Preparing to draw
When it comes to drawing eyebrow hairs, preparation is key. Before you pick up your pencil or pen, make sure you have all the tools you need: a reference image, a pencil, eraser, and ruler. Having these tools readily available can make the process of drawing brows much easier.
Once you have your tools, you can begin to prep the surface you’re drawing on. Whether it be paper or canvas, make sure it is clean and prepped for drawing. Then, you can begin to draw your eyebrow hairs.
Gather the right materials
For the best results when drawing eyebrow hairs, it is necessary to assemble the right materials for the task. Here is a list of essential supplies that are required for success:
- Sketch paper
- Pencils in varying hardnesses (HB, B, 2B)
- Washable marker pen in brown or black
- A fine brush or no. 0 or no. 00 brush for tiny details
- Eyebrow stencils (optional)
- An eraser
Once you have gathered all of these items, you can begin to practice and perfect your technique. Make sure to practice on a piece of scrap paper first before attempting to draw your eyebrows directly onto your face!
Understand the anatomy of eyebrows
Eyebrows serve several important functions. Not only do they help us to express emotions, but they also aid in preventing sweat or other foreign particles from entering the eyes. Understanding the anatomy of your eyebrows can help you draw them realistically.
The basic anatomy of an eyebrow is composed of two elements: the base and the hairs. The base is thicker and closer to the nose, while the front of an eyebrow has less hair density. The height, size and shape may differ from person to person (e.g., high arch, straight). Most people have three layers of skin at their brows, with two horizontal layers overlapping each other at slightly different angles for a smooth finish.
Hair follicles also vary in length across individual eyebrows, with shorter hairs towards the bridge and an oval shape remaining consistent towards both corners of our eyes. Knowing where your specific ends lie helps when it comes to aiming for natural-looking brows on paper or canvas.
In terms of color, defining what shade a person’s brows are—whether they’re light brown or chocolate—can be difficult too since various tones mix together on both ends as well as around them in certain areas creating subtle colors that will take time to replicate perfectly and accurately on your drawing.
Drawing the eyebrows
Drawing the eyebrows is an important step in achieving a realistic look. To draw the eyebrow hairs, it is important to start with the basics. Begin by plotting individual eyebrow hairs with a pencil and then connecting the hairs to create a fuller brow. Once the outline of the brow is established, use a fine-tip marker or eyebrow pencil to create the actual hairs.
This tutorial will provide detailed instructions on how to achieve natural-looking eyebrows with a pencil and marker:
Start with the basics
Drawing the eyebrows accurately and anatomically correct is a great way to add depth and character to your artwork. In order to achieve realistic brows, you will need to learn about basic anatomy and shading techniques.
Start with the basics. This means understanding the main shapes and defining features of an eyebrow. The eyebrows are typically shaped like two arches with a thinner outer edge. They grow outward from the inner corner of the eye in two curves that frame the eyes, ending on either side of the face depending on its natural shape.
Once you understand this basic shape, it’s time to focus on details such as individual hairs, length, and texture. When drawing individual hairs or lightly overlapping them with a softer pencil or brush, be aware of which way they grow naturally—downward from the inner corner of your eye outward toward the arch peak in both directions—as this will give your brows a more realistic look. Pay attention to how light and dark shades add contrast and determine which areas should be filled in for definition.
Pay attention to details such as spacing between brows—you don’t want them too close together nor too far apart—as well as their length relative to each other so that you can draw them both at an even length without making one overly dominant over the other; an uneven balance is one that looks less natural than when created evenly!
Add texture and detail
Once you have the shape of the eyebrow established, you can use different techniques to add texture and detail. You can use the pencil or a brush to draw individual hairs. Start by drawing lightly at first to get an approximation of how the hairs lay on the face and how far apart each should be placed. Then you can add darker pencil strokes for a more realistic effect.
Another option is to use an angled liner brush dipped in black or brown eyeshadow and gently brush it onto each eyebrow, using short and light strokes that mimic real hair strands. Once you have achieved your desired texture, blend it out with an eyebrow brush to give your eyebrows a softer and more natural look.
Create dimension with shadows
Drawing shadows to give dimension to the eyebrow shape is an important step when creating a realistic look. Before you draw your shadows, it’s important to make sure of the direction of the hairs. Shadowing should move in the same direction as the hair would naturally grow.
With a light pencil, draw subtle lines to make the hairs appear fuller, like drawing dots and then connecting them with curved lines. Shading in random areas will also help create a full look and can further define arch points or add emphasis to peaks or valleys in your overall shape. You can also lightly smudge pencil lines with a brush for a soft effect, or use dark values for an intense look.
Finishing touches
Drawing eyebrow hairs is an important step in creating the perfect brow shape. It requires careful blending and shading, but with the right tools and a bit of practice, you can create realistic looking eyebrow hairs.
In this section, we’ll look at how to use the finishing touches to complete your eyebrow drawing. We’ll also discuss the various types of eyebrow hairs and the best techniques for drawing them.
Use a spoolie brush to blend
After you have completed the steps of filling in and shaping your eyebrows, it’s time to finesse them with a spoolie brush. This type of brush is designed to separate and blend your hairs into a uniform shape. To use the spoolie, apply the brush lightly to your brows in an upwards motion, brushing any stray hairs into place. This will help create a clean and well-defined look that frames your face beautifully.
Once you have achieved a seamless finish, you can then use a brow gel for added hold and extra definition. By using two different products – such as a pencil or powder and finishing touches with the spoolie brush – you can create a truly polished look that lasts all day long.
Add highlights and lowlights
One of the most important finishing touches for drawing realistic-looking eyebrow hairs is to add highlights and lowlights.
Highlights are lighter strokes of color made to denote individual hairs. Lowlights are darker strokes of color used to help define depth and shape.
Creating highlights and lowlights can be achieved either through pencils or through paint-based mediums. If using paint, use a brush small enough to make detailed strokes that mimic fur texturing. For pencils, use a sharpened #2B or softer. Choose a pressure suited to your desired effect – light pressure will create finer, more subtle lines and heavy pressure will result in bolder lines that appear thicker in width.
With either type of medium you can draw short strokes from one direction then proceed with longer strokes in another direction for greater visual depth and realism. Don’t forget to take note of variation in size, spacing and angle – it’ll all contribute toward a more natural looking outcome!
Fill in sparse areas with eyebrow pencil
Using an eyebrow pencil is a great way to fill in sparse areas and give your brows more definition. Be sure to select a color that matches your natural brow color one or two shades lighter.
Start by outlining the bottom line of each eyebrow, then trace the shape of each individual eyebrow hair and blend until the pencil is no longer visible. When you’ve finished creating the shape you want, add natural looking brow hairs using tiny strokes of the pencil, from the inner corner of each eye to outer corners, then work from top line to bottom line. For a natural looking finish, make sure that all the hairs are going in the same direction.
Finish off by lightly brushing through your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush to blend in any harsh lines and create a naturally defined look.
