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Snow Leopard eye Step by Step Coloured pencil Tutorial

Artist level: Beginners & Intermediate​
Updated: November 2021
This tutorial covers the process of how to create a detailed drawing of a Snow Leopard eye. It has been split into two parts; the first for those new to coloured pencils or who may be a little apprehensive and wish to try the basic applications and the second for those who are looking for a challenge. The first tutorial allows you to select colours from your own pencil range and we provide a 'basic' colour rather than a pencil brand colour name. The second tutorial was completed using the Caran Dache Luminance pencil range. We provide colour charts for both tutorials to allow you to select the right colours from your own pencil range if you do not have the Luminance pencils. It is not important to match colours precisely.

The paper used for this tutorial is the Art Spectrum Colourfix in Black. You can use a different textured paper in another colour or smooth black paper, it is more important to learn the techniques.

Each stage is offered as a series of images and written explanations so you can see how each section is created. Using a selection of colours from the same colour palette will offer more depth and realism than using 2 or 3 colours. This is explained in the processes we discuss below.  

The reference image is found below, which you can screen grab and print out or view on a tablet whilst reading the instructions on a smartphone or computer.
​
I hope you enjoy this tutorial and if you would like to request a subject for inclusion of a future mini tutorial, please get in touch!


The products you will need

Smooth white Art paper   -    Coloured pencils
Spare sheet of clean paper   -   Clean Eraser    -    Soft brush
​Paper Used: Colourfix Black        Pencil range Used: WH Smith & Caran d'Ache Luminance

The reference image

Snow Leopard eye photograph taken by Steve Tracy

IMPORTANT TIPS:  
* Ensure your pencils have a long lead before starting, the side of the lead will be used as opposed to the point of the lead.​
* When applying your undertones at the beginning, use a blunt pencil to avoid harsh lines so you can soften them easily when blending.
*  To avoid transferring natural oils onto your drawing from your hands, have a clean sheet of paper to lean on whilst applying colour.  Natural Oils from your skin and saliva can damage your Artwork which you may not be able to repair.
​

REDO THE TUTORIAL, ADD PHOTOS AND DO WRITE UPS - THIS SHOULD MIRROR THE SECOND TUTORIAL

This is a second drawing I completed for one of my art workshops. This is a little less complex than the one explained in the tutorial as I used different pencils (View the brand here) and I was limited with the colour palette.

These two images prove that you can still achieve realism in your work with a limited amount of pencils, but having a larger palette means that your art will be more realistic. That is not to say that applying as many shades of green or brown that you have will improve your work, it means that you need to study your subject well and pick out all the colours you see. 

The base layers are just as important as the fine detail that covers these layers, so it is important to make sure each application is applied correctly in preparation for the next stage.

As you progress on your pencil journey, why not give this tutorial a second try and see how far you have travelled since your first attempt. You just might be surprised!

Colours used:

GREENS: Lime Green (G1), Mint Green (G2), Khaki green (G5), Forest Green (G6), Phthalo Green (blue tint) (G7)
BROWNS: PEACH (PCH), Brown Ochre (B1), Terracotta (B4), Burnt Ochre (B3), Warm Brown (B5)
WHITE, BLACK, COOL GREY (GR1), WARM GREY (GR2)
​BLUES: Sky blue (BL1), Indigo Blue (BL4) 
​Lemon Yellow (Y1)
UPLOAD THE COLOUR CHART

There are only 8 colours needed for this tutorial, although the Derwent Lightfast pencils were used here, you can use any brand of pencil. It is not important that your colours precisely match, but the 2 paler colours used for the blending stages will help you achieve an over all softer colour tone You could use a pale green and then overlay with white to create the same effect if you do not have this colour in your own pencil collection.

