hello everyone this is chris from spoon
graphics back with another video
tutorial for adobe illustrator
today i'm going to show you my process
of converting a rough sketch into a
vector illustration by turning one of my
old doodles into a cute yeti cartoon
character by tracing the initial sketch
with as many basic shapes as possible we
can achieve a simple flat illustration
style the addition of colour fills and
strokes using a cold palette of pale
blue hues really brings the character to
life they'll show you an easy shading
technique that enhances your
illustration while retaining the
simplified flat vector look
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i've first set out the colour scheme i'm
going to be using for my yeti character
these colour fillers have also been
added as custom swatches so they're
easily accessible copy across the colour
values to follow along
you can also find a link to my old
doodle down in the description it's
pretty basic but that's the great thing
about converting a sketch into vector
art in illustrator you can roughly
sketch out your idea on paper then
enhance and refine it digitally drag the
image onto your artboard then double
click the layer and call it sketch
illustrator has a preset called template
which will automatically lock the layer
and reduce the opacity of the image
add a new layer to contain your vector
artwork
there are an infinite number of
illustration styles you could adopt for
your artwork some require tracing with a
pen tool to accurately reproduce the
original sketch whereas others like this
flat illustration style benefit from
simplifying the sketch into basic shapes
select the ellipse tool and draw a shape
that follows the outline of the main
body area clear out the default white
stroke so you can still see the sketch
draw a rectangle to intersect the lower
portion of the oval shape just above the
feet
activate the move tool for a moment and
add the oval shape to the selection
while holding shift then choose the
shape builder tool
hold alt and drag across the lower
shapes to remove them
[Music]
draw a new rectangle that extends from
the flat bottom edge of the oval shape
zoom in and draw a smaller rectangle
shape from the center by holding alt
drag it downwards slightly this will
form a gap between the legs
use the shape builder tool to trim away
this smaller rectangle while holding the
alt key
activate the direct selection tool and
hold shift while clicking the two upper
points to deselect them
it makes out the corner radius of the
little corner widget icons to create a
curved outline
merge these two shapes to create a
custom outline for the body
zoom out and draw a circle that follows
the shape of the arms paying more
attention to the upper outline of the
circle rather than the lower half
use the direct selection tool to select
and drag the lowermost point of the
circle upwards
select both this new shape and the main
body and eliminate the overlap by
blending them into the body shape
zoom in and draw three circles to
represent a hand
make sure the circles overlap each other
and the shapes around them
shift and click each one with the mode
tool to select them all then go to
object transform and reflect
choose vertical then hit copy
drag these shapes into place on the
opposite arm
make a selection of everything then use
the shape builder tool to process the
overlaps
draw another circle near the foot alt
and drag with the move tool to make a
copy and position it directly next to
the first then copy again to make a
third
select all three and move them into
position in the foot area to create the
toes
copy them to the other side and use the
shape builder tool to trim away the
unwanted areas
draw another circle in the face area
modify its shape with the direct
selection tool by moving the top and
bottom points out of place to create a
custom shape
create a simple eye by drawing a circle
then a smaller circular highlight inside
it
these shapes need to be filled so clear
out their strokes and set the fills to
white and the black from the color
palette
alt and drag the eye to position a
duplicate on the other side of the face
then select all the circles that form
both eyes and create a group
shift and click the face outline shape
to add it to the selection then give it
an extra click to make it the key object
which will ensure it doesn't move out of
place when the objects are aligned
a quick way to draw a custom shape for
the mouth is with the blob brush
unlike the regular brush that creates
stroked paths the blob brush creates
filled shapes
draw a series of white circles and
overlap them with the top portion of the
mouth
with all mouth objects selected use the
shape builder tool to trim away the
excess
repeat the process but with a red filled
oval shape to represent a tongue
turn off the visibility of the sketch
layer to see the vector artwork so far
the character looks a little bare since
we didn't trace the fur
but there's a useful technique i came up
with that allows you to add a spiky
outline without having to draw around
the entire illustration with the pen
tool
draw a circle somewhere on the artboard
then use the direct selection tool to
