Cool Adobe Illustrator Tutorials (Top 100 Examples)

Looking for Adobe Illustrator tutorials? This article has 100 of them. 100 of the best and most comprehensive Adobe Illustrator tutorials, not just random ones.

So, what is Adobe Illustrator? Adobe Illustrator has been the go-to program for graphic designers for a while and although some alternatives have appeared, it is still the best option.

If you haven’t managed to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator and want to, this article offers great Adobe tutorials for beginners. If you are looking at how to use illustrator, this article is a great starting point.

In this article, you will find a range of recent Adobe Illustrator tutorials as well as some old ones.  You can learn adobe illustrator, find out about illustrator art or learn about drawing in Illustrator.

I’m not saying anything else, I’m just going to leave you here with these Illustrator tutorials, tips,, and techniques that will help you improve your Adobe Illustrator skills.

Adobe Illustrator tutorials to check out

So, what are the best Adobe Illustrator tutorials? That’s a question that we’d all like to have answered. Finding cool Illustrator tutorials online isn’t an easy task. Preferences vary from one person to another. Also, each of us might be looking for an illustrator tutorial for various levels of difficulty.

While most people are looking for tutorials to teach them Adobe Illustrator basics, there are others who have completed many Abobe Illustrator projects and are searching for the most advanced tutorials.

There is a bit of everything in this article. There are Adobe Illustrator tutorials for beginners and for advanced users.

Follow these and you will learn how to use Illustrator and you’ll end up creating cool digital art in no time at all.

The Complete Beginners Guide To Adobe Illustrator

On this course I will be introducing you to the program and covering some essential practice exercises. Then I will be demonstrating how to create a small project in Adobe Illustrator from start to finish.

Pen Tool Beginner’s Guide

Create stylish vector portraits

If you want to create cool illustrations, you’ll enjoy this guide. In this great vector tutorial, tutorial, Eelco van den Berg lets you behind the curtain to see how he creates his incredible vector portraits by turning a photo into a ‘poppy’ vector illustration.

You will learn quick and easy Photoshop adjustments that prepare artwork for translation into vector shapes. He shows you how to trace the basic shapes using the main tools in Illustrator, and how to use layers to organize the photos and your new vector artwork.  A great choice to pick if you are interested in creating vector drawings in illustrator.

How To Add & Create Texture In Illustrator (Plus Tips)

Create a cityscape in Adobe Illustrator

Design vinyl wall stickers

Fun, affordable and an easy way to brighten a space – it’s simple to see why wall decals are so popular at the moment. From a designer’s point of view, taking your artwork from Adobe Illustrator into a room or other space is hugely exciting.

In this AI tutorial, Ben the Illustrator shows how to go from an initial idea to installing a printed vinyl decal on the wall of your choice.  You can learn how to create illustrator designs for children’s rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, or even your living room.

You’ll learn how to design for a specific wall and how to make sure that your finished piece works beautifully in its environment. There’s also advice on how to get your artwork printed, and everything you need to know to make sure your hard work doesn’t go to waste when it comes to installing your new design.  An excellent choice if you want to add stickers to your collection of Adobe artworks.

How to design a logo with golden Ratio | Adobe Illustrator Tutorial

How to Create a Desk Scenery Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a simple working space environment using Adobe Illustrator. The process is pretty simple as most of the steps will rely on using some of the basic shapes that come with Illustrator, with the help of which we will create almost all our illustration’s elements.  A fun way of learning Adobe Illustrator.

Create a Death Goddess inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead

Want to produce clean and detailed line work but with a hand-drawn edge? Not sure whether to use the pen tool in Illustrator or a tablet in Photoshop?

With his stunning tattoo-style Illustrator designs, digital illustrator and ‘part-time thrasher’ Chris Parks has all the answers and more in this tutorial.  One of the best illustrator tutorials for learning fantasy art and design.

How to Create a Set of Productivity Icons in Adobe Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a set of flat productivity icons that might come in handy in future Adobe Illustrator projects.

