ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

DIGITAL DOWNLOADS

STUDENT DASHBOARD: I have organized Beginner Guides and Tutorials by core areas of your Workflow: Building, Editing, and Coloring. LEARNING TARGET (1): Understand how to apply the Primary Building Tools and Options in Adobe Illustrator. LEARNING TARGET (2): Understand how to apply Building, Variation, Editing, and Advanced Color Techniques. LEARNING TARGET (3): Understand how to Download, Save, or Install Brush Libraries, Comic Halftones, and T-shirt Textures for Adobe Illustrator.
TUTORIALS: I have organized tutorials by core areas of your Workflow: Building, Editing, and Coloring. LEARNING TARGET (1): Understand the Building Tools and Options. LEARNING TARGET (2): Apply Line Variation along with Live and Expanded Editing Tools. LEARNING TARGET (3): Apply Color, Values, and Gradients using Advanced Coloring Techniques.
GETTING STARTED: Our Getting Started Guides will walk you through the process of downloading, saving, and gathering resources for your own artwork.  LEARNING TARGET (1): Download Stock Photos to use as a Resource Images. LEARNING TARGET (2): Download and Save Brush Libraries. LEARNING TARGET (3): Download or Save Color Swatches.
STOCK PHOTOS: I recommend using Unsplash for your Sketch, Drawing, and Color References. If you are new, I recommend creating a "Traceable Path" by using a Clean Line Drawing or Traced Stock Photo. LEARNING TARGET: Download Stock Photos to use for your artwork and designs.
COLOR SWATCHES: I highly recommend using Adobe Color for your Themes to add to your Library or download ASE Files. In most tutorials, we will be applying Flat Colors using Live Paint. LEARNING TARGET: Download or Save Color Themes to use with your own artwork and designs.
FONT FAMILIES: I recommend using Adobe Fonts for Commercial Use. If you are New, look for Font Families to use for your Primary Business or Marketing (Headers + Sub Headers). LEARNING TARGET: Download or Save Fonts to use with your own artwork and designs. 
ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIALS: Tutorials and Playlists will follow an easy process for creating artwork in Adobe Illustrator. If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, start with Beginner Guides or Illustrator Tutorials.  LEARNING TARGET: Understand how to apply the Primary Building Tools and Options in Adobe Illustrator.
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS: Many of you are jumping over from YouTube looking to download our Adobe Illustrator Brushes and Resource Folders. Digital Downloads will come through our friends at Teachable. LEARNING TARGET: Download Brush Libraries, Comic Halftones, T-Shirt Textures, or Resource Bundles.
RESOURCE GUIDES: As I create my artwork, pay attention to the resources being used throughout the Workflows, Tutorials, and YouTube Playlists. LEARNING TARGET: Understand how to apply Brush Libraries, Color Swatches, Comic Halftones, and BMP Textures in Adobe Illustrator.
BEGINNER: In our Beginner Guides and Tutorials, you will see me give Prompts and Learning Targets. These directions will simplify the process of learning Adobe Illustrator. LEARNING TARGET: Understand the Primary Building Tools and Options in Adobe Illustrator.
ADVANCED: As I am creating my artwork, pay attention to the Sequence of Events, Resources, and Tool Options as it relates to building a "Workflow." LEARNING TARGET: Apply Building, Variation, Editing, and Advanced Color Techniques to your own Artwork.
FOCUS: I have organized tutorials by core areas of your Workflow: Building, Editing, and Coloring. LEARNING TARGET (1): Understand the Building Tools and Options. LEARNING TARGET (2): Apply Line Variation along with Live and Expanded Editing Tools. LEARNING TARGET (3): Apply Color, Values, and Gradients using Advanced Coloring Techniques.
"BUILDING" ARTBOARD: I recommend establishing a "Standardized Approach" that you can use for your own artwork. The initial Artboard Size can be changed at any point without ruining your own artwork. LEARNING TARGET: Create a "Building Template" that includes Artboards, Resources, and Template Layers.
DOWNLOAD RESOURCES: If you are a Beginner, I am going to recommend starting from a Resource Image. Give yourself a "Traceable Path" by using a Clean Line Drawing or Traced Photo. LEARNING TARGET: Start with the Resource you intend on using for your artwork (Sketch, Drawing, or Traced Stock Photo).
