Tutorial: Drawing People Part 1

To follow up to our recent tutorial, ‘Draw a Face Using Simple Shapes’, we’ve decided to take things a step further and show how to draw an entire body. But before we dive in, we need to discuss some very important considerations when drawing the human figure. Since we’ve got a lot to cover we’re splitting this tutorial into 2 parts. This first tutorial will cover the basics of proportion, anatomy, and other things to keep in mind when drawing people. The second tutorial will apply these principles to a vector illustration. Let’s get started. Click here to read more!

Tutorial: Quick and Easy Character Shading

It’s surprisingly easy to add depth and dimension flat-colored illustrations, without using gradients. In this tutorial we’re going to show you some fast and simple tricks on how to subtly shade objects. Click here to read!

 

 Difficulty Level: Beginner+

Tutorial: Creating a Vector from a Reference Photo

In this tutorial, we’re going to draw an old-fashioned typewriter loosely based on a reference photograph. We’re not going to be tracing the photo directly, only using it to help us figure out how to shade and place our object. Click here to read more!

 

 Difficulty Level: Intermediate+

Tutorial: Creating a Custom Scatter Brush

Ever spent hours copying, pasting, and repositioning shapes to create a pattern? No more! In this tutorial, we’re going to add a trail of sparkles to our fairy’s wand using a custom brush.

 

 

 

 Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Tutorial: Using the Transform Effects

One of the best time-saving tools in Illustrator is the Transform Effect. When we think back to the hours we’ve wasted over the years tediously copying and pasting objects, then modifying each one, we thank our lucky stars we found this Effect. This tutorial shows you how it works!

 

 Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Tutorial: Creating a Watercolor Effect

In this tutorial, the amazing Aliaksandr Stsiazhyn (aka ‘Spotblind’ on iStockphoto.com) is here to teach us the secret behind his lovely watercolor style vectors. Check out more of his work on his website, www.spotvector.com, and his iStock portfolio, www.istockphoto.com/spotblind.

 

 

 Difficulty Level: Beginner+

Tutorial: Converting a photo into a vector

People sometimes assume that using an autotrace feature (such as LiveTrace) is the best way to convert a photograph into vector artwork. Sure, autotraces are easy and fast… But you can get MUCH better results with a little elbow grease. Click here to find out how!

 Difficulty Level: Beginner+