This segment drawing demonstration will give you some practice drawing eyes. Use the grid method to capture the beauty of a leopard’s eye. The grid will help you draw the shapes and the patterns accurately.
.5mm mechanical pencil with 2B lead
kneaded eraser
ruler
smooth bristol paper
tortillion
Use the grid to capture the shapes of the leopard’s eye. Lightly draw the box on your drawing paper using one-inch (25mm) squares. Draw the shapes within each box as accurately as possible.
Draw in the darkest areas first. Apply the pencil strokes with firm pressure, going in the direction of the fur. Do not make the pencil strokes solid or hard edged.
With a very dirty tortillion, blend out the lighter areas of the drawing to a shade of gray. Render the eyeball by adding tones around the pupil, then blend them out with the tortillion. Leave a white spot in the pupil for the reflection, and a subtle light edge around the pupil itself.
Add small dark hairs using short, quick pencil strokes. Create the lighter hairs the same way using a kneaded eraser molded into a razor’s edge. The trick to this is not stopping too soon. Go back and forth continuing to add dark and light until you are satisfied.