SIMPLE TUTORIAL

​Stage 1 -  Outline, shading & first base tone

Shading with Derwent Lightfast Green Earth tone

GREEN EARTH

Begin by laying down the darker green markings that will create the shape of the waves later. These pencils grab the pigment well and so you do not need to apply very much pressure. Try and avoid applying heavy lines that you may struggle to blend later on.
The base tones of a wave drawn in coloured pencils

DARK TURQUOISE & TURQUOISE GREEN

Once you have applied the green markings, use the Pacific Blue tone to create the blue tones seen to the right. Apply this the same way as before and press lightly. Add a light layer of Turquoise green over the whole area using the side of the pencil
Applying indents into the paper for splashes of water for a coloured pencil tutorial

WHITE & ARCTIC

Using the white pencil, create the splashes and dots of the seafoam by pressing the tip of your pencil into the paper, this will indent the paper if you press hard enough and should help to keep these splashes clean even when applying further layers.
Using the Derwent Lightfast Aqua Green pencil

LIGHT AQUA

Apply a pale green layer around the edges of the left side of the wave. Use the length of the pencil to apply as opposed to using the tip, to ensure it skims over the top of the seafoam indents previously applied, keeping them clean.


Related articles that may be of interest
​

Coloured pencils
View all of our coloured pencil articles and tutorials
Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils and 1980's heart shaped rubber
Caran Dache Luminance pencil review
Art Spectrum colourfix paper sheets
Find out more about the Art Spectrum Colourfix paper
Colourfix paper and a Sumatran Tiger in coloured pencils
Learn more about working with coloured pencils on textured paper

REDO THE WRITE UPS

SECOND TUTORIAL
Using Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils

The trick to creating realistic looking art with coloured pencils is to introduce more colours to the palette. As the previous tutorial shows, realism can be achieved with any pencil range and with fewer colours, but you will create more depth and detail when adding extra colours to the mix. Of course this does not mean by including every single colour you own from the green or brown palette will improve your work exponentially, you can overdo it. A colour chart is recommended. Choose your colours carefully by comparing your colour chart next to your subject and pick out all the colours you can see in the image. Basic pencil sets may have limited colours meaning you have to mix colours to create the one you are looking for.

Colour chart

if you do not own the Luminance pencil range, select colours from your own range(s) from the colour charts below. Colours do not have to be precise, simply choose the colour closest to the ones below.
Picture
Picture
Picture

Step 1 - Catchlight

Picture
COLOURS: ​
​
1.Light Cobalt Blue 661, 2.Middle Cobalt Blue 660 & 3. Prussian Blue 159
First, begin the eye by creating the catchlight. Layer your colours from light to dark. Where you should place the colours can be seen above. Each colour is numbered.

Step 2 - Iris

Picture
COLOURS:
​4. Burnt Sienna 069, 5.Naples Ochre 821 & 06.Olive Brown 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.

Step 3 - Iris continued

Picture
COLOURS: 7.Light Malachite green 181, 8.Dark Sap green 739, 9.Grass Green 220, 10.Moss green 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

Picture
COLOURS:  11.Brown Ochre 10% 832, 12. Naples Ochre 821 & Sepia 407, 13.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.

Step 5 - Eye rim and below the eye

Picture
FUR BELOW EYE: 14,15 & 16 Burnt Ochre 10% 832, Raw Umber 10% 842, and white 001
EYE RIM: 17.Payne's grey 30% 504, 18.Middle Cobalt Blue 660, 19.Sepia 407, 18.Prussian Blue 159, 19. Sepia 407, 20.Black 009,  Payne's grey 60% 507
TEAR DUCT: 21. Sepia 50% 906
& Payne's Grey 508
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 - Area above the eye

Picture
COLOURS: 22. Buff Titanium 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.

Snow Leopard eyes in coloured pencils - Caran dache Luminance pencils on Art Spectrum black Colourfix
DO A NEW TUTORIAL THAT HAS BEEN RECORDED, WITH IMAGE CAPTURES IN BETWEEN AND REPLACE THIS IMAGE.

Basic pencil range - fewer colours

coloured pencil drawing of a snow leopard eye

Professional pencil range - larger colour palette


View the short time-lapse video showing progression of the right eye



Artist photo gallery

Here are a few examples of visitors who have tried out this tutorial and allowed me to share their portraits. I always enjoy seeing other drawings as everyone has an individual style, which makes art so exciting. If you would like your design added to this page, please e-mail a photo to me at: karenmberisfordart@gmail.com

View our other coloured pencil tutorials

Drawing a Peacock feather
Creating three-dimensional art
Layering with coloured pencils
Creating movement in water
Layering and blending for high detail
View all other tutorials >>>>

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