extend the right side point while
holding shift
click the new brush icon in the brushes
panel then choose new art brush
this new brush can be used with a
regular brush tool to create tapered
shapes
click and drag small strokes to create a
furry outline around the character
making sure each tapered shape covers
the original outline
you can quickly delete a stroke with
command and zed to draw again or hold
the command key to adjust its position
if necessary
follow the outline of the main body then
one of the arms
go to select same appearance to quickly
select them all then go to object and
expand appearance
go to object transform and reflect and
select vertical then hit copy
move these pieces into position on the
other side of the body
there will be a few overlapping pieces
in the top and bottom center that need
to be deleted
draw a selection around as many shapes
that make up the arm as possible without
selecting the body shapes
add any extras while holding shift then
deselect the hand shape
click the unite button in the pathfinder
panel to merge all these shapes into one
outline
give this new shape the default white
fill and black stroke appearance then
repeatedly press the shortcut command
and left square bracket key to send
backward until the shape sits below the
body first shapes
repeat the process for the other arm
select all the shapes unite them into
one outline replace the fill and stroke
then send them backwards
to select all the body first shapes it's
easier to select everything than
deselect the objects you don't want make
sure you deselect every little piece
like the toe circles eyes and mouth but
keep the main body outline
unite these shapes and change the fill
colour then add the two arms and hands
to the selection and send all the
objects to the bike so they sit under
the facial features
this tapered brush can also be used to
add furry details elsewhere draw a
series of shapes that flare out
horizontally
expand their appearance unite them then
alter the fill and stroke
the lasso tool to select and delete all
the points along the bottom edge
add tapering shapes all around the face
too but aim them inwards
go to select same in appearance to
select them all then go to object and
expand appearance
we need to select the face outline but
it's hidden under all those tapered
shapes
toggle on outline mode from the view
menu to see it then turn off outline
mode again
[Music]
this time click the minus front button
in the pathfinder panel to punch out
these shapes from the face outline
the illustration is now ready for some
colour select the arms and body and
change the fill to the pale white from
the colour palette
give them a grayish blue stroke and bump
up the size to around three points align
to the outside and with round cap and
corners
give the hands and toes the greatest
blue colour as a fill with a slightly
darker stroke
use the eyedropper tool to sample the
same filler stroke combo for the face
shape
but change the stroke alignment from
outside to inside
for a flat illustration style basic
fills is all that's required but there's
one additional little trick that i've
always used on my victor illustrations
that easily adds some simple shading
effects
select the three shapes that form the
arms and body then open the appearance
panel and choose add new stroke from the
corner menu
set it up with the lighter blue color
swatch and configure the stroke settings
to 10 points and align to the inside
repeat the process for the face outline
shape but align the stroke to the
outside instead
this ultra basic shading effect doesn't
follow a light source to create shadows
and highlights like a more realistic
illustration style but it subtly
enhances the flat art style
to finish off the illustration draw a
square as a background
give it a gradient fill and change the
style to radial
then replace the gradient colours
right click and choose a range center
bike
draw a circle and give it a gradient
fill too
this time from black to black but reduce
the opacity of the outer colour to zero
squash this gradient circle and position
it at the feet of the yeti character to
act as a shadow
send the object to the back then bring
it forward one level so it sits between
the background and the main character
reduce the overall transparency of the
shape to around twenty percent
drawing a basic sketch is a great way to
freely lay out the foundation for
whatever you're creating it doesn't have
to be pretty but it really helps you to
construct your final vector illustration
this is where you can correct any
mistakes and build upon your original
idea
using these techniques you can create
vector illustrations of anything this
basic flat illustration style with
simple shapes and colours is also much
quicker and easier to create than some
other more realistic or complex art
styles
if you enjoyed this tutorial or learn to
new tips and tricks a thumbs up on the
video would be really appreciated stick
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graphics to download all my free design
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as always thank you very much for
watching and i'll see you in the next
one