We’ll be using Adobe Illustrator, and the process of recreating them will be based mostly on the Rectangle Tool used in combination with Pathfinder and a dash of the Direct Selection Tool here and there.  A great way of learning to use easy Illustrator tutorials.

Create colorful vector character art

This tutorial will teach you how to create digital illustrations from an initial sketch. You will learn how to control vector paths to create smooth angles and view the necessary stages to complete a piece of work in Adobe Illustrator. This tutorial demonstrates the stages taken from sketch to vector, covering color adjustments, depth, and composition.  Certainly one of the best illustrators tuts when it comes to vector drawing.

How To Create Vector Smoke in Illustrator

Today you’ll find out how to create vector smoke with the help of gradient meshes, Transparency panel, and Warp Tool. This is a very simple technique that every beginner can master, but you will still need to work hard to get a good result.  A great way to learn Illustrator for beginners.

Design retro isometric artwork

Vector illustration can produce beautifully clean, precise artwork, but the results can also be a bit soulless. Here Mark Oliver creates those clean, precise shapes and then ‘grubbies’ them up for a more organic retro look. He also gives you a recipe for transforming shapes to fit a predefined isometric projection without having to do any calculations.

You can modify this tutorial to work on an illustration of your own as long as it conforms with the projection used. Import a 150dpi greyscale scan of your drawing and then follow the steps outlined below.  A great Adobe tutorial if you’re interested in learning new digital art ideas.

How to Create a Pencil Pattern Brush in Adobe Illustrator

In the following steps of this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, you will learn how to create a pencil pattern brush in Adobe Illustrator. For starters, you will learn how to set up a simple grid and how to create the main shapes using basic tools and shapes. Next, you will learn how to save two simple patterns and how to create your own pattern brush. Finally, you will learn how to create a simple text effect with this brush.  An excellent tutorial if you’re interested in how to draw with Illustrator.

Create lush, glossy vector images

It’s easy to associate vectors with flat shapes – but creating Illustrator images with real depth needn’t be a headache. In this tutorial, Thomas Burden (who works under the name …There Will Be Unicorns) shows how you can create striking, vibrant work in Illustrator using a simple color palette and basic blur effects – particularly Illustrator’s built-in Gaussian Blur effects.

Along the way, you’ll also learn how to bring simple shapes to life, and how to create charming characters and elements, using only basic Illustrator and Photoshop.  One of the most effective digital illustration tutorials for drawing with Illustrator.

Cup of Tea

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a quick and enjoyable cup of tea with a tea bag using Adobe Illustrator. I’ll mostly be drawing shapes and using the Gradient Tool to accomplish the desired effect. If you’re familiar with Illustrator, you should be able to follow along relatively easily.  A great tutorial for exploring cool illustrator effects.

Faux 3D finishes in Illustrator

Karan Singh shows you a clever and ridiculously quick way of giving your flat illustrations a faux 3D finish – without leaving the confines of Illustrator.

Karan finds Photoshop’s 3D lighting tools to be cumbersome and says that Illustrator is more than capable of creating depth and dimension, using such effects as the inner and outer glows and the Gaussian blur.  This is a great tutorial if you wish to learn Illustrator graphic design techniques.

How to Create a Surreal Poster Design in Adobe Illustrator

Master dynamic gradient techniques

Many works that look complicated are really made from simple elements. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Russian artist Alexandra Zutto shows how to build up complex, beautiful images by patiently layering and building up small, straightforward segments, always varying them to prevent monotony.

For this piece, which Zutto created for the Blood Sweat Vector exhibition in Berlin, she says: “I tried to reproduce the tundra’s atmosphere, with its pale sun and soft lighting. It required looking closely at a lot of references to understand how I can achieve these kinds of effects.”  If you are looking at creating sophisticated Adobe Illustrator art, this is the tutorial for you.

