Manga Tutorial: Give Eyes Color and Sparkle

Learn how to shade Manga eyes using anime pens with Taniidraw

Eyes are one of the most recognizable features in manga; they're the most expressive feature of the face and can be used to clearly reflect the personality of each character. But, to achieve this, you need to learn how to play with color, blend shades, and create shadows and highlights.

Artist Tania Oksentiuk (@taniidraw) is an expert in creating Japanese-style illustrations, taking inspiration from anime and other traditional Japanese genres that she references in her work. In this tutorial, she gives you a series of tips on how to color and add sparkle to anime eyes with marker pens.

To learn more, watch the video below and keep reading for a step-by-step explainer.

Five tips for giving Manga eyes color and sparkle with marker pens

1. Gather your materials

First you have to realize that there are as many kinds of eyes as there are characters. You can go for fantasy coloring, or may prefer more realistic tones. In this example, artist Taniidraw chose to combine both styles. You will need markers in the range of colors you need for your eyes. She has chosen green, azure, turquoise and navy blue. Plus a white acrylic marker to add the highlights.

2. Start by shading your base

Start by shading the bottom of your eye green. Don’t forget to leave a white space above the pupil. That's where you’re going to create shine.

Blend the azure shade in before coloring the whole eye, to avoid monotone.

3. Create initial shadow

Now create the first touch of shade, for example using the turquoise. Create shade inside the pupil, then continue over the rest of your eye. You can go back and apply your first tone again.

4. Mark shadows using the darker shade

Now use your darkest shade and start outlining the shadow around the sparkle and the pupil. At this point you can allow the ink to dry, and come back and go over it all again using the same shade in a little while. This will give you more marked colors. Tania recommends waiting 3-5 minutes to allow the ink to dry, until you see it lightening. Keep going over your drawing using the darkest blue until you achieve the shadow you’re looking for.

5. Give your eye a sparkle

Finally, it’s time to give your Manga eye some sparkle. This will give your character a kinder gaze. Use white acrylic marker to give shape, so that the sparkle doesn’t look flat. Add another couple of dots below the pupil or alongside your main highlight.

Like this tutorial? Don’t miss Taniidraw’s online tutorial Colored Marker Techniques for Manga to learn how to bring your Japanese illustrations to life.

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