Useful Techniques for Vector Artists: Drawing a Totem (ENG)

In this part I will tell you what the reference is. How to find them and draw sketches on them. Consider what elements and features are used when creating a totem.

In this part of the course we will start creating a sketch. At this stage, you decide how your totem will look, from how many parts and what elements. I'll tell you about the advantages of digital drawing.

Briefly about creating a new document in Adobe Illustrator.

In this part of the course I will describe what the Pen Tool is and how to use it. Also, you will learn how to create any shape that consists of straight lines and angles between them, edit it with the Pen Tool - add, drag, and delete anchor points. How to draw curves and shapes with a fill.

In this part, I'll talk about another tool that we need in the process of work - this is the Pencil Tool. We will analyze its settings - for which every tick is responsible, and how the Fidelity slider can help us in drawing lines.

In this part you will learn the difference between the Paintbrush Tool and the Pencil Tool. Just try to make your brush, which will respond to the force of pressing the pen of graphic tablet.

In this part we will create a semi-automatic template, with which we will need to draw only half of our totem. The second half will be drawn automatically. Create a workspace and several layers with different settings.

In this part, we'll look at how to repaint a picture using global colors and how to do it using the Swatches panel.

In this part of the course we will talk with you about the symbols. What is it, how to set up and how to change them. Also, I'll talk about the difference between dynamic and static symbols.

In this part of the course, we will start drawing a vector totem. Create several layers with different settings, apply a mask and effects.

In this part we will create brushes for further work with different parameters and with a variable line thickness during the drawing process.

In this part, we begin drawing the symmetric objects of our totem using a template. Use the brushes created earlier.

In this part, I'll talk about drawing asymmetrical totem parts. What tools we will use and their settings.

In this part, we will adjust the outline and remove the small errors that remain from drawing.

In this part of the course, we'll add a fill to our totem using the Pathfinder panel.

In this part of the course, I will tell you how to create your own unique palette using the Coolors.co website. Consider the settings of this site and export the palette for further work.

In this part of the course we import a color palette into our document. We paint our totem with the Eyedropper Tool. And we will add a few colors to the palette in order to diversify the color of the totem. Also consider the conversion of used colors to global ones.

In this part of the course I will tell you about the practical use of symbols and their creation with the help of various tools. We will draw a few symbols, add highlights, color and save them to the library so that you can use these symbols in unlimited quantities in any of your projects.

In this part of the course, I'll show you how to add shadows using standard Adobe Illustrator tools. And then we'll compare the pictures before and after putting shadows on our totem.

In this part of the course, we will add light to revive our totem. Then you will see how I draw the glare using the Blob Brush Tool.

In this part of the course, we'll add a few final touches and elements that will a little revive our totem.

The final part of the course. Rather, start to create your own totem and then share your illustration!