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How to Draw Eyelashes

Eyelashes should be drawn thick and bold at their base, becoming gradually thinner and lighter towards their tips. Eyelashes grow out from the eyelids (not the whites of the eyes). They grow in groupings and the curve of each lash or grouping can vary in direction from one to the next. Eyelashes are unevenly spaced and coexist at many different lengths. As they approach the corners of the eye, eyelashes lengthen and thicken so as to protect the eyes.

Although not very complicated in theory, eyelashes can be drawn too straight, too thick, too even, too long, too short, or too plentiful and as a result not appear realistic. Always draw eyelashes in the direction they grow, starting with a greater amount of pressure and gradually reducing it as you approach the tip. As a final rule of thumb, draw half as many eyelashes as you think there should be. In actuality, not as many exist as you may think and it is easy to overdo them. You can always add more if necessary.

Below are sketches of different types of eyelashes.

Other pages of interest

Drawing facial poses
Drawing eyes
Eye details
How to draw eyebrows
How to draw eyelashes

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