach a wide audience. Here's how to get started:

Create a dedicated art account: This separates your personal posts from your art, allowing you to build a professional presence.
Post regularly: Posting regularly keeps your followers engaged and helps you get noticed by the algorithms.
Engage with your followers: Respond to comments, like and share other peoples' posts, and be an active member of the community.
Use hashtags: Hashtags like #AnimalEyeDrawing can help people discover your work.

Local Art Shows

Local art shows can be a fun and engaging way to get your work out there. They're also a great place to meet other artists and art enthusiasts in your community.

Find local shows: Check local event listings, community centers, or art supply stores for upcoming shows.
Prepare your work: You'll want to have some high-quality prints of your best animal eye drawings. Make sure they're properly mounted and framed.
Network: Take the time to chat with visitors and other artists. You never know who you might meet!

Online Art Communities

Joining an online art community can be a great way to get feedback on your work, learn new techniques, and feel a sense of camaraderie with other artists.

Choose the right community: There are many online art communities out there, so do some research to find one that fits your style and interests.
Participate actively: Don't just post your own work. Comment on others' posts, participate in discussions, and be a supportive community member.
Take part in challenges: Many communities host regular art challenges or prompts. These can be a fun way to push your skills and creativity.

If you enjoyed learning about drawing realistic animal eyes and want to dive deeper into animal art, be sure to check out the workshop titled 'Basic Animal Anatomy for Artists' by Viktoria. This workshop will provide you with essential knowledge of animal anatomy, helping you improve your skills and create more realistic and captivating art.