How to Draw a Snow Leopard Eye with Coloured Pencils

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Do you want to master the art of drawing lifelike snow leopard eyes with coloured pencils?
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In this easy-to-follow guide, we'll walk you through 13 detailed stages to help you create a stunning piece of art.
​Perfect for artists of all skill levels!

​Welcome to this comprehensive tutorial on creating a lifelike coloured pencil drawing of a Snow Leopard Eye on black Mi-Teintes 'Touch' textured paper. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting your journey with coloured pencils, this step-by-step guide is designed to help you achieve stunning results.

Throughout this tutorial, you'll find 13 beautifully illustrated stages that break down the entire process, from sketching the initial outline to adding the final touches. Each stage is accompanied by detailed instructions and tips, making it easy to follow along and build your skills, even if you've never used coloured pencils before.

​To make your experience even smoother, we've included a reference photo, an outline you can download and print out, and a list of coloured pencil colours in the Prismacolor Premier range. We've used Berol Karismacolor pencils for this tutorial, but both ranges match each other closely, ensuring you achieve the same vibrant results.

What You'll Learn:

• Sketching the Initial Outline: Learn how to accurately sketch the foundational shape of the snow leopard eye.
• Adding Realistic Details: Discover techniques for adding depth and texture to the iris and pupil.
• Using Textured Paper: Tips for working with black Mi-Teintes 'Touch' textured paper to enhance your drawing.
• Finishing Touches: Final steps to refine your drawing and make it stand out.​

By the end of this tutorial, you'll have created a striking and realistic drawing of a snow leopard eye that you can be proud of. So, grab your coloured pencils and let's get started on this artistic adventure!

The products you will need

REFERENCE IMAGE

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Materials used for this tutorial:

While we use the following brands below in this tutorial, we'd like to add a caveat. We offer tutorials that explore different products and ranges to expand an artist's collection by trying various surfaces and brands. We don't recommend one product over another, so if you don't have the specific materials used here and can't afford to buy them, simply use any black paper you have, preferably with a textured surface, and match the pencil colours you already own with the provided chart. It's okay if the colours aren't an exact match.

• Black Textured Paper - Mi-Teintes 'Touch'
• Coloured pencils - Prismacolor Premier​
• ​Pencil for outline​
• Spare sheet of clean paper 
• Clean Eraser
• Soft brush

• ​PC938 White
• PC935 Black
• PC1051 Warm Grey 20%
• PC1054 Warm Grey 50%

• PC920 Light Green 
• PC 1005 Limepeel
• PC911 Olive Green
• PC908 ​Dark Green

• PC903 True Blue
• PC902 Ultramarine
• PC942 Yellow Ochre
• PC939 Peach
• ​PC943 Burnt Ochre

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The Berol Karismacolor pencils were the European counterpart of Prismacolor Premier pencils. Although discontinued in 2005, many Karismacolor shades match today's Prismacolor Premier colours. We chose widely available materials to create a simple, beginner-friendly tutorial with just 13 colours—perfect for those new to coloured pencils or exploring realism.​

The black Canson Mi-Teintes 'Touch' paper, is known for its finely textured, micro-abrasive surface that retains pigment well. It's ideal for pastels, coloured pencils, charcoal, and mixed media. Please note that this surface is not vegan; if you prefer a vegan option, consider Art Spectrum Colourfix black paper instead.

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IMPORTANT TIPS:  

• To prevent transferring natural oils from your hands onto your drawing, place a clean sheet of paper under your hand while applying colour. These oils can damage your artwork and may be difficult to repair.
  
• Ensure your pencils are kept sharp throughout. Abrasive papers will wear pencils down faster than smooth paper, so, wherever you need fine detail, you may need to sharpen your pencil before each use.​
• Begin by applying light layers, gradually increasing pressure and building up to heavier applications. Be mindful that once the paper is saturated with pigment, it becomes difficult to add additional layers.

