This will probably be more of a walk-through than a tutorial but I do hope that you enjoy it and that it helps you out a bit.

**Please click on the images below as you progress though the tutorial if you would like to see a larger, more detailed image.  Use your back button in your browser to return to this page.**

Click here if you would like to see the animated progress of this tutorial
(This may be a long upload but is well worth it)

Here is just an eye sketch.  It is important to remember that the eyeball itself is a complete sphere and that the eyelid and under-eye area dimensions will be largely affected by that as well as bone structure.. 

I created a layer beneath the sketch layer and called it "Flesh."  Then I created a layer beneath the flesh layer and titled it "Whites" for the white portion of the eye.  With a hard edged eraser, I erased away the flesh layer over the eye itself, creating a flesh *window* to the eyeball so that I could create the eyeball itself just as it is, behind the flesh of the eye.

Using a soft brush with light pressure, I began creating shadow and shape of the eyeball.

I reduced the opacity of the sketch layer a bit and then, I just began laying down the basic skin tones, shadows, highlights, and contours around the eye area.  I did this with both hard edged and soft edged brushes, making sure to account for the spherical shape of the eyeball and the lower lid/rim.

After getting a basic but unfinished idea for the flesh, I created another layer called "Iris".  This layer is above the "whites" layer but beneath the "flesh" layer.  I blocked in the basic eye color.

The next step is similar to the last except this time I created a layer called "pupil" and made it above the "iris" layer but beneath the "flesh" layer. Using a very soft edged brush, I created the pupil of the eye. I also took a moment to start the basic coloring of the iris.

Then I created a simple and quick layer called "eyeshine".  It is located above the "pupil" layer and below the "flesh" layer.  With a soft edged brush, I created a circular highlight on the eye.

Here I began working on the iris in more detail by using a variety of brushes.  I like to create brushes with multiple dots and then use them in varying sizes for adding color to the iris.  I use these same brushes when created hair.

More of the same, all the while concentrating on the light source and bringing highlight to the iris accordingly.  You will notice that the light shines through the iris to light up the opposite end from where the light hits.  Sort of like a transparent sphere.  Using more brushes, I lay down more texture and color to the iris.

Here I began the finishing touches for the iris.  Adding a bit more dramatic color and selecting from greens to browns and various shades of blue and gray.  Some people prefer their eyecolors to be more dramatic.  That is entirely up to you..

Next I began on the eyebrow.  I always begin the eyebrow by blocking down a base color set to about 50 percent opacity..

In this next step, I used both hair brushes and single pixel brushes set to fade at various lengths.  I began brushing the hair in the natural direction of growth, adding dark, mid, and even a few highlight tones.  I also used the eraser a bit to cut in to the brow in places..

 

The next step for me was to begin working the flesh area in more detail. Using textured as well as smooth brushes, I added more shadow and light to the eye area.

Next came the eyelashes.  Using a dark brownish-gray brush (5 pixel) set to fade, I began stroking in the eyelashes, setting the fade length accordingly to the area of the eye in which the lashes were.  Eyelashes generally begin by sweeping down a touch before moving out and up.  Remember this when you brush them in.

I then added the lower lashes as well, using the same method and also using some smaller brushes to add variation to the lash width.  I used a few variations of color, even adding some highlight color as well.

Next, I began to further define the lower lid and inner corner.  To reflect the spherical way in which the lid comes out, I added deeper shadow in the corners and brought highlight into the center.  It is also important to highlight the outer ridge of the lower lid - this is the area that the lower lashes grow out from.  I also created the reddish, inner corner by using muted shades of reddish/pinkish, and orangish.  Finally I added a bit of a shine to the lower area of the eyeball that touches the lower lid.  I created a layer for this step, calling it "glassy shine" and with a small, near-white brush, I added a small amount of reflective shine due to the moisture of the eyes and eye corner.

In the next step, I added a bit of a red tinge to the corners of the whites of the eye as even the clearest of eyes do have red capillaries that come through.  I kept it fairly muted so that the eye wouldn't look tired or stoned. *grin*

Finally I added a bit more texture and depth to the fleshy area around the eye, finishing it off for the most part.

Just for kicks, I created an "eyeliner" layer and a "eyeshadow" layer.  Both of these layers are beneath the lash and brow layer but above the flesh layer.  The eyeshadow layer being beneath the liner.  Using a soft edged brush set at a low opacity, I layed down eyeshadow colors and then to further bring out the flesh shadows behind, I erased out the shadows a bit of the lid and adjusted the eyeshadow layer's opacity to about 70 percent.  Then with a soft brush, I slowly painted a smoky smudge of eyeliner beneath and above the eyelids.    To add mascara, I darkened the eyelash layer using the brightness/contrast function and then, using the "liquify" filter, I pulled the lashes to make them a bit longer and with a soft eraser, I softened the edges.