Eye Drawing

The description for this project was "Photograph, digitally edit, transfer and render a realistic eye using the graphite pencil techniques." So a classmate of mine took this photo (above) while we put extreme lights on my face to render a wide range of values. I printed the photo, traced it on a light table, and began my process which you can see below.
This meticulous technique was actually right up my alley. Some classmates were getting frustrated with the amount of time it was taking, and would start using heavier and longer stroke marks with their pencils just to get it finished quicker. My goal was to not see any actual pencil marks, to only see the textures and values I was trying to recreate from the photo.

I did use both the smudging and drypoint techniques that I practiced with the sphere drawings, although I kept the smudging to a minimum. It was particularly useful in the beginning stages when I was trying to get certain values as dark as I could with the graphite. With the help of smudging, I was able to fill in some of the pores on the paper to render a darker value. Once I got to the later stages, I stopped using the smudging technique at all as to keep a unified feel to the drawing.

I really enjoyed doing this project. I just find so much mystery behind drawings of eyes. This is a drawing that will mean something to me in the future, unlike a still life of pots and pans, for example.

I grew as an artist during this project by taking notice of the little things that go a long way in making a drawing realistic. Something as small as how crisp a line is can all of a sudden change the entire feel of the drawing. All of the tiny light reflections in the eye are what brings it to life. And I didn't feel the need to correct any imperfections in my complexion or any eyelashes that were out of place. Those details are what make it real....make it me.