Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.

0
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 67.2
Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15 - 8 Pages and 19 Illustrations

Shade a
Realistic Dog Eye
Sketch proportions, outline shapes, and use various
shading techniques to create a realistic animal eye

Resources:
Module 3.1 Introduction to Shading
6.2.R2 Insights into Animal Eyes As an Aside Tip!

Supplies: paper, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, and 8B This drawing is based on As you work
pencils, pencil sharpener, sandpaper block, a photo of the eye of a your way
vinyl and kneaded erasers, blending tool Dalmatian named Shadow through this
(Figure 1). With careful project, use
planning, you can adapt whichever
This activity has three sections: the techniques used in grades of
Outline Canine Eye this lesson to draw animal pencils work
eyes from other angles best to achieve
Proportions
and under different lighting the lines and
Bring the Eye to Life with conditions. values you want.
Shading
Add Fur and Final Details
Figure 1

Outline Canine Eye

Proportions
1. Use slightly curved lines to
sketch a three-sided shape
(Figure 2).
The lower line is more curved
than the other two and the
curved line on the right is
shorter than the others.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
2 Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15

Figure 2 2. Add another curved line

inside the shape to represent
a section of the perimeter
of the white of the eye
(Figure 3).
Note the points where this
line intersects two sides of the
three-sided shape.

Figure 3

Tip!
Sketching accurate proportions is the
foundation of realistic drawing. If the
proportions are off, then no amount
of beautiful shading or fancy pencil
marks can save a drawing.

Figure 4
3. Add two more curved lines to
represent the iris of the eye
(Figure 4).
The upper and lower sections of
the iris appear to be under the
dogs eyelids.

Tip!
Always place a piece of clean paper
under your hand as you draw to 4. Use your kneaded eraser to lighten all
prevent smudging and to protect the your sketch lines until you can barely see
paper from oils in your skin. them.
Each time you work on a new section,
move your paper so its always under 5. Redraw the outline of the iris with a
your hand.
freshly sharpened pencil (Figure 5).

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15
3

Figure 5

Tip!
Constantly check the proportions of
your sketch by visually measuring and
comparing the lengths and curves of the
various lines.

Figure 6

6. Neatly outline the perimeter of

the white of the eye (Figure 6).

7. Redraw the edges of the eyelids

with curved lines (Figure 7).

8. Erase any remaining sketch

lines.

Figure 7
9. Lightly outline a circular shape on the
upper section of the eyelid (Figure 8).
The inner edge of the upper eyelid
is visible because of the angle from
which the eye is viewed (peek ahead to
Figure 21).

Figure 8

This shape maps a section of light

shading that helps create the illusion
of a three-dimensional eyelid.

10. Very lightly sketch a line below the

eye to mark the edge of the lower
eyelid.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
4 Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15

11. Outline a highlight in the upper Figure 9

right section of the iris (Figure 9).
The primary light source for this
subject originates from the upper
right.

Figure 10

12. Draw a circular shape inside the

iris to represent the pupil (Figure
10).
The pupil is closer to the right edge
of the iris and is quite small when
compared to the iris.
Note that the highlight appears to
overlap the pupil.
Tip!
Closely examine the different values and
shading techniques used in Figures 11 to 19.
The shading used to draw a realistic eye from
this angle needs to illustrate the textures and Tip!
three dimensional forms of the iris, eyeball,
eyelids, and the bone structures around the eye. As you add shading, use faint lines and dark
shadows to create the illusion that the eyelid
is detached from the white of the eye.
In reality, upper eyelids open and close to
13. Use your kneaded eraser to lighten shield the eye from potential dangers such
your lines again in preparation for as objects, particles, or bright lights.
shading.

Bring the Eye to Life with Shading

14. Use curved lines that follow the circular shape of the iris to add light and
medium values to the iris (Figure 11).
The values need to be darker toward the outer edges so the cornea appears to bulge
slightly outward from the white of the eye.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15
5

Figure 11 15. Use crosshatching to add

graduations of light-to-medium
values to the whites of the eyes
(Figure 12).

16. Illustrate the muscle of the iris with

straight lines that radiate from the
pupil outward to the perimeter of
the iris.
Figure 12

The function of this muscle is to

dilate and constrict the pupil as
lighting conditions change.

Figure 13

17. Use a 2B pencil to add darker

shading to the pupil and all
sections of the iris (Figure 13).

18. Add darker shading to the sections

of the white of the eye that are in
shadow.

Figure 14
19. Gently blend the shading of the
iris, pupil and the white of the eye
(Figure 14).
Begin with the lightest values and
blend toward the medium values.
When you get to the dark values,
blend sparingly so you dont rub off
too much graphite.
Be careful not to over-blend, or all
the individual values will smudge
together to become a single value.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
6 Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15

20. Darken the pupil and the shadow sections again (Figure 15).
Small amounts of graphite are naturally removed during the blending process and
usually need to be reapplied to the darkest sections.

21. Use a kneaded eraser molded to a wedge to erase some tiny slivers of white on
the upper left.
These slivers will be replaced with white fur that grows downward from above the eye.

22. Use squirkling to add values and texture Figure 15

to the rim of the lower eyelid (Figure 16).

23. Use squirkling to add texture to the

right section of the eyelid.
The shading of this circular
shape (refer back to Figure 8)
needs to remain relatively light
in value.

24. Use curved hatching lines

of various lengths and
thicknesses to add the fur
around the upper section of
the eye.
Pay close attention to the Figure 16
various directions in which the
hatching lines curve.

Tip!
Lifelike drawings of
animals eyes need to
look anchored within
their facial structures.
Carefully placed
shading graduations
enable viewers to see
the eye as a natural
part of the animals
face rather than a
detached entity.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15
7

Add Fur and Figure 17

Final Details
25. Use curved lines to
map guidelines that
identify the various
directions in which the
fur grows (Figure 17).

26. Add light and medium

values to the fur
(Figure 18).
The hatching lines
are unevenly spaced
and vary in length and
thickness.
Note that all hatching Figure 18
lines are curved some
more so than others.

As an
Aside
The techniques
used to draw the
eye of a dog can
be used for many
other types of
animals.

27. Add several tiny, short lines and small spots to the fur around the lower sections
of the eye (Figure 19).
The fur close to a dogs eye is short and thin with areas of skin showing through. Short
fur is rendered with thin, short lines.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
8 Drawspace Curriculum 6.2.A15

28. Use curved hatching lines to add medium-to-dark values on the sections of
longer fur that are in shadow.
Note the darker section of fur that is a large black spot (refer back to Figure 1). The
fur is shaded with curved hatching lines that dene the forms of the bones of the orbital
socket beneath the fur.

29. Add darker values to the spot, the pupil, the corners of the eye, and the sections
of the eye and fur that are in shadow.

30. Compare your drawing to Figure 19 and change anything youre not happy with.
To make a section of shading darker, add more shading with a soft pencil. To make a
section lighter, use your kneaded eraser (molded to a point or wedge) to slowly and
gently pat off some graphite.

Figure 19

ISBN: 978-1-77193-062-8
Copyright 2014 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.