Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

In this beginner Adobe Illustrator tutorial we will be going through an easy-to-follow inking and coloring process using the Pen tool for inking, Live Paint for flat colors, and the knife tool to create easy shadows.

Anchor Point Guides

Anchor point guides are designed to make life easier as you are learning where to place anchors and how to adjust handles.

Using Pen Tool

We will be using our 2 step approach to 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.

Adding Flat Color

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

Beginner Pen Tool Tips

Adding on Line Variation using Cartoon Brushes

You will have more control over the placement and width of each of your lines using the Cartoon Brushes (Download + Install). The process will be a combination of using the Brushes to get down the initial thickness and stroke width. The second step will be modifying the placement of the variation using the so we can edit later. This 2-Step Process allows for more control over your Line Variation compared to using your Tablet with Pressure.

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

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.