SSSDrawingTutorials
Drawing is simply a line going for a walk ~Paul Klee
This is a more detailed step by step tutorial for the dragon eye. It splits the video tutorial into individual phases for you to follow along with and help you draw the eye. This is a good way to see the evolution of the drawing in each of its phases. You can use this with my video to see how I do it. For this drawing you will ned a 2B or 3B pencil, or a pencil set, an eraser, an A4/A3 sheet of paper and a blending stub or tissue (or you can just use your finger).
Good Luck!
Step 1: Outline phase 1
For the outline, first draw this oval like shape. You will notice that the points are not drawn in completely. the inner "tear gland" shapes on either side are round and smi circle in shape. The apex of the curve on the "tear gland" and on the out edge should line up. The ovular shape in the centre is the main part of the eye..
Step 2: Outline phase 2
The next step for the outline is to draw in the the outer lines around the eye and the details inside the eye. for the pupil draw a diamond without one point on the right side. Then draw in squares that start big, and get smaller gradually as they go down. These should curve around the diamond shape. Next draw in the curved lines around the eye which should bend around the central eye shape to make it look more natural.
Step 7: Shading the Central Eye
To shade the central eye, start from the top in the centre. Make long curved lines that slowly get smaller as you go inwards towards the diamond shape. A demonstration of this technique can be seen in the video for this tutorial. Once you have finished making these curved lines, go over the small darker lines around the edge of the eye to make them stand out more. Make sure to keep the squares white and go over them again if you need to. Use a blending tool to make grey lines on the bottom of the eye where the curved lines do not touch. These grey lines should poin towards the centre.
Dragon Eye Tutorial
Step 4: More Scales
The next step is to finish the scales. Notice how they vary in size, have clear guidelines, and are semi circles in shape. As you get lower down the eye, the left and right side should not make a striaght, vertical line going down, with scales. To make it look more natural, add in some gaps on th edge and make the scales slowly go inwars to create a rhombus like shape below the eye.
Step 3: Scales
The next step is to add in the scales. These are semi-circles that run along the lines around the eye. While drawing the scales make sure you can still see the guidelines. Add small spikes on to the overarching line on the top that curve outwards.
Step 5: Shading phase 1
To start shading, create a dark border aaround the central eye shape, squares and the tear gland shapes outside. Use small black, thick stokes around the edge of the eye in regular intervals. These lines should point toward the centre of the eye.
Step 6: Shading phase 2
To shade the tear gland shapes on the outside, start from the corners. Use dark strokes that are curved in shape, and and create a fan/triangle type shape using multiple lines. Do the same for the outside corners but it make it darker than the inside tear gland shapes.
Step 8: Iris Shading the scales
To start shading the scales, first go over them using darker lines. These do not have to be super precise. Also bring out the guide lines using the same kind of dark lines.
Step 9: Shading the upper scales
Using a blending stub or tissue or just your finger, shade the scales by making circular movements in the area with the scales. This leaves some highlighted white areas, and some darker grey areas. This creates contrast and the scales should be lighter than the central eye, to make it stand out more.
Step 10: Shading lower scales
Repeat witht he scales below the eye. Remember to go over the scales and lines to bring them out more. If you want to create more highlights, apply a thin, small eraser gently to create these highlights.
Step 11: Final Outcome
This is the completed drawing of the dragon eye. The techniques learnt here should be applicable to any other drawing you do. I encourage you to keep on practicing with other visual references and check out my other tutorials if you liked this one.
