How To Draw Eye in Procreate: Step-by-Step

Unlock the secret to drawing the window to the soul on your digital canvas with Procreate brushes.

Eyes, being the focal point in emotive portraits and captivating characters, draw viewers in and hold their gaze.

This tutorial is your gateway to mastering the art of eye drawing on your iPad, guiding you from the blank canvas to the final, expressive details that give life to your artwork.

_{^{Canvas Set Up}}

Open Procreate and select “Create New Canvas.” A canvas size of 2000×2000 pixels is ideal for detailed work. Once your canvas is ready, choose a color that you’ll be using for the eye outline; typically, a dark color like black or dark brown works well.

_{^{Sketching the Eye Outline}}

Begin by sketching the outline of the eye. Draw an oval shape for the eye. Inside this oval, sketch a circle for the iris and a smaller one for the pupil. Add a slightly curved line above the oval to represent the eyelid. This will give you a basic structure of the eye to work with.

_{^{Creating a New Layer for the Eye}}

Tap on the layers panel and hit the “+” icon to add a new layer. This layer will be used for drawing the detailed parts of the eye. Renaming it to “Eye Details” can help you stay organized, especially when working with multiple layers.

_{^{Drawing the Iris and Pupil}}

Focus on the iris first. Using your chosen brush, draw a circle within the previously sketched outline. Inside the iris, draw the pupil, ensuring it’s centered. Apply slight pressure at the start and end of your strokes to achieve a natural, tapered look. The iris and pupil are central to expressing the eye’s direction and emotion, so take your time with this step.

_{^{Adding Color to the Iris}}

Create a new layer beneath the “Eye Details” layer for coloring the iris. Choose a color that matches your vision for the eye. Using a soft brush from the Airbrushing category, gently fill in the iris, leaving the pupil black. You can add multiple layers of color to create depth, starting with a base color and adding lighter shades towards the center of the iris to mimic light reflection.

_{^{Refining the Eye Outline}}

Return to your “Eye Details” layer to refine the outline of the eye and the eyelid. Make any necessary adjustments to the shape and smoothness of the lines. This is also a good time to add any additional details around the eye, such as the waterline or the crease of the eyelid.

_{^{Final Touches}}

Add a new layer above all others for highlights. Select a light color or white and use a small, soft brush to add reflections to the eye. A common approach is to place a couple of small, white circles on the iris to represent light reflecting off the eye’s surface. Adjust the opacity of these highlights if needed to blend them naturally with the rest of the eye.

_{^{Review and Adjust}}

Take a moment to review your drawing. Look for any areas that may need smoothing or additional detail. Use the Eraser tool to clean up any excess lines or smudges. This is also the time to adjust the overall contrast and saturation of your eye drawing if needed.

Drawing an eye in Procreate is a practice in observation and technique. 

Each element, from the outline to the subtle reflections in the iris, contributes to the eye’s realism and expressiveness. 

With practice, your ability to capture these details will improve, enhancing the overall impact of your digital art.