How to sketch expressive eyes in a notebook
Learn to sketch expressive anime-style eyes in a notebook using basic graphite pencils, blending stumps, and fine-line detailing techniques.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ HB graphite pencil
- ✓ 2B graphite pencil
- ✓ Precision eraser or kneaded eraser
- ✓ Blending stump (tortillon)
- ✓ Ruler or straightedge
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Lined or blank notebook paper
- ✓ Scrap paper for testing tones
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Ensure pencil points are not excessively sharp to avoid tearing thin notebook paper
- • Maintain comfortable hand posture to prevent wrist fatigue during detailed shading
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (5 Steps)
Establish Guidelines and Basic Eye Shape
Hold the HB pencil lightly and sketch a horizontal baseline with two curved arcs representing the upper and lower lash lines. Keep the upper arc thicker and distinctly curved compared to the flatter lower line. Ensure the distance between both corners matches your intended eye width.
- • Faint, symmetrical curved arc sitting above a flatter lower curve
- • Even spacing with no heavy dark indents in the paper
- • Pressing too hard with the pencil
- • Making the lower lash line too curved and circular
Draw the Iris and Pupil Outline
Sketch a large vertical oval inside the lash lines, partially tucked beneath the upper eyelid. Within the center of the oval, place a smaller circular outline for the pupil. Leave small circular gaps near the top edge of the iris to map out primary light reflections.
- • Circular or slightly oval iris overlapping the upper lash line
- • Clean, unfilled circle marking the future catchlight
- • Drawing a full floating circle for the iris without touching the eyelid
- • Forgetting to reserve empty space for reflections
Darken the Lash Line and Add Eyelashes
Switch to the 2B pencil and build up density along the upper eyelid contour. Taper individual lash flicks outward from the corner, curving upward in swift, light strokes. Add subtle, shorter lash tufts along the outer third of the lower line.
- • Thick, velvety dark upper lash line with crisp pointed flick ends
- • Natural curved lashes extending outward rather than straight like spikes
- • Drawing straight, stiff eyelashes perpendicular to the lid
- • Overcrowding lashes on the inner corner
Fill the Pupil and Apply Iris Gradient
Fill the pupil completely solid with the dark 2B pencil, avoiding the highlight boundary. Shade the top half of the iris with heavy pressure, gradually reducing pressure toward the bottom to create a smooth dark-to-light gradient. Use the blending stump in small circular motions to soften graphite transitions.
- • Jet-black pupil clearly distinct from iris shading
- • Smooth vertical gradient transitioning from dark shadow under the lid to light tone at the base
- • Shading the entire iris in a single flat tone
- • Smudging into the reserved white highlight
Add Eyelid Crease and Sclera Shading
Sketch a soft, subtle parallel crease line just above the upper lash curve with the HB pencil. Lightly shade the upper corners of the eyeball whites (sclera) under the lash line with the blending stump's residue to simulate shadow cast by the lid. Finalize with a subtle brow line above the crease.
- • Subtle cast shadow across the upper eyeball whites
- • Clean, defined upper crease adding three-dimensional depth to the eye socket
- • Leaving the sclera completely stark white
- • Making the eyelid crease darker than the actual lash line
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Shrimpy — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Blending stump (tortillon)? Cotton swab (Q-tip) or folded tissue paper
- No 2B graphite pencil? Standard HB pencil with increased hand pressure
- No Precision eraser? Standard eraser cut to a sharp wedge with scissors