The Impact of Paper Colour on Pigments

Black paper tends to absorb colour, causing bright hues to appear less vibrant and dark shades to become barely visible. Textured paper improves pigment retention, making it easier to work with and allowing lighter colours to serve as a base for building up darker tones more effectively.
Using coloured pencils on black paper creates a striking effect due to the high contrast between vibrant pigments and the dark background, making colours appear more intense. However, dark or translucent pigments may not stand out as much. To overcome this, it's important to apply lighter colours first and layer darker tones on top, which helps brighten and enhance their visibility.

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​​Crafting a realistic coloured pencil drawing demands patience and meticulous layering. By starting with a light touch and gradually building up layers, you can control the intensity of the colours and create a stunning, realistic drawing. The black paper serves as an excellent foundation, offering a dark base tone that enhances contrast with lighter colours, thus requiring less detail compared to lighter paper backgrounds. The paper's texture readily accepts pigment, necessitating only a light application for effective coverage. The true realism of the portrait is achieved through the strategic placement of highlights over the black pigments in the pupil.

• Please note that the images below may show colour variations. This occurs because coloured pencils create a 'shine' due to the wax, which requires taking photos at an angle to eliminate glare. Additionally, during the 'fur' stages, contrasts and colours have been enhanced to better depict the placement of marks.

FIND THE OUTLINE TO THIS TUTORIAL ON OUR KOFI PAGE

​Our Ko-fi page includes a shop where you can download the outline for this tutorial. These are freely available to our Ko-fi followers. If you're not a member yet, why not join to enjoy these resources for free? Alternatively, you can simply take a screengrab of the outline to begin your project.
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​Stage 1 -  Outline, shading & first base tone

BEFORE YOU BEGIN - Draw out the outline by hand or via tracing
An outline can be downloaded via this link.

While it's important to ensure the outline provides sufficient detail for tracing, we recommend drawing only the necessary details. Once the outline is created, use a soft rubber or putty eraser to gently soften it so it doesn't overpower the pigments in your coloured pencils. We have intentionally omitted this stage to improve visibility during the tutorial.

STAGE 1 - CATCHLIGHT
Colours Used: White, True Blue & Ultramarine

This segment is crucial for achieving a three-dimensional effect in the eye, so it's essential to execute it correctly at the beginning and avoid overlaying with superfluous colours. Begin by applying True Blue to both sections, then use Ultramarine in the central part of the right section. Finally, layer White over the Light Blue, concentrating on the left section but also extending a small amount to the right.

STAGE 2 - OUTER EDGE OF IRIS
Colours Used: Limepeel & Light Green

We have designated this approach as the 'Sunshine' technique for its memorability. Begin by applying the Limepeel tone at the outer edges of the iris, avoiding the top section. Draw individual lines radiating inwards, similar to sun rays, until they meet the pencil outline. Ensure the application is not uniform, as subsequent layers will overlap, as demonstrated at the beginning of Stage 3.

STAGE 3 - CENTRE OF IRIS
Colours Used: Light Green & Dark Green

We can begin by applying the Light Green colour to the top and central parts of the iris, using the same technique as before. Next, introduce a third layer with Dark Green. Observe the lines in the photo that indicate where each colour layer was applied in the eye, and pay attention to how each layer overlaps, creating a seamless transition. Note that these transition sections are not uniform; some are slightly longer than others.

STAGE 4 - TOP, MID & OUTER EDGE OF IRIS
​Colours Used: Olive Green

At this stage, fill in the rest of the iris with Olive Green, to introduce a fourth tone of green. Apply it following the same technique as before, making sure to apply individual lines and not just a block of colour. These markings help create the realistic look of the eye. Next, outline the outer edge neatly and add small individual lines that slightly overlap the previously applied Limepeel tone.

STAGE 5 - PUPIL, EYELASHES & DARK CONTRASTS
Colours Used: Black

Next, use black to darken the pupil and add flecks in the midsection of the iris, ensuring variation. This ensures the catchlight appears naturally positioned within the cornea. Using a sharpened pencil, create the eyelash reflections to slightly overlap the highlight, thinning the tips to match the realism of hair. Finally, fill in the rim of the eye, leaving the area marked with a red arrow for a highlight to be added later.

