If you're new to drawing and want to learn how to draw crying eyes step by step, you've come to the right place. With the right techniques and practice, you can create expressive and realistic crying eyes that bring your drawings to life. Let's dive into this two-part tutorial designed for beginners.
Before we start, gather your basic drawing tools. You'll need a pencil, eraser, paper, and optionally, a blending tool or your finger for shading. A reference image can also be helpful, but not required. Now, let's begin with the basics of drawing crying eyes.
Understanding the Basic Principles
To draw crying eyes effectively, understand that tears change the shape, size, and shading of the eyes. Tears cause the white of the eye (sclera) to be less pronounced, and the eye appears larger due to wetness. The iris may also slightly diminish in size, and the pupil might enlarge.
Moreover, tears create highlight and shadow areas, making the eye appear more dimensional and dynamic. These subtle changes in form and light are crucial to capturing that sorrowful expression.
Gathering Tools and Setting Up
Choose a medium-grade pencil (HB or 2B) for this tutorial. This pencil allows for easy blending and shading. Sketch lightly, as you can always darken your lines later but not lighten them once you've made them too dark.
Use a paper with a slight texture to help with shading. Draw on a flat surface or a drawing board to maintain stability. Tracing paper or a lightbox can be helpful for transferring your outlines, but they're not required.
Sketching the Basic Shapes
Start by sketching the basic shapes of the eyes and tears. Divide the eye socket into equal sections using horizontal and vertical lines to ensure symmetry. Sketch the tear ducts with simple curved lines. Don't worry about accuracy at this stage; focus on capturing the basic shapes.
For the tears, sketch simple drooping lines. Less is more at this stage; don't draw the entire tear yet. Just key in where they'll start and end. Also, sketch the basic facial features, like the nose and mouth, for context.
Once satisfied with your basic shapes, use a kneaded eraser to remove unnecessary guidelines. Darken the remaining lines to create a more defined outline. Remember, it's okay to make mistakes; erasers are our friends!
Adding Detail and Depth
Now that you have the basic shapes in place, let's add detail and depth to create expressive crying eyes. We'll tackle the tears, the sclera, the iris, and the pupil, in that order.
Work from light to dark, gradually building up the shading. This approach helps maintain control over your drawing and allows you to correct any mistakes before committing to darker values.
Drawing the Tears
Using your reference image, sketch the tears more accurately. Remember, tears should flow down from the tear ducts, tracing the curve of the lower eyelid. They may cover portions of the iris or sclera, altering their shapes.
Begin shading the tears. Use the side of your pencil to create a smooth, light gradation, following the shape of the tear. Once the base is established, switch to the tip of your pencil or a blending tool to create a smoother transition. Darken the bottom of the tear and leave the top lighter, indicating the highlight. Repeat this process for all tears.
Adding Details to the Sclera and Iris
The tears will subtly change the shape and shading of the sclera and iris. Focus on the upper portion of the sclera; the tears typically cover the lower part. Use light, smooth shading to create a gentle gradation, leaving a highlight on the upper edge.
For the iris, notice if tears have altered its shape or size. Adjust your drawing accordingly. Shade the iris gently, darkening the upper and lower edges, leaving the center lighter. Keep in mind that tears might create additional highlights or shadows on the iris.
Next, add the pupil. Like the iris, tears might have slightly enlarged the pupil. Sketch and shade the pupil, ensuring it appears darker than the iris. You can also create a subtle reflection in the pupil to give it depth.
Final Touches
Add details to the lower eyelid and the inner corner of the eye, where the tear duct meets the nose. This area can be quite dark due to the shadow cast by the upper eyelid and the downwards flow of tears. Use dark, smooth shading to create this effect.
Once satisfied with your crying eyes, step back and marvel at your creation. Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep drawing, and your skills will improve over time.
Now that you've learned how to draw crying eyes step by step, put your newfound knowledge to good use. Sketch those heart-wrenching scenes, those dramatic movie moments, or just create expressive characters. Go ahead; let your creativity flow like a river of tears. You've earned it!