How to Color Eyes

How to Color Eyes

This tutorial provides an easy-to-follow guide on how to color eyes realistically by understanding their structure, light behavior, and coloring techniques. It helps artists learn why each step matters, allowing them to draw or paint eyes without relying on references.

Understanding the Eye’s Structure

• The eye is a three-dimensional ball that moves within its socket.
• The iris is the colored ring in the center, giving the eye its distinctive color.
• The cornea is a clear, smooth, and wet outer layer that covers the iris.
• Think of the iris as a shallow, indented bowl rather than a flat surface.

Light and Highlights

• Light rays pass through the transparent cornea and reach the iris beneath it.
• The smooth cornea reflects light, creating highlights that make the eye appear shiny.
• The color of the iris sits behind the highlight on the cornea.
• Because the iris is bowl-shaped, when light comes from above, the lower part of the iris appears lighter while the upper part is darker.
• The main highlight appears on the top side of the cornea in the direction of the light source.

Five Simple Steps to Color an Eye

1. Base Color for the Whites of the Eye: Start with a base tone for the sclera (the white part). Add soft shading to suggest its round shape.
2. Base Color for the Iris: Choose the main color for the iris — blue, brown, green, or any custom shade.
3. Determine Light Source and Add Light Disc: Identify where the light is coming from. Apply a lighter tone to the part of the iris that catches the most light.
4. Add the Pupil and Darken the Top of the Iris: Paint the black pupil in the center, then darken the upper part of the iris to represent the shadow under the eyelid. Optionally, add a darker rim around the iris for depth.
5. Add Highlights: Use a bright, hard-edged brush to paint highlights on the cornea in the direction of the light source. You can also add small secondary highlights to mimic reflected light.

Key Takeaway

By understanding how light interacts with the eye’s shape and layers, you can create more realistic, expressive eyes without needing constant references. This knowledge helps you paint eyes that feel alive and dimensional.