TEMPLATE LAYER: Have your Drawing, Sketch, or Traced Photo Selected. In your Layers Panel, select the Menu in the Upper-Right Hand Corner. Drop down to Template. This will create 50% Opacity and Lock the Layer. LEARNING TARGET: Create a Template Layer so you can see the Resource Image and new Paths.
RESOURCE IMAGES: If you are a Beginner, I am going to recommend starting from a Resource Image. Give yourself a "Traceable Path" by using a Clean Line Drawing or Traced Stock Photo. LEARNING TARGET: Download Resource Images to use for your artwork and designs.
COLOR SWATCHES: I highly recommend using Adobe Color for your Themes to add to your Library or download .ASE Files to Open. In most Tutorials, we will be applying Flat Colors using Live Paint. LEARNING TARGET: Download or Save Color Themes to use with your own artwork and designs.
BRUSH LIBRARIES: Many of our Tutorials will go through a process of applying and editing our Brush Libraries. Brush Libraries will come as Zipped Folders, Extract All before using in Adobe Illustrator. LEARNING TARGET: Download Brush Libraries to use with your own artwork or designs.
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STOCK PHOTOS: I recommend using (Unsplash / Pixabay / Pexels) for your Sketch, Drawing, and Color References. Bookmark websites for Photo References to use with your artwork and designs. FREE RESOURCES
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COLOR SWATCHES: I highly recommend using (Adobe Color) for your Color Themes. Bookmark websites for Color Themes to use with your own artwork and designs. FREE RESOURCES
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FONT FAMILIES: I recommend using (Adobe Fonts / Google Fonts / Font Squirrel / Dafont) for Fonts. Bookmark websites for Fonts to use with your own artwork and designs. FREE RESOURCES
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BEGINNER: If you are a Beginner to Adobe Illustrator, I will recommend creating clean Contour Line Drawing. This can be accomplished by tracing a stock photo or simplifying your own Sketches. DRAWING GUIDE
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INTERMEDIATE: The next phase will be to prepare your drawings for the Initial Building Phase in Adobe Illustrator. Many of you will be using Ellipse, Pen, and Pencil Tools as your Primary Building Tools. DRAWING GUIDE
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ADVANCED: As you become more aware of the Tools and Options in Adobe Illustrator, you can save time in your workflow by using quick sketches. Use either Paper or Digital Methods. DRAWING GUIDE
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BUILDING ARTBOARD: I recommend establishing an Artboard that you can use for all of your artwork. The initial Artboard Size can be changed at any point without ruining your own artwork. Create a "Building Template" that includes Artboards, Resource Images, and Template Layers.  GETTING STARTED GUIDE
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RESOURCE IMAGE: The easiest method that I will recommend for New or Advanced Users is to create a Basic Line Drawing. Building Tools will use a "Path" so you can literally trace with the Pen, Pencil, Blob Brush, or Paintbrush. For your own artwork, use a traced stock photo, drawing, or sketch. GETTING STARTED GUIDE
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TEMPLATE LAYER: Have your Drawing, Sketch, or Traced Photo Selected. In your Layers Panel, select the Menu in the Upper-Right Hand Corner. Drop down to Template. This will create 50% Opacity and Lock the Layer. Create a Template Layer so you can see the Resource Image and new Paths. GETTING STARTED GUIDE
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BEGINNER GUIDES: A good place to start if you are new to Adobe Illustrator is our Beginner Guide (Shapes). We will be going through Building with Shapes, Align Panel, Pathfinder, and Basic Color Fills. There are Beginner Guides for the Pen Tool and Tablet if you are new to the website or Adobe Illustrator. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2
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BEGINNER GUIDES: If you are frustrated with the Pen Tool, a simple tip is to break down the process into 2 Steps. The first step is to just apply Anchor Points to the start-curve-end of a line or path. The second step is to adjust the Curves with the Anchor Point Tool or Smooth Curve Button in the Control Panel. BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4
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BEGINNER GUIDES: Many of you are looking to use your Tablet with Adobe Illustrator. I am going to recommend breaking down your current tablet workflow into multiple steps. I do see a lot of mistakes when people try to combine too many steps all at once with their new tablets. BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6
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BUILDING: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with our Building Tools. Many of you will be using the Pen, Pencil, and Shapes as your Primary Building Tools. Understand and Apply the different Building Tools in Adobe Illustrator.  BEGINNER GUIDES
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EDITING: After you lay down your Initial Paths, you can move towards adding Variation and Editing Options. Understand and Apply Live and Expanded Editing Tools in Adobe Illustrator. BEGINNER GUIDES
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COLORING: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with easy Coloring Tools such as the Live Paint Bucket. Understand and Apply Live Paint and Advanced Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator. BEGINNER GUIDES
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BUILDING TUTORALS: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with our Building Tools. Many of you will be using the Pen, Pencil, and Shapes as your Primary Building Tools. Understand and Apply the different Building Tools in Adobe Illustrator.
