Draw In Adobe Illustrator

If you want to erase, use the Eraser (Shift E) to clean things up.

You may change the Eraser size by double clicking on the Eraser icon.

Important: Make sure and save… just in case you actually want to keep this file. File > Save or Command S (Mac) • Ctrl S (Windows).

If you want to move any of the shapes or the entire sketch around click the Selection Tool (V) and select and move what you’d like.

 

Let’s Draw

Goto the Layers window and click to the left of Sketch in the box and a padlock will appear. This will lock the Sketch layer. Now on that same window in top right corner click on the three horizontal lines and create a new layer, naming it Drawing.

For the actual drawing you have two choices, the Pencil or Pen Tool. Let’s start with the Pencil.
Select the Pencil (N).

Then on your Swatches palette select black.

Note: by default the black on the Swatches palette is not full black and you can adjust this by selecting the Color palette (Window > Color) and then changing the RGB to all zeros or CMYK to C 36 M 25 Y 25 K 100.

Once you change the RGB color channels you can drag this newly created black outline icon over to the Swatches panel so you can use it in the future.

Be The Pencil

Now, trace over your sketch and get a feel for the Pencil Tool. Obviously if you are using a tablet this will be much easier than with using a mouse. You will notice after drawing one part if you draw another part that overlaps what you drew it will combine and parts will change or even disappear. This is one reason I don’t always use the Pencil Tool at this point, but it is great and can be used for your Adobe illustrations.

Play around with the Pencil, just to get a feel of how it works. Just like the Brush Tool, you can double click the Pencil Tool and change the Fidelity to Smooth if needed.

If you draw something with the pencil and mess up, no worries, click Command Z (Ctrl Z in Windows) to undo. If you want to erase, use the Eraser (Shift E) to clean things up.

One thing the Pencil can do that the Brush can’t is you can fill color in without using the paint bucket. For example, click the Selection Tool (V) and select the hair your drew with the Pencil.

Now goto the Swatches palette, click on the fill icon. Pick a color and select it. Boom, color filled.

 

The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword

The Pen Tool may be my favorite part of the Adobe Illustrator arsenal. Goto Layers and create a new layer named Drawing 2. You can also click on the box next to the Drawing layer and lock it.

Click on the eye on that layer. This will make this layer invisible. Select the Drawing 2 layer.

Maybe, Save again. Always remember to save.

Select the Pen (P).

So the recent steps, your fill color should be whatever you choose to make the hair and the outline color is black. Goto swatches and click no color for fill color. Now you will just have black outline.

 

Anchor Points

Let’s start with the head. Create your first anchor point. One click right below the ear, then move the mouse/stylus around and notice a preview line following your movement. Don’t click yet. Just want you to see how it tracks.

Move toward the center of the chin and click but don’t let go. Move your mouse/stylus to the right and left. Notice it’s like a rubber band. Pull it until you like how the stroke lays. Let go and you now have your second anchor point.

Click on your latest anchor point once before continuing otherwise it will adjust the continued stroke for you.

If the pen stroke looks to thick or thin, you can adjust this by going to the Stroke palette (Window > Stroke). Select the Pen stroke line you wan to adjust (Selection Tool) and then adjust the stroke weight.

You want to continue this going over your brush sketch creating multiple anchor points. As you draw with the Pen, play around with it and get a feel for the rubber band like effect before letting go.

Finish the basic shape of the head so it closes out.

Next, use the Pen to draw the remaining parts of your sketch. Do your best to close out each shape so they can late be filled with color.

If you ever need to end a Pen stroke, just click P. This will release the Pen.

If you’d like to add more anchor points to your drawing just select the path with the Selection Tool the select Pen Tool and click on path to add another anchor point.

Let There Be Circles

Now, when you get to the eyes and may be be going for that cartoon circle eye look but not feel like drawing a circle? Ellipse Tool time! Click on the Ellipse on the tools palette (it may be hidden behind the Rectangle icon) to the left or hit L on your keyboard.

Click on the top left corner of the eye but don’t let go. Drag the oval down to the right while holding the Shift key down. This will create a nice circle shape. Release the mouse button or lift your stylus pen.

Now for the next eye you can repeat this step or just copy and paste. Click the Selection Tool (V) and select the eye outline you just created. Command C, then Command V. Wallah! Second eye outline. 

Move this eye outline over to where you want it on your sketch.

Want to rotate the eyes, or maybe enlarge them? It’s ok to change things up. I use the sketch as a foundation, and a a lot of the time adjust a bunch of stuff. Select the Selection Tool (V) and click on the item you would like to rotate and/or enlarge.

Select the Scale Tool (S) and pull on a corner. If you hold Shift while doing this it will scale equally without distorting.

Click on the Rotate Tool (R) and select the part or shapes you would like to rotate.

You can always adjust, that’s a great think about Adobe Illustrator. Say the shape of the head you drew with the pen looks funny. Using the Direct Selection tool in Illustrator allows you to fix this by adjusting anchor points.

Select the Direct Selection Tool (A).

Click on an anchor point on the head.

You will see a colored line display. Click on the point on that line’s end and do not let go.

Pull it around and see how it adjusts the curves of the stroke line. Let go when you are happy with the outcome.

Never fear, you may always Command Z (Ctrl Z Windows) and Undo.

 

Fill In Colors & Arrange

Selection Tool (V). Select parts to start filling in with color. Let’s start with the hair. Select the hair. Goto Swatches, select color for the fill.

Select the head and pick a color.

Continue with eyes, ears, neck, shirt, etc.

You may notice some parts of your drawing are overlapping other parts. We can arrange items by moving them behind and in front of other parts. For example, select the shirt and goto Object > Arrange > Send To Back (Shift Command [ ). Shirt is now behind the neck.

You may do this to bring things to the front by using Object > Arrange > Bring To Front (Shift Command ] )

Click the eye on Sketch layer, on the Layers palette to make this layer invisible to clear things up.

Always remember to Save. Get in a good habit.

Notice the nose, mouth, and inner ear lines (strokes) are just plain lines? What I like to do is change the stroke style for these. Use the Selection Tool and click on the nose.

Now goto the Stroke palette and on the bottom of this window Profile: Uniform should be displayed. If it’s not click on the horizontal 3 lines on the top right corner and select Show Options.

Change Profile from Uniform to the next stroke option below it.

Nose looks a bit neater. Do the same for the mouth and inner ear lines if you wish.

This Adobe Illustrator cartoon tutorial isn’t really about the final product, but to focus on some of the things we can do in the program when it comes to drawing. Ok, I drew this guy as I was taking screenshots for this article.

Drawing On The Ipad?

The Apple Pencil and iPad has its benefits. Are you drawing using Adobe Illustrator Draw or Procreate on the iPad? If you can’t afford a large drawing tablet that connects to your Mac or PC, use an iPad to sketch and draw on.

While Adobe Draw and Procreate are two of the best drawing tools, Adobe Illustrator can do more but is currently unavailable for the iPad.

Coming Soon: Adobe Illustrator for the iPad

At times I do like to start a drawing using Adobe Illustrator Draw or Procreate on the iPad but will finish it on my computer. A fun feature Procreate has is screen record. This will create an animation of your illustration process.