How to Draw Anime Eyes Step by Step

Learn how to draw anime eyes to make your characters unique and addictive no matter what!

How to draw anime eyes

Anime and manga characters are striking and eye-catching due to their extraordinary appearance, as well as their specific presentation and positioning. The most attractive and adorable of these characters are the eyes, which always attract the attention of the audience. We will teach you how to draw beautiful stylistic anime eyes. After completing the tutorial, be sure to check our 30 anime drawing ideas.

You will need the following art supplies:

a lead pencil,
an eraser,
black and white acrylic paint pen,
watercolors (brown and blue palette)
and a paintbrush.

How to draw eyes: anime eye drawing step by step

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Step 1-4. First, draw an oval and divide it in half horizontally and vertically. And then divide the formed halves into three more equal parts vertically, as indicated in the picture above.

Step 5-7.After that, from the edge of the base horizontal line, draw a line along two parts slightly up, along three parts in parallel, and along one part down, closing the base of the central horizontal line on the opposite side. This is how the blade of the upper eyelashes is formed. After that, duplicate the created line slightly from above to create the upper base of the eyelashes.

Step 8-9. Bring together the lines that form the upper base of the eyelashes on the left side and bring them out a millimeter beyond the edge of the eye. Then outline the lower lashes with a bold line. Erase all auxiliary lines with an eraser. Draw three ovals: the cornea, the iris, and the pupil, respectively. With an additional small oval inside the pupil, draw a highlight inside the eye.

Step 10-11.Form the curve of the upper eyelid in an arc. After that, outline additional highlights in the form of an oval and sectors inside the iris of the eye. Draw the upper and lower eyelashes. Step by step, anime eyes you drew in the final stage should look like picture number 12.

Step 12. Now you need to paint the eye. In the palette, use colors from dark brown to light, and darken the sclera of the eye with a light shade to create volume. This is an important detail, because under the eyelid there is always a shadow from the eyelid itself. Tint the pupil with black paint, then draw the eyelid and eyelashes with a black marker, and the flares inside the eye with a white marker.

Anime eyes base tips and tricks

In anime, the eyes are the most important part of the character, the main means of expression, especially in manga, when the artist embodies the main idea with a static picture. Therefore, use our guide to learn how to draw anime eyes for beginners before you start drawing the whole character.

In manga, there are several basic types of anime eyes: wide, narrow or squinting eyes, and medium (a mix of the first two types), sometimes their derivatives are used. Typically, a mangaka uses a specific type of eyes to create a specific type of character.

Professional manga artists portray with the eyes many of the key moments of the plot and the state of mind of the character in the decisive arcs of the story, since for the Japanese the eyes are literally the mirror of the soul.

After you learn how to draw anime eyes, you can create a completely new character simply by changing the hairstyle of your hero.

A key feature of anime eyes is the presence of distinctive stylistic eye flares. Make sure to use the particular flare correctly to liven up your character's eyes.

The art of drawing anime requires certain skills and experience. We recommend that you start your journey into the fascinating universe of anime and manga by learning the basics of drawing anime eyes, which are a key element in creating the entire character. This will make your work expressive and allow you progress to the next step quickly.

Who is your favorite mangaka and why?