5 Steps and Counting: How to Draw an Eye
Graphite on paper
Over the next few days, I will share the fundamentals of drawing an eye. These steps are part of a story, and that story leads to a big announcement that I am excited to share with you. But first, the story.
It began last summer at CognEYEzant:365’s first, and incredibly successful, outreach event. In Downtown Traverse City at Friday Night Live, CognEYEzant:365 set up a booth as the street closed down for foot traffic.
Hundreds of enthusiastic people drew eyes on large sheets of paper as a part of a community art project I created. People of all ages and backgrounds joined in, and by the time they were done drawing, their eyes were alight.
For the event, I created “how to draw an eye” worksheets that participants learned from and took home. At the event, I did some “how to draw an eye” demos on an easel in the street. As the warm evening wore on, people didn’t just draw; they talked, too. By sharing the experience of making art, we began to share each other’s stories and contexts and explorations.
And now, here, virtually, I want to share the experience of making art with you. Without further ado, here is “How to Draw an Eye in 5 Steps”:
- Begin by drawing the upper lid.
- Draw iris (a bit more than a half circle).
- Draw lower lid (begin line on outer corner of eye, curving slightly, continue line to just before corner of eye).
- Draw corner of eye (or “caruncle” the remnant of our reptilian eye), then draw pupil leaving room for “shine” on the eye.
- Draw eyelashes (on the top and bottom lids), flesh out lower lid (add line in outer, lower corner of the eye, as pictured), draw crease above eye, and add “bag” under the eye (optional).
Tomorrow promises simplified eye drawing for the novice, the beginner, the creative. Tomorrow promises a story that begins with borrowed scissors. And then, on Thursday, I’ll make the announcement.
(If you take the challenge and draw an eye, share it with me via email nadiacdm(dot)projects(at)gmail(dot)com or on social media using #cogneyezant. I can’t wait to see what you’ve made.)
216 days done, 149 to go.
NadiaCDM 