Eyes, from wide open to closed - reference.

Expression. Such a difficult thing to get right as it involves the whole face in complex ways, but for now some basic expression can be given through the eyes and eyebrows as long as you know how to draw an eye from way open all the way through closed.

Below we have a set of six eyes from the front, and the same set of six from the side.

The first eye is neutral for reference, notice the small crease above the eye. This will be useful and it designates the size of the eyeball in relation to the open part. On the second set of eyes, you can see they are half closed (note full eyeball is delineated at the top) but are closed in a sleepy/bored fashion (eyebrow still neutral). Contrast this with the angry eyes directly below where the eyebrow comes down over the inside edge of the eye and an angry crease can be seen on the forehead. Always draw the shape of the complete eye, then you can choose where to put the eyelid at any level. The third eye is closed yet the full shape of the eye is still indicated by the ‘top crease’. The fourth eye is shocked, notice how the pupil can be drawn contracted for extra effect and the eyebrow lifts out of shot. The angry eye we have already mentioned is similar to the half closed, although the shape can be altered slightly to emphasise angularity. The sad eye seems to droop a little on the outside and the eyebrow follows. Here I have added a larger pupil and water welling on the edge.

The eye from the side is shorter and more triangular than when seen from the front.

In order, neutral, half closed (used for sleepy, bored, stern but not angry look etc. depending on the set of the mouth and other features), closed (asleep, bliss, anything when eye is closed), wide open (shock, panic), angry (mostly eyebrows giving this impression) and sad/about to cry.

You can combine some of these for even more options (one shut one open equals a wink or with a grimace  and angry eyebrows maybe pain, the possibilities are endless). I will add a full face expression tutorial when I am less busy and have the time to draw them all. Being a vet student is hard work…

Until then, keep practising with the reference sheets I provide! I am sorry about how ‘reference’ like these eye tutorials are, but I will make it up to you guys with the Halloween special on Friday. See you there!