Adobe Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

In this Step by Step Adobe Illustrator Tutorial, we will be going through a simple process of inking, applying brushes, and coloring using live paint. In this easy-to-follow tutorial, we will be going through our resource anchor point guide to build our ghoulish character.

Anchor Point Guides

Anchor point guides are designed to make life easier as you are learning where to place anchors while using the pen tool and how to adjust handles using the direct selection tool.

Using Pen Tool

We will be using our 2 step approach to using the pen tool. The first is using straight lines to just get down our anchor points. We will then be using the convert anchor tool to create curves and handles.

Color & Shadows

Using live paint and the knife tool are fast ways of getting down flat color and shadows without having to use pathfinder to new create shapes.

adobe illustrator preferences for beginners

Beginner Pen Tool Tips

Zoom In

All of our initial preferences are designed to gain more control over what you are clicking on. The more you can zoom in and see your anchors and handles the better.

Smart Guides

Under VIEW make sure you have your smart guides turned on. Under your PREFERENCES (smart guides) you should definitely have your anchor/ path labels selected.

Anchor and Handle Size

In your (general) PREFERENCES there is a setting which can enlarge your anchor points and handles to make them easier for you to see before clicking.

Direct Selection Tool

The white arrow can grab and adjust the anchors, handles, and paths. All of the other settings are designed to let you know what you are selecting before you click and drag.

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD RESOURCES. Many of you are jumping over from YouTube looking to download our Illustrator Resource Folders. You can just download our (Updated) Brushes or add on Halftones and Textures to save on our Adobe Illustrator Resource Bundle. Download our Brush Libraries, Comic Halftones, and BMP Textures to follow along or use with Your Own Artwork.

STEP #2: RESOURCE GUIDES. The first step will be to download and extract the Resource Folders. The Folders will come as a Zipped Folder on Teachable. Once you have Downloaded and Extracted the Folders, they are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. Follow Along with our Resource Guides, Tutorials, and Challenges to apply and edit Brushes + Halftones + Textures.

STEP #3: FOLLOW ALONG. Tutorials are designed to build up time within the program to apply the Tools and Settings. If you are looking to follow along on YouTube, start with our 100 Adobe Illustrator Tutorials Playlist. If you are new to the Website, follow along with our 50 Step by Steps. Tutorials will focus on Building Tools, Applying Brushes, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques.

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD BRUSHES. Many of you are jumping over from YouTube looking to download our Updated Brush Libraries. You can download our 200 Adobe Illustrator Brushes to follow along with our Tutorials and Playlists or use them with your own artwork. Updated Brush Libraries include our 70 Cartoon, 100 Comic Strip, and 50 Vintage Mascot Brushes.

STEP #2: RESOURCE GUIDES. The first step is to download the Brushes Folder. They will come to you as a Zipped Folder on Teachable. Once you have Downloaded and Extracted the Folders, the Brush Libraries are Ready to Use in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our Brushes Resource Guide to Save Brush Libraries for fast access in your "User Defined."

STEP #3: FOLLOW ALONG. Tutorials are designed to build up time within the program to apply the Tools and Settings. Tutorials will focus on Building Tools, Applying Brushes, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques. I have included (as a free bonus) Resources to follow along with our 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube and Step by Steps on the Website.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR BRUSHES. Our (Updated) 200 Adobe Illustrator Brushes are specifically designed for Illustrators and Cartoonists to speed up their workflow. I have recently added more brushes and updated the Brush Libraries to allow for Pressure Sensitivity. Follow Along with the Tutorials or Use them with Your Own Artwork. Brush Libraries include our 70 Cartoon, 100 Comic Strip, and 50 Vintage Mascot Brushes.

beginner adobe illustrator tutorial whale

Adobe Illustrator Cartoon Brushes are specifically designed for Cartoonists and Illustrators who are looking to speed up their workflows. Use Cartoon Illustrator Brushes with the Pen, Pencil or Paint Brush Tools to Apply different Line Variation to your Vector Artwork. Includes 70+ Cartoon Brushes (libraries include the Updated Cartoon, Cartoon 2, and Original Cartoon Brush Libraries).

Hand Painted + Comic Strip Brushes to get a lived in feel back into your Vector Art. Comic Strips and Hand Painted are painted based on some of my favorite artists and cartoonists. These brushes are designed to look ready for the Sunday Paper. Includes 100+ Brushes (libraries include the Updated Comic Strip, Hand-Painted, Paintbrush, and Fine Liner Brush Libraries).

