How to Paint Realistic Eyes, Loosely

In any portrait, the eyes are the heart of the expression—and the same goes for pet portraits. Painting realistic eyes while keeping your style loose might sound tricky, but it’s all about balancing detail with free-flowing brushwork. You want to capture the life, sparkle, and personality in those eyes without getting too bogged down in perfection.

Let’s break down how to do it.

1. Start with the Basics: Shape and Placement

Begin by lightly sketching or blocking in the basic shape and placement of the eyes. This will give you a foundation to work from without getting too detailed right away.

Penny’s Tip:
Don’t worry about getting it perfect in the first go! Acrylics are forgiving—you can adjust the shape and position later as you add layers.

2. Block in the Darkest Values First

Once you have the basic shape, start by painting the darkest areas of the eyes: the pupil and the shadows around the eyelids. This will help create depth and give you a reference for the rest of the eye.

Loosen Up:
Use a small round brush, but keep your strokes loose and gestural. The key is to suggest shape and form without over-defining every edge.

3. Add Mid-Tones to Create Form

Next, add in the mid-tones around the iris and the whites of the eyes. Don’t use straight white—mix in some greys, blues, or even browns to create natural shadows and highlights. This will help the eye look more three-dimensional.

My Approach:
I like to add these tones with a slightly larger brush, keeping my strokes soft and letting the colours flow into each other. You’re aiming for a natural transition between light and shadow here.

4. Highlights Bring the Eyes to Life

This is where the magic happens! Adding highlights to the eyes will give them that lively, realistic sparkle. Focus on small areas where light naturally hits, like the curve of the iris or a glint in the pupil.

Penny’s Secret:
Use a fine detail brush for the highlights and be sparing. A few well-placed dots of bright white or light blue can make all the difference.

5. Keep It Loose—Don’t Overwork It

As you add these layers, resist the temptation to go overboard. The beauty of loose painting is that you don’t have to render every tiny detail. Capture the essence of the eyes without overworking them, and the result will feel more dynamic and expressive.

Step Back:
Take frequent breaks to step back and look at your painting from a distance. This helps you see the overall effect and prevents overworking small areas.

Final Thoughts

Painting realistic eyes in a loose style is all about balance. By starting with basic shapes, layering values, and using light touches for detail, you can create eyes that feel alive and expressive without losing the fluidity of your brushwork.

Until next time, Keep splashing colours!
Penny 😊🎨✨