Objective

To learn advanced Illustrator drawing techniques. To learn Illustrator's art brushes and styles by recreating the following illustration by artist Ellen Papciak-Rose:

Download starter files

Discussion

Another way to "roughen up" art work is by applying art brushes to strokes. In this case, we achieved the scratch board-style edges by applying vector "art brishes" to strokes. One feature of Illustrator is the ability to apply mutiple strokes to one object. Another feature is the use of "styles" to affect the look of multiple objects. In this exercise, we will make use of both of these features.

Procedure

prepping illustrator

1. launch Illustrator, file > new (cmyk), save as "scratch.ai"
2. file place "scratch.gif" (place as template)
3. practice Illustrator's navigation shortcuts (download Illustrator keyboard shortcuts)

creating the art in illustrator

1. set stroke to black and fill to none, stroke weight=1pt
2. choose the direct selection tool, then choose the pen tool (this way you'll have access to the direct select tool while drawing)
3. draw the art (cmd-click to deselect before drawing new objects)
4. make adjustments (if necessary)
5. hide template layer
6. window > show brushes: examine, view by name, select all unused, delete
7. open downloaded file "art brushes", select all, copy and paste into "scratch" window, move aside (note: window > brush libraries has other brushes as well)

adding brushes to borders

1. window > show appearance
2. select "scratch 1" art, make new art brush; colorization=tint
3. repeat with other brush art; delete brush art from art board
4. select bottom line
5. apply "scratch 2" brush (note appearance)
6. add "random 1" brush by duplicating "scratch 2" (in appearance),
7. add "splatter 2" brush by duplicating "random 1" (in appearance),
8. apply stroke colors:
   • scratch 2=green
   • random 1=black
   • splatter 2=blue
9. edit stroke widths (double-click in appearance):
   • random 1=300%
   • splatter 2=50%
10. select "splatter 2" (in appearance)
11. effects > distort & transform > transform: preview=yes;
    scale horizontal=115; move horizontal=-10; rotate angle=4

adding styles

1. window > show styles: select all unused, delete
2. select bottom line
3. new style "scratch border"
4. select other borders and apply "scratch border" style
5. select upper left border, fill=blue
6. select fill (in appearance)
7. effects > distort & transform > transform: preview=yes; rotate angle=8
8. select "scratch 2" stroke (in appearance)
9. effects > distort & transform > transform: preview=yes; move horizontal=?
10. adjust stacking order (in appearance)

adding brushes to hand

1. select hand, apply "punk 2" brush (note appearance), fill=black, stroke=white
2. edit "punk 2" brush (double-click in appearance), width=150%
3. duplicate "punk 2" stroke (in appearance), apply "splatter 2" brush, stroke=green
4. effects > distort & transform > transform: preview=yes; move vertical=5; rotate angle=357
5. new style "hand"; apply to fish and head
6. select fish, select green stroke (in appearance), stroke=black, fill=green
7. select hair, fill=white
8. choose default style, draw eyes

adding brushes to spiral

1. select spiral, apply "splatter 1" brush (note appearance), stroke=white
2. edit "splatter 1 " brush (double-click in appearance), width=50%
3. duplicate "splatter 1 " stroke (in appearance), apply "splatter 2" brush, stroke=green
4. effects > distort & transform > transform: preview=yes; scale horizontal= 110, vertical=85; rotate angle=30
5. save, print
6. delete unused art, delete template
7. object > expand appearance
8. save as "scratch_expaned.ai"

grading

1. submit b&w laser proofs with your name on it for grading
2. file graded proof in your 3-ring binder for individual review