Snow Leopard eye Step by Step Coloured pencil Tutorial

Artist level: Intermediate
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This article will soon be updated in line with all our other art tutorials found on this website.

Welcome to this Step by Step Tutorial of a Snow Leopard eye in Coloured pencils on Black Colourfix paper. The Tutorial below is aimed at those interested in creating a highly detailed coloured pencil portrait and has been written for use with Caran Dache Luminance pencils, however regardless of which pencil range you use, you can use the colour guide at the side of the reference photograph to pick out your own colours for this exercise, however it is not important to match them precisely. You do not have to use black Colourfix, although details are more effective on black paper. Producing highly detailed coloured pencil portraits are achieved with the use of various tones of colour rather than just one which will render a drawing rather flat. This tutorial is rather extensive and suited for those who are wishing to take their pencil portraits up a notch or two. That said, you can still give this exercise a go even if you have never tried Coloured pencils before, but not use as many colours, making it easier to create on the first attempt.  Use the photograph below to work from and feel free to E-mail me your drawing upon completion, I would love to add them to this page and I hope you enjoy this tutorial!
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Caran Dache Luminance pencils:
001 White
009 Black
​661 Light Cobalt Blue
660 Middle Cobalt Blue (hue)
159 Prussian Blue
801 Buff Titanium
821 Naples Ochre
832 Brown Ochre (10%)
836 Brown Ochre (50%)
077 Burnt Ochre
872 Burnt Ochre (10%)
069 Burnt Sienna
866 Burnt Sienna (50%)
842 Raw Umber (10%)
407 Sepia
906 Sepia 50%
225 Moss Green
181 Light Malachite Green
739 Dark Sap Green
220 Grass Green

504 Paynes Grey (30%)     507 Paynes Grey (60%)      508 Paynes Grey      802 French Grey (10%)      803 French Grey (30%)

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Step 1 - Catchlight

COLOURS: ​Blues 661, 660 & 159

Begin the eye by placing the colours in the catchlight, beginning light to dark. Each colour has been numbered and is depicted in the image above with the following colour names:
1. Light Cobalt Blue 661
2. Middle Cobalt Blue 660
3. Prussian Blue 159

Step 2 - Iris sunshine layer

COLOURS: Brown 069, Yellow 821 & Green 039

Apply an outline around the outer edge of the Iris (Bottom & left only) and No.4 areas above using Burnt Sienna 069. Apply individual lines around the Iris working from the edge in towards the pupil (as 5 above) using Naples Ochre 821 - follow this up with Olive Brown 039 (No.6) to darken the outer edges of Naples Ochre and apply to the other No.6 area.

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Step 3 - Iris inner layers

COLOURS:  Greens 181, 739, 220, 225

Starting with the Light Malachite Green 181 colour, fill in the rest of the Iris (No.7), the space between the yellow and the Black pupil. Using Dark Sap Green 739, apply lines to create eyelash shadows directly above the catchlight areas (No.8) Using both 220 Grass Green & 225 Moss Green (No's 9 & 10) add a few extra lines between the malachite green to add more interest and depth to the Iris, this stops it from looking flat only using the one colour of green. Apply a small amount of 225 Moss Green to the outer rim of the Iris too (No.8) this will help to add shape to the eyeball.

Step 4 - Pupil edging

COLOURS:  Yellow 832, Brown 407 & Black 009

Add a small amount of Brown Ochre 10% 832 (No.11) in between 821 Naples Ochre which is the yellow section of the Iris (No.5) for extra colour and effect then outline the Iris with Sepia 407 to tidy the edge up. The Black pupil can now be filled in as well as adding eyelash shadows.

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Step 5 - Under eye fur & rim

COLOURS: Browns 832, 842, 407 Black 009 & White 001 Blue's 159, 660, Grey's ​504, 507, 508, 906

Apply individual strands of fur below the eye using colours Burnt Ochre 10% 832, Raw Umber 10% 842 and White as shown in the image above to add definition and interest (No. 14,15,16) Apply a layer of payne's grey 30% 504 to inner rim left section of eye (No.17) then fill in half of the bottom rim using Prussian Blue 159 (No.18) Sepia 407 to left section (No.19) Darken up the areas (No.20) with Black, add a little bit of Middle Cobalt Blue 660 over Prussian Blue (No 18) and blend with Paynes grey 60% 507 all around the bottom section of the eye rim. Apply Sepia 50% 906 to the 'tear duct' area (No.21) soften and fill surrounding area with Payne's Grey 508

Step 6 - Over eye fur

COLOURS: Browns 801, 842, 407  White 001  Grey's ​504, 802

Using Buff Titanium 801 (No.22) apply the eyelashes over the eye lid and continue a sparse application above this area, in the gaps apply French grey 802 (No.23) and French Grey 30% 803 (No 24) to offer a tonal effect of fur for greater effect. You can also apply white fur in areas that you wish to give a stronger highlight to. Add a few strands of Paynes Grey 30% 504 (No 26) to the left area of the eye fur for additional effect. Using french Grey 10% 802 (No.25), apply shorter fur lines to the top right section of the eye being aware of the direction of the fur which points upwards as opposed to horizontal. Complete your drawing by tweaking areas that may need a little more work or additional colours.

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if you wish to try something a little easier, why not try the coloured pencil tonal layering tutorial

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Here are a few examples of visitors who have tried out this Step by Step tutorial and allowed me to share their portraits here. I always enjoy seeing others work offering such a wonderfully individual style of Art which makes Art itself so exciting. If you have given this tutorial a try and would like to see your sample added to this page, please e-mail me at: karenmberisfordart@gmail.com - I would love to see them! 

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If you wish to find out more about products used in this Tutorial or looking to buy a Coloured pencil range, you can click on any of the images below and take a look at one of our Articles:
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Caran Dache Luminance pencils review

Click to find out more....

Art Spectrum Colourfix
paper review

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Coloured pencils Comparison
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Click to find out more....