STAGE 6 - IRIS HIGHLIGHTS 

Add highlights to the lighter green areas with a white pencil. Ensure these highlights do not extend into the darker zones, particularly into the dark green section. The application doesn't need to be uniform; it's meant to enhance the brightness in the iris where shaping is necessary, thereby distinguishing between the iris and the cornea for added definition.

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STAGE 7 - HIGHLIGHTS ON EYE RIM

In this concluding step for the eye, fill in the eye rim with a black pencil. Start by applying a gentle layer of Warm Grey 20% to the left side of the eye and slightly inside it to enhance the shape and depth of detail. Then, softly layer Ultramarine along the lower line of the eyelid, ensuring that the black and blue tones blend seamlessly. Both pigments are opaque, so minimal pressure is required for application.

Related articles that may be of interest​

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A comprehensive article about the Prismacolor Premier pencil

The most comprehensive article about the Berol Karismacolor

Find out more about the Art Spectrum Colourfix paper

Compare 12 black papers for your coloured pencil art

STAGE 8 - FUR APPLICATION
​Colours Used: White

In this segment, all six stages employ the same technique, differing only in colour. Start with the white pencil, sketching individual strands of fur while meticulously following the flow direction shown in the photo. Be sure to include the hairs that drape over the eyelid, reflecting in the catchlight. Space out each hair to allow for the addition of subsequent layers.

STAGE 9 - FUR APPLICATION
Colours Used: Warm Grey 20%

Enhance contrast by applying Warm Grey 20%. Even though the colours might look similar on black paper, this step will significantly improve definition. In the photo, the grey dots indicate areas where the Warm Grey fur is denser, but precision isn't necessary. Ensure that the fur's direction aligns with the previous layers, yet avoid over-application, as additional colours will be layered here later.

STAGE 10 - FUR APPLICATION
​Colours Used: Peach

Add in some warm tones into the fur with the Peach colour. This does not need to be dispersed all over, just in a few choice areas, especially at the bottom section of the eye. The contrast in this image has been turned up so that the Peach tones are easier to see so you can use it as a guide.

STAGE 11 - FUR APPLICATION 
Colours Used: Burnt Ochre

The Burnt Ochre tone should succeed the Peach tones in the fur. The aim is to enhance the peach tones without completely covering them. Position the Burnt Ochre at the base of the Peach fur seen at the bottom of the eye, to enhance the detail and complement the existing colours.

STAGE 12 - FUR APPLICATION
​Colours Used: Yellow Ochre

Next, apply a few layers of Yellow Ochre to add more definition and colour to the fur. Since this pigment is quite strong, use light strokes. This additional colour helps define the shape and prevents the fur from looking flat, which can happen if too many similar tones are used. Note the grey dots where this pigment is most concentrated.

STAGE 13 - COMPLETION
​Colours Used: Warm Grey 50% 

Finally, add Warm Grey 50% to create more depth and contrast. The grey dots indicate areas where the darker grey fur is more concentrated, enhancing the brighter colours and giving the fur a more 3-dimensional appearance. The black paper provides an excellent base tone, and allowing specks of it to show through adds depth to the lighter colours.​

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Other articles that may be of interest​

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This article provides great advice for those new to coloured pencils

A comprehensive article about how brands compare.

Learn which products can help to blend your coloured pencils

Try this tutorial if you are new to coloured pencils.

Final Analysis: Coloured Pencil Techniques on Black Paper

Textured paper is particularly well-suited for coloured pencil art due to its ability to effectively capture pigment, allowing for a light application of colour. This results in more vibrant highlights and creates a solid foundation for layering darker tones, enhancing the realism of the artwork. While this tutorial does not delve into adding additional layers to the iris or further defining the fur with more colours, as demonstrated in our sample, these techniques are crucial for the next stage. Although the subject may appear challenging, by following our guide images, you can achieve a compelling 3-dimensional coloured pencil drawing. These techniques are valuable for future projects, especially when working with dark textured paper.

If you'd like your drawing featured in our gallery, please contact us with your name and a clear photo of your final artwork. Alternatively, you can join us on our ko-fi page and ask us a question in the comments section here.
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We hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Why not explore our other coloured pencil tutorials by clicking the links below?​

View our other coloured pencil tutorials