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[title style=”center” text=”Lesson 3: Chibi Eyes” tag_name=”h2″]
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Welcome to Lesson 3 of our anime Drawing Series!
In this class, we’ll focus on one of the most defining features of chibi characters, their big, expressive eyes. You’ll learn how to draw the adorable, wide-eyed look that gives chibi art its charm. We’ll walk through eye proportions, placement on the face, and the simple techniques that make eyes sparkle with life. Whether you’re sketching traditionally or digitally, this lesson will help you master the balance of cute and expressive that defines the chibi style.
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Lesson Breakdown
1. Understanding Chibi Proportions
We’ll start by reviewing what makes chibi characters different from standard anime figures — oversized heads, simplified features, and eyes that take up nearly half the face.
2. Sketching the Eye Shapes
You’ll learn how to place the eyes lower on the head and sketch the basic outlines. We’ll explore rounded, exaggerated eye shapes that fit the chibi aesthetic and discuss how symmetry plays a role in maintaining balance.
3. Adding Pupils and Highlights
Next, we’ll add the iris and pupil, along with bright reflections that make the eyes feel alive. You’ll see how positioning and layering highlights can change a character’s emotion.
4. Refining Line Work
We’ll clean up our sketches, define the upper and lower eyelids, and use line thickness to emphasize the character’s expression.
5. Coloring and Shading
We’ll walk through adding color gradients to the iris, shading under the lid for depth, and blending highlights for a glossy finish.
6. Expression Variations
Finally, we’ll experiment with simple tweaks — adjusting pupil size, angle, and shape — to create different moods like happy, shy, or surprised.
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