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EDITING TUTORIALS: After you lay down your Initial Paths, you can move towards adding Variation and Editing Options. Understand and Apply Live and Expanded Editing Tools in Adobe Illustrator.
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COLORING TUTORIALS: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with easy Coloring Tools such as the Live Paint Bucket. Understand and Apply Live Paint and Advanced Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator.
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DOWNLOAD BRUSHES: Adobe Illustrator Brushes will come to you as Zipped Folders on Teachable. Once you have downloaded and extracted the folders, Brushes are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. Download our Cartoon, Comic Strip, and Vintage Mascot Brush Libraries. DOWNLOAD BRUSHES
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SAVE LIBRARIES: Once you have downloaded and extracted the Brush Folders, I recommend Saving Brush Libraries to your "User Defined" by clicking Save Brush Library in the Brushes Menu. Start with our Resource Guides to save, apply, and edit Brushes in Adobe Illustrator. DOWNLOAD BRUSHES
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OPEN BRUSHES: Adobe Illustrator Brushes have been organized into Brush Libraries for easy application and to maintain consistency with your Line Variation. Open Brush Libraries through the “User Defined” or “Other Library” Options in the Brushes Panel in Adobe Illustrator. DOWNLOAD BRUSHES
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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR BRUSHES: Brushes are specifically designed for Illustrators and Cartoonists to speed up their workflow. Brushes Libraries allow for Pressure Sensitivity if you are using a Tablet for Inking your Line Variation. Apply with Pen, Pencil, Shapes, or Paintbrush Tools. Download Cartoon, Comic Strip, and Vintage Mascot Brush Libraries. DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR HALFTONES: 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. Download Comic Strip Halftone Fills and Pattern Fills. DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR TEXTURES: 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. Use with Opacity Masks for T-Shirt Distressing. Download Cracks, Grunge Distressing, Paper, and Paint Splatter T-shirt Textures. DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
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BRUSHES GUIDE: Refer to our Brushes Resource Guide for saving brush libraries, applying brushes, and using the Shape Builder tool in Adobe Illustrator. RESOURCE GUIDES
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HALFTONES GUIDE: Refer to our Halftones Resource Guide for assistance with importing halftones, applying halftones, resizing pattern fills, and coloring halftones in Adobe Illustrator. RESOURCE GUIDES
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TEXTURES GUIDE: Refer to our Textures Resource Guide for assistance in placing textures, coloring BMP textures, using clipping masks, and applying textures with opacity masks in Adobe Illustrator. RESOURCE GUIDES
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STOCK PHOTOS: I recommend using (Unsplash / Pixabay / Pexels) for your Sketch, Drawing, and Color References. Bookmark websites for Photo References to use with your artwork and designs. FREE RESOURCES
Image
COLOR SWATCHES: I highly recommend using (Adobe Color) for your Color Themes. Bookmark websites for Color Themes to use with your own artwork and designs. FREE RESOURCES
Image
FONT FAMILIES: I recommend using (Adobe Fonts / Google Fonts / Font Squirrel / Dafont) for Fonts. Bookmark websites for Fonts to use with your own artwork and designs. FREE RESOURCES
Image
BEGINNER: If you are a Beginner to Adobe Illustrator, I will recommend creating clean Contour Line Drawing. This can be accomplished by tracing a stock photo or simplifying your own Sketches. DRAWING GUIDE
Image
