#sparklingeyetutorial

 

​Hey everyone! Today I’m finally showing you how I render these super sparkly eyes. To start off, we aren’t even looking at the eyeball yet, we’re focusing on the skin first. I like to lay down a warm, desaturated base and then immediately go in with a deep rosy tone for the lids. The key here is blending! Use a soft airbrush to build up that 'weighted' look around the socket. It makes the eye look like it’s actually set into the face rather than just floating on top.

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Now, let’s define the 'eye-line.' I’m using a sharper brush here with a deep plum or dark espresso color—never just straight black, because we want it to look vibrant! Notice how I’m carving out the crease and the lower lash line. When it comes to lashes, don’t just draw straight lines. Think of them like little 'J' hooks. Flick your wrist to get those sharp, tapered ends. I like to group them in little clusters of two or three to give it that 'manga-style' aesthetic. It’s all about that fluttery volume!

 

Okay, let's get into the iris, my favorite part. Start with a dark base, and then, here’s my little signature move.. I actually draw a tiny dark heart right in the center instead of just a plain circle for the pupil. It adds so much character! Once that's in, take a saturated pink and create a crescent moon shape at the bottom of the iris. This is your 'reflected light.' It’s what makes the eye look like it has depth and isn't just a flat sticker.

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Now, let’s make it glow. Add ‘Glowing Dodge' layer. I’m going in with a bright neon pink and dotting it around the edges of the pupil and the bottom curve. This is where the magic happens! To get that 'sparkle' effect, I add tiny, a little white color just to slightly increase that glow effect and then I apply a brush that has tiny white dots, like sparkles, almost like stars in a galaxy, all over the iris. I also like to add a bit of that shimmer to the inner corner of the eye and right under the brow bone. It just ties everything together and makes it look super magical.

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Last step: the 'dead-eye' fix! Add one or two big, crisp white highlights right over the iris and the pupil. This acts as the light source and gives it that glossy, glass-like finish. And... we’re done! Look at that glow! Thanks for hanging out with me and looking forward to create more tutorials for you soon!

 

 

I've had some issues uploading images and I've converted them into gifs. Sorry guys! Find me on Patreon and you'll see the full tutorial :)