Marcus Chen
Painting slanted eyes on a cartoon character can be achieved by understanding the underlying anatomy of the eye and its surrounding features. Firstly, it is important to determine the shape of the cartoon character's head, as this will influence the placement and style of the eyes. The eyes should be positioned evenly and at an equal distance from each other, with the pupils sitting on the midway line. When drawing slanted eyes, the angle of the eyes can be varied by slanting the pivot points, which are the points at which the eyelids open and close. The eyelids should wrap around the spherical eyeball to add dimension, and the thickness of the eyelids should be considered to create depth. The pupil moves on the spherical eyeball, and its position can indicate the direction of the gaze or the emotion of the character. The size and colour of the iris can also be adjusted to create a desired effect. Finally, eyelashes and eyebrows can be added, using them to convey the emotions of the character.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eye Placement | Eyes are generally placed in the middle of the face, with the pupils sitting on the midway line. However, the position of the eyes can vary depending on the desired expression and the shape of the character's head. |
| Eye Shape | Eyes are spherical, and the eyelids wrap around the eyeball to add dimension. The eyelids have thickness and cast a shadow on the eyes. The upper eyelid is often drawn thicker than the rest, and it wraps around the eyeball. |
| Pupil Size | The size of the pupil indicates the emotion of the character. Larger pupils suggest fear or looking at something far away, while smaller pupils indicate bright light or close-up focus. |
| Iris Colour | Common colours for the iris include blue, green, brown, grey, and hazel. However, creative liberties can be taken with colours like purple, orange, or red. |
| Eyelashes and Eyebrows | The style of eyelashes and eyebrows can vary depending on the character's gender, age, and other factors. Eyebrows are essential for conveying emotions and can be exaggerated for effect. |
| Slant or Pivot | The pivot point for the eyelids can be slanted to create variation and a unique look. This is commonly seen in Bruce Timm's female eyes. |
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What You'll Learn
Draw two large circles for the eyes
To paint slanted eyes on a cartoon character, you'll first want to draw two large circles for the eyes. This is a simple and effective way to begin drawing cartoon eyes, and it's quite a forgiving method, as drawing eyes does not require a great deal of artistic talent or skill.
The first step is to decide where you want the eyes to sit on your character's face. The eyes are a good tool to measure the proportions of the face. In an average adult face, the eyes are in the middle, with the pupils sitting on the midway line. Usually, the eyes are one eye apart from each other and one eye apart from the edge of the face. However, the distance might appear smaller due to bangs or sideburns. It's important to keep in mind that the higher the eyes sit, the smaller they will have to be to account for eyebrow and forehead space. On the other hand, the lower they are set, the larger and more dramatic the eyes can be.
Once you've decided on the placement, draw two large circles where you want the eyes to be. These circles will serve as the foundation for the eyes, giving them a rounded, three-dimensional appearance. Imagine the whole eyeball inside the character's eye socket, adding depth to the eyes. Remember that the eyelids wrap around the sphere of the eyeball, so make sure to account for that when drawing the circles.
Now that you have the basic shape of the eyes, you can start adding the details. Draw a smaller circle inside each large circle to create the pupil. You can make the pupil larger or smaller to indicate the emotion of your character – larger pupils suggest fear or surprise, while smaller pupils convey brightness or closeness to an object. Shade in the pupils and then colour the iris around them, choosing a colour like blue, green, brown, grey, or hazel, or getting creative with colours like purple, orange, or red.
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Draw a smaller circle inside each eye for the pupil
When drawing slanted eyes on a cartoon character, it's important to keep in mind that the eyelids should wrap around the eyeball to add dimension. Start by drawing two large circles for the eyes, positioned at an angle to create the slanted effect. Then, draw a smaller circle inside each large circle – this will be the pupil. You can adjust the size of the pupil to convey the emotion your character is feeling – larger pupils indicate fear, while smaller pupils suggest bright light or a close-up view. Shade in the pupils, and then colour the iris around them, choosing a colour like blue, green, brown, grey, or hazel, or getting creative with purple, orange, or red.
The eyelids of the slanted eyes should have a pivot point where they open and close from. Usually, the pivot points are horizontally straight across from each other, but for a slanted effect, you can angle the pivot points to one side. This will make the eyes appear more dynamic and expressive. The eyelids should have thickness and depth, and they often cast a shadow on the eyes, adding further dimension to your cartoon eyes.
Remember that the angle of the eyes can vary, and the tilt can be slanted in either direction. You can play with the prominence of the lids, making the lower lid larger and more prominent, or keeping them both at an equal level. The eyelids should wrap around the eyeball, and sometimes the top of the upper lid is drawn thicker than the rest.
