Warm up your illustration skills with this spring-inspired tutorial for creating organic letters. Use of a Wacom tablet is recommended but not required.
You can find the Source files in the directory labeled 'source' that came in the files that you downloaded. You may wish to look through them briefly before we begin.
Before we get started I'd like to give credit to the inspiration for this tutorial. The work of Charles Gary inspired me to create this illustration. Having been inspired by his work, I believe it's important to expand on and make something that's thematically and artistically my own. Having said that, lets get on to the tutorial!
This tutorial makes use of a Wacom tablet but is not required. If you don't have a Wacom tablet you can still follow along step-by-step but you won't be able to adjust your Pressure sensitivity using just a mouse. Lack of a Wacom tablet will impact the ability to create tapered edges to your lines. Although, you can still achieve natural looking curves and shapes.
Start by opening your Brushes Palette (Window > Brushes.) You can create a new brush or modify an existing one. We'll just modify an existing brush. Double-click the brush highlighted below.
The only setting we'll modify is the Diameter. Set the Diameter to about 10 and set the variation to the same. If you have a Wacom tablet, set the middle drop down to Pressure. If you don't have a Wacom just leave the drop down as it is.
Using the Paintbrush Tool (B) to draw an "s" shape. You can adjust the stroke size to achieve different results. If your letter is much too thin or thick, double-click the brush in the Brushes Palette or alter the stroke weight.
I usually draw each letter several times until it looks just right.
Continue to draw the other letters of the word one at a time. This will give you a better opportunity to craft each letter precisely how you'd like.
Below, the entire word is written out.
After you have all the letters drawn, go back and add flourishes to the beginning and end of the letters. They don't have to line up perfectly, we'll fix that next.
Once you're satisfied with the overall look and flow of the letters expand all the letters by going to Object > Expand Appearance. After that, Unite them using the Pathfinder.
Use the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-) and clean up the messy areas of the letters.
You want to achieve a smooth line as shown below.
Next, make a copy of the letters and paste it directly on top (Command + F) of itself. Give the top copy a thick stroke with no fill and the bottom copy should just have a green fill. You should have two sets of letters now.
Expand the letters with the black stroke by going to Object > Expand Appearance. Using the Direct Selection Tool (A) drag the points of the black outline so that the outline becomes more varied and natural looking. Lock the green letters if necessary so that you're not inadvertently selecting them at the same time.
Observe how I've varied other areas as well.
Once you're finished varying the outline make sure to adjust the green shape so that there's not white gaps between the black and green. Use the Direct Selection Tool again to accomplish this.
To create the impression of volume we'll add more black lines and shapes where needed. Use the Pen Tool (P) as opposed to the Paintbrush Tool this time. The Pen Tool will give you more control over what you're drawing. Since these shapes will indicate how the letters curve and overlap, the Pen Tool will give us more control over small details like this.
Use your imagination to envision where the letters could fold. Accentuate what you've already drawn; I essentially started drawing in corner areas.
This is what your artwork should look like right now.
Give your letters a green to light green linear gradient.
For the background, draw a rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M) and fill it with a radial blue to light blue gradient.
To add more volume to the letters, select the green shape that comprises the letters and go to Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow. Select Multiply for Mode, use green for the co