INTERMEDIATE: The next phase will be to prepare your drawings for the Initial Building Phase in Adobe Illustrator. Many of you will be using Ellipse, Pen, and Pencil Tools as your Primary Building Tools. DRAWING GUIDE
Image
ADVANCED: As you become more aware of the Tools and Options in Adobe Illustrator, you can save time in your workflow by using quick sketches. Use either Paper or Digital Methods. DRAWING GUIDE
Image
BUILDING ARTBOARD: I recommend establishing an Artboard that you can use for all of your artwork. The initial Artboard Size can be changed at any point without ruining your own artwork. Create a "Building Template" that includes Artboards, Resource Images, and Template Layers.  GETTING STARTED GUIDE
Image
RESOURCE IMAGE: The easiest method that I will recommend for New or Advanced Users is to create a Basic Line Drawing. Building Tools will use a "Path" so you can literally trace with the Pen, Pencil, Blob Brush, or Paintbrush. For your own artwork, use a traced stock photo, drawing, or sketch. GETTING STARTED GUIDE
Image
TEMPLATE LAYER: Have your Drawing, Sketch, or Traced Photo Selected. In your Layers Panel, select the Menu in the Upper-Right Hand Corner. Drop down to Template. This will create 50% Opacity and Lock the Layer. Create a Template Layer so you can see the Resource Image and new Paths. GETTING STARTED GUIDE
Image
BEGINNER GUIDES: A good place to start if you are new to Adobe Illustrator is our Beginner Guide (Shapes). We will be going through Building with Shapes, Align Panel, Pathfinder, and Basic Color Fills. There are Beginner Guides for the Pen Tool and Tablet if you are new to the website or Adobe Illustrator. BEGINNER GUIDE / BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3
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BEGINNER GUIDES: If you are frustrated with the Pen Tool, a simple tip is to break down the process into 2 Steps. The first step is to just apply Anchor Points to the start-curve-end of a line or path. The second step is to adjust the Curves with the Anchor Point Tool or Smooth Curve Button in the Control Panel. BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7
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BEGINNER GUIDES: Many of you are looking to use your Tablet with Adobe Illustrator. I am going to recommend breaking down your current tablet workflow into multiple steps. I do see a lot of mistakes when people try to combine too many steps all at once with their new tablets. BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9 / BEGINNER GUIDE 10 / BEGINNER GUIDE 11
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BUILDING: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with our Building Tools. Many of you will be using the Pen, Pencil, and Shapes as your Primary Building Tools. Understand and Apply the different Building Tools in Adobe Illustrator. PRIMARY BUILDING TUTORIALS
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EDITING: After you lay down your Initial Paths, you can move towards adding Variation and Editing Options. Understand and Apply Live and Expanded Editing Tools in Adobe Illustrator. VARIATION + EDITING TUTORIALS
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COLORING: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with easy Coloring Tools such as the Live Paint Bucket. Understand and Apply Live Paint and Advanced Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator. ADVANCED COLORING TUTORIALS
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BUILDING TUTORALS: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with our Building Tools. Many of you will be using the Pen, Pencil, and Shapes as your Primary Building Tools. Understand and Apply the different Building Tools in Adobe Illustrator.
Image
EDITING TUTORIALS: After you lay down your Initial Paths, you can move towards adding Variation and Editing Options. Understand and Apply Live and Expanded Editing Tools in Adobe Illustrator.
Image
COLORING TUTORIALS: If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, I would like you to start with easy Coloring Tools such as the Live Paint Bucket. Understand and Apply Live Paint and Advanced Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator.
