Chapter 13, Eyes: Forming the Soul's Gateway
From my upcoming new edition of The Art Studio Companion
101 Newberry, David’s Eye, 2023, ink.102 Newberry. Demo of an eye from ball start.
103 Newberry. Demo of an eye and shapes around it.
In this study, we examine the shape/form of the eyes and the surrounding area. I used a reference photo of Michelangelo’s David. Using sculpture as a reference is one of the best ways to focus on forms. Often, drawers/painters fall into the trap of flattening everything around the eyes, noses, and lips, not realizing that it is the areas 'around' features that take art and expression to the next level. With that in mind, keep a focus on the forms around the eyes in this study.
The drawing demo illustrates my step-by-step process of drawing an eye from start to finish. The ball of the eye is the most important element, followed by the form of the folds over the eye, and then the outlying shapes surrounding the eye. Capturing the form of the entire eye area transforms your drawing, inviting viewers to delve into the eye's expression and soul. This serves as a psychological gateway to the spirit of the artwork.
104 Michelangelo, The David, detail, 1504. Online: Academia Aesthetics.
Practice
As always, it is crucial to reinforce your understanding through practice. Do five drawings of an eye from a great sculpture portrait.
The three most important aspects of drawing an eye are: focusing on the roundness of the eyeball; ensuring the eyelids properly cover the eyeball; and capturing the surrounding forms. A valuable exercise is to draw the sculpted eyes from a great sculpture, like Michelangelo’s David.[1]
There are a couple of other things to watch out for. Firstly, the top eyelid’s highest point typically covers the iris. However, if you want to depict a crazed or possessed person, you can show white space between the top of the iris and the upper eyelid. On the other hand, it is acceptable to have white space between the iris and the lower lid. Additionally, pay attention to the slight change in the arc of the upper eye, with the highest point usually positioned above the iris. This is important as it gives a natural feeling when the iris is positioned to the left or right, looking at something to their side.
Enhance the power of your artistic expression by mastering the art of drawing an eye and experiencing the wondrous transformation of turning a piece of paper into a soul.
[1] Studying works by great artists can be incredibly beneficial. By doing drawings or sketches of their oil paintings or sculptures, like Michelangelo's David, you can learn from the very best and absorb their great techniques.