How to Paint an Eye in Oil

To paint a realistic eye, you will need to make the pupil perfectly round, even though the top of it will be partially covered by the eyelid.  Study several eyes before you begin to paint.  You will see that you will need to paint in many fine lines, shadows, and highlights.

You will learn the colors to mix to get the deep blackness of the pupil and how to achieve the proper size for the pupil.  In painting the pupil, you must retain its round shape.

You will find that painting each side of the eyeball will require variations in the color of the paint.  Also, you will learn that different ethnic groups have different pigments in the whites of their eyes. By properly applying the shadows and highlights,  you will give a nice rounded effect to the eyeball.  You will add the tear ducts once the eyeball is painted.

You will begin this section with the upper eyelid.  You will be working with several different tonal values in this area.  The lower eyelid can be painted using the same technique as you used for the upper eyelid.  You will finish up painting the wall of the eye.

As you work this area, you will be doing a great deal of contouring and blending to include the edge of the nose and the skin around the eyebrow.

You will begin with the eyelashes, being mindful of both the direction and spacing of the lashes.

You will use much of the same technique to paint the eyebrows.  Use the eye itself to help you gauge the proper positioning for the brow.

To finish up, you will refine, blend, and adjust your highlights and shadows to pull it all together.