Image
DOWNLOAD BRUSHES: Adobe Illustrator Brushes will come to you as Zipped Folders on Teachable. Once you have downloaded and extracted the folders, Brushes are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. Download our Cartoon, Comic Strip, and Vintage Mascot Brush Libraries. CARTOON / COMIC STRIP / MASCOT
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SAVE LIBRARIES: Once you have downloaded and extracted the Brush Folders, I recommend Saving Brush Libraries to your "User Defined" by clicking Save Brush Library in the Brushes Menu. Start with our Resource Guides to save, apply, and edit Brushes in Adobe Illustrator. CARTOON / COMIC STRIP / MASCOT
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OPEN BRUSHES: Adobe Illustrator Brushes have been organized into Brush Libraries for easy application and to maintain consistency with your Line Variation. Open Brush Libraries through the “User Defined” or “Other Library” Options in the Brushes Panel in Adobe Illustrator. CARTOON / COMIC STRIP / MASCOT
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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR BRUSHES: Brush Libraries are specifically designed for Illustrators and Cartoonists to speed up their workflow. Brushes Libraries allow for Pressure Sensitivity if you are using a Tablet for Inking your Line Variation. Apply with Pen, Pencil, Shapes, or Paintbrush Tools. Download Cartoon, Comic Strip, and Vintage Mascot Brush Libraries. BRUSH LIBRARIES
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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR HALFTONES: Comic 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. Download Comic Strip Halftone Fills and Pattern Fills. COMIC HALFTONES
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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR TEXTURES: T-shirt Textures are extremely easy to use even if you are a beginner to Adobe Illustrator. Simply File-Place the BMP Textures over your finished artwork to use with the Transparency Panel. Use with Opacity Masks for T-Shirt Distressing. Download Cracks, Grunge Distressing, Paper, and Paint Splatter T-shirt Textures.  T-SHIRT TEXTURES
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BRUSHES GUIDE: Refer to our Brushes Resource Guide for saving brush libraries, applying brushes, and using the Shape Builder tool in Adobe Illustrator. BRUSHES GUIDE
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HALFTONES GUIDE: Refer to our Halftones Resource Guide for assistance with importing halftones, applying halftones, resizing pattern fills, and coloring halftones in Adobe Illustrator. HALFTONES GUIDE
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TEXTURES GUIDE: Refer to our Textures Resource Guide for assistance in placing textures, coloring BMP textures, using clipping masks, and applying textures with opacity masks in Adobe Illustrator. TEXTURES GUIDE
I appreciate your videos. I have been an illustrator user for years and have my own ways of doing things. It's great to see other ways of using tools and learning tricks I didn't know were available! It's also good to see you doing the same thing as me in other instances, confirming I'm on the right track!Andy Zenz
Awesome tutorial! I don't think I've picked up something so easily from someone who knows what they are doing. I managed to draw my first vector art and it was a joy! Great work keep it up!blitz145
Thank you loads! Compared to other tutorials, yours are just really well-explained and easy-to-follow. Can totally see that you've got a passion for what you're doing and that's just wonderful! 🙂 Keep it up, you're doing an amazing job. Yulia Kachurova
Love your video thanks so much. you blow Lynda.com out of the water!!!!Steve Yensel
Brilliant video. So much great info packed in here. I'm just getting started drawing cartoons with my Wacom tablet, and this was a huge help. Thumbs up and thanks!Dorian Staten
Wow Thanks Jason...was really struggling with making images with basic shapes. Your tutorial is helping me out!!Kishor Rajani
thanks a lot you are really one of my favorites, I like the steps you give us, and I'm so thankful for that effort you do for helping us :)Wessam Lotfi
Keep up the good work Jason. I’ve been doing Lynda.com tutorials for a few months now and I got more out of your videos than what I’ve received at Lynda. Keep it up and Thank You!!bobby jacobs • 1 year ago
These tutorials are amazing. Just started using illustrator and really glad I found your channel. The only videos that explain everything step by stepAida Stan
You are definitely one of the best teachers I've found dealing with start to finish creative process. Great work!!!Jasen Fisher
Thank you so much man, I loved the way you explain this, I spent days looking for a good tutorial vid, thanks a lot, gonna keep watching your videos!!!Karel Marccenaro
Awesome tutorial! I don't think I've picked up something so easily from someone who knows what they are doing. I managed to draw my first vector art and it was a joy! Great work keep it up!blitz145
Thank you loads! Compared to other tutorials, yours are just really well-explained and easy-to-follow. Can totally see that you've got a passion for what you're doing and that's just wonderful! 🙂 Keep it up, you're doing an amazing job. Yulia Kachurova
Love your video thanks so much. you blow Lynda.com out of the water!!!!Steve Yensel
Brilliant video. So much great info packed in here. I'm just getting started drawing cartoons with my Wacom tablet, and this was a huge help. Thumbs up and thanks!Dorian Staten
Keep up the good work Jason. I’ve been doing Lynda.com tutorials for a few months now and I got more out of your videos than what I’ve received at Lynda. Keep it up and Thank You!!bobby jacobs • 1 year ago
These tutorials are amazing. Just started using illustrator and really glad I found your channel. The only videos that explain everything step by stepAida Stan
You are definitely one of the best teachers I've found dealing with start to finish creative process. Great work!!!Jasen Fisher