Jittery Hand, Caffeinated Cartoonist + Rough Ink Brushes to Mimic Paper Bleed and Caffeine. Designed to be a little less stiff with your vector art. Use these Brush Libraries to get more of a distressed look or ink bleed back in your own Vector Artwork. Includes 50+ Brushes (libraries include the updated Caffeinated Cartoonist, Rough Ink, and Jittery Hand Brush Libraries).

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

BRUSH LIBRARIES

DOWNLOAD 200 BRUSHES

20% OFF (SAVE $12)

DOWNLOAD 200 BRUSHES

Our 200 Adobe Illustrator Brushes will come to you as a Zipped Folder on Teachable. Once you have downloaded and extracted the Brush Folders they are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our Tutorials, Challenges and YouTube Playlists to practice applying Brushes. *I have included (as a free bonus) Tutorial Resources to follow along with our 50 Step by Steps and the 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube.

DOWNLOAD BUNDLE

200 ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR BRUSHES. Our (Updated) Adobe Illustrator Brush Libraries are specifically designed for Illustrators and Cartoonists to speed up their workflow. I have recently added more brushes and updated the Brush Libraries to allow for Pressure Sensitivity. Follow Along with the Tutorials or Use them with Your Own Artwork. Brush Libraries include our 70 Cartoon, 100 Comic Strip, and 50 Vintage Mascot Brushes.

70 ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR HALFTONES. Our Halftones and Patterns Fills are designed for easy application even if you are new to Adobe Illustrator. Halftone Fills behave the same as a Color Swatch so you can apply them quickly using the Blob Brush, Live Paint, or Basic Fills. Simply Paint in Halftones into your own Illustrations and Comics. Halftones include our Comic Strip Halftone Fills, Pattern Fills, and Halftone Value Scales.

400 ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR BMP TEXTURES. Our BMP Textures are extremely easy to use even if you are a beginner to Adobe Illustrator. Simply File-Place the Textures over your finished artwork to use with the Transparency Panel for soft overlays. Use BMP Textures along with Opacity Masks for T-Shirt Distressing. BMP Textures include our 145 Cracks, 120 Grunge Distressing, 75 Paper, and 77 Paint Splatter Textures.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

RESOURCE BUNDLE

DOWNLOAD RESOURCE BUNDLE

35% OFF (SAVE $53)

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

BRUSHES + RESOURCES

DOWNLOAD 200 BRUSHES

ADD ON 70 HALFTONES + 400 TEXTURES

Opening Color Swatches

Open the Swatch Window. On the bottom left hand corner you will see the Open Swatch Libraries icon. At the bottom of the drop-down menu you will see Open Other Library. Go to our resource folder in the Color Palettes folder to Open ASE files. The ASE files have been created to make your life easier while going through the Challenge Series. Once you open the Library- click on the folder icon next to the swatches to move them from the library to the swatches.

Coloring with Fills

One of the easiest and fastest ways of filling in your color is through using Fills. The main thing to look for is enclosed shaped. We have done nothing but build with Shapes so coloring is super easy. Keep this in mind as you are going through the other tutorials where we don't have any shapes.

Gradient Panel

Select each color using the Magic Wand Tool (Adjust to Tolerance 5) each color. Add on a Radial Gradient to the frosting layers (3). Use the lightest and Darkest Color Swatch from the color set of 3. Adjust the slider to control where the values hit. Troubleshooting: Double check your fill is in front and not your stroke.

Gradient Tool

You can use the Gradient Tool to gain some control over where the gradient hits on your shapes. The tool will control the same features that are in the panel. I use the tool when I don't want to guess and check angle degrees or aspect ratio percentages.

How to Color in Adobe Illustrator

One of the easiest and fastest ways of filling in your color is through Live Paint. Live Paint Bucket is a part of the Shape Builder Tools which builds the shapes in the exact shape you need it. Select All. Go up to Object - Live Paint - Make. If you have a grayed out Make it simply means you didn't have anything selected. I do recommend Deselecting by clicking on your artboard before clicking on a Color Swatch. *Remember Everything is still Selected so it will Color the Full Selection if you click on a Color Swatch with everything selected. Click on the Live Paint Bucket (K) and Click to Dump Color. It will feel like the Paint Bucket in Adobe Photoshop.