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Colour the iris around the pupil
Once you have drawn the pupil, it's time to add some colour to the iris. This will give your cartoon character a little more life and realism. Common colours for eyes include blue, green, brown, grey, and hazel. However, you can get creative with your cartoon and use other colours, such as purple, orange, or red.
The size of the pupil indicates the emotion of the character, so adjust the thickness of the iris accordingly. For example, if your character is scared, their pupils will be larger, showing less of the iris. Conversely, in bright light or when looking at something up close, the pupils will be smaller, revealing more of the iris.
Consider the lighting situation and the style you want to go with. Making the whites of the eyes darker makes the highlights pop even more. It can also be interesting to experiment with different colour accents and softer or harder edges for the iris.
Don't forget that the eyelids wrap around the sphere of the eyeball, so make sure to add depth and dimension to your cartoon eyes. The eyelids cast a shadow on the eyes more often than not, so keep this in mind when colouring the iris.
When it comes to slanting the eyes, you can vary the angle to achieve the desired effect. You can slant the pivot points of the eyelids, which is a characteristic often seen in female eyes. Additionally, consider the prominence of the eyelids and the depth of the eye cavity. Some people have both lids equally prominent, while others have a larger lower lid or a deeper eye cavity.
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Add depth to the eyelids
Adding depth to the eyelids is an important step in creating realistic-looking cartoon eyes. Here are some tips to achieve this:
Firstly, understand that eyelids have thickness and are not simply painted onto the surface of the eye. They have depth and cast shadows on the eyes, adding dimension to the overall eye structure. When drawing the upper eyelid, ensure it wraps around the eyeball, giving the eye a more three-dimensional appearance.
The eyelids should have an origin point, a pivot point from which they open and close. This point is usually horizontally straight across both eyes, but for a variation, you can slant this pivot point, a characteristic often seen in Bruce Timm's female eyes. The eyelids should not appear out of nowhere but should have a specific starting point.
Consider the thickness of the eyelids and how this can be used to convey certain traits. For instance, age can be depicted by deepening the folds of the eyelids or even drooping the entire lid. The thickness of the eyelids can also be influenced by factors such as makeup or hair density, which can affect the thickness of the eyelashes.
Additionally, the cornea, which is the transparent lens covering the iris and pupil, plays a role in the shape of the eye. The position of the pupil within the cornea can indicate the direction of the gaze and the lighting conditions. For instance, large pupils suggest a distant focus or adjustment to low light, while small pupils indicate a close focus or bright light.
By incorporating these techniques and considerations, you can add depth and dimension to the eyelids of your cartoon character, enhancing the overall expressiveness and realism of the eyes.
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Convey emotion through the eyebrows
When creating cartoon characters, it is essential to convey emotions effectively through their facial expressions. While the eyes are often exaggerated to portray various emotions, the eyebrows play an equally crucial role in enhancing and emphasizing those emotions.
For instance, raised eyebrows suggest surprise, curiosity, or disbelief. When combined with a wide-open mouth, they can also indicate laughter. On the other hand, furrowed brows can signify anger, frustration, or determination. The addition of wrinkles or lines in the forehead above the eyebrows can further enhance these expressions, showing that the muscles are pulling upward or downward with the intensity of the emotion.
The eyebrows can also be used to convey more complex emotions. For example, one brow up and one brow down with a funny-looking mouth can express confusion. Alternatively, brows turned in and pulled down close to the eyes, combined with a wide grin, can give the character an air of confidence or determination.
Additionally, asymmetry in the eyebrows can add individuality to a character. Allowing one eyebrow to rise higher than the other, or a smile to spread only halfway up one side of the face, makes the character more interesting and unique. However, it is important to maintain consistency, as a character will typically favor the same side of the face for these expressions.
By mastering the art of eyebrow positioning and combining it with the right eye and mouth expressions, illustrators can bring their cartoon characters to life, creating engaging and memorable personalities that resonate with their audience.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by drawing two large circles where you want the eyes to be. Then, draw a smaller circle inside each circle and shade them in to make the pupils.
Colour in the iris around the pupil. Common eye colours include blue, green, brown, grey, and hazel, but you can also use colours like purple, orange, or red.
The angle of the eyes can vary, and the tilt of the eye can be slanted either way. From the side view, the positioning of the eyeball inside the eye socket makes the eye seem tilted. The front area of the face is slightly bent, which also makes the eyes appear slanted.
Eyelids are not painted on the sphere of the eye, they have depth. They often cast a shadow on the eyes, adding depth and dimension to your cartoon eyes. It is also important to keep in mind that the eyelids wrap around the eyeball to add dimension to your eyes.
The size of the pupil indicates the emotion of the character. For example, if the character is scared, their pupils will be larger. Eyebrows are also a powerful tool to show emotions.