Create a Detailed Cheese Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator

If you are looking for interesting Illustrator ideas, this tutorial will be great for you. In the following steps, you will learn how to create a detailed cheese text effect and a cheese wedge illustration. For starters, you will need a simple piece of text, the 3D Extrude & Bevel effect, and a simple Rounded Corners effect.

You’ll learn how to easily name and organize your shapes, how to create compound paths, how to cleverly use blending, masking, and vector shape building techniques, and how to take full advantage of the Appearance panel. Lastly, you will learn how to create a simple blend and how to use the Live Corners feature.  An excellent Adobe tutorial choice.

Add depth to your vector art

With all the tools and effects that Adobe Illustrator has to offer, it can sometimes be hard to achieve a sense of depth and atmosphere within your images. Often they can come out looking flat and very two-dimensional. In this vector illustration tutorial, Bristol-based artist Ben Steers will show you how he uses gradient effects and opacity masks to overcome this, as he takes you through how he created his piece, Gone Karting.  One of the best vector tutorials available.

How to Create a Stylised Strawberry Icon in Adobe Illustrator

Hi, there fellow icon lovers, today’s quick tip sheds light on the process of creating convincing icons in Adobe Illustrator. As a subject for our little case study, I’ve chosen a fruit, more precisely a strawberry, which we will have dipped in chocolate.  If you are going to be using Illustrator to create icons, you will learn a lot from this fun tutorial.

Texture tricks with vector artwork

Texture can really add depth and a tangible quality to vector illustrations. In this tutorial, illustrator Jeffrey Bowman discloses the techniques he uses in his illustrator artwork to create texture and then explains how he adds this to his work.

You’ll learn how to take scanned textures and turn them into vectors using image trace, then effectively apply them to your illustration using clipping masks. Jeffrey will also explain how to add brush strokes to hard vector edges, so as to give a hand-drawn feel to your artwork.  A great tutorial for any curious art illustrator.

Creating an Adorable Strawberry Tiger in Adobe Illustrator

Are you a fan of tigers as much as I am? If so, you might have heard of the rare and appropriately named Golden Tabby Tiger, also known as a Strawberry Tiger. In this tutorial, we’ll go through the step-by-step process to make our own cute little bundle of golden fur.  If you are interested in creating Illustrator drawings, this is a great tutorial to try out.

Use the Kuler iPhone app to develop a color scheme for use in Illustrator CC

Learn techniques for Photoshop across art, illustration, graphics, and photography in these cool Illustrator tutorials from the world’s best practitioners.

Photoshop is a very versatile software tool, as flexible for seamlessly compositing disparate elements into a beautiful photo montage as it is making your photos look even more stunning. It also provides an effortless platform for creating dynamic graphics for both web and print – and let’s not forget its pragmatic usefulness as a day-to-day tool for transforming graphics and photos into the perfect format for your output requirements.  A top tutorial to help you in your design career.

How to Create a Fun Wiener Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator how-to guide,  you will learn how to create a wiener pattern brush and how to use it to create a nice text illustration.

For starters, you will learn how to create the main shapes using basic tools and effects, a simple blend, and some blending and vector shape building techniques. Moving on you will learn how to save two simple patterns and how to create your own pattern brush.

Finally, you will learn how to to use your brush and how to add some subtle shading and highlights using several Drop Shadow effects and a bunch of tiny compound paths.

Create symmetrical vector character art

Jonny Wan’s distinctive, fresh illustrations manage to seem both mechanical and handmade: their characters are composed of intricate, symmetrical vector shapes so that they seem almost clockwork, yet he finishes he applies to remind us of woodcuts.

In this vector art Illustrator tutorial you’ll learn how to combine, merge, and manipulate ships in Illustrator to create an intricate illustration based on a Russian doll.

How to Create a Hand Whisk using Gradients and Blends

Today we’re going to use this digital illustrations tutorial to create a vector hand whisk using Adobe Illustrator. We’ll be using Gradients and Blends, as well as some clever Clipping Masks to create a semi-realistic illustration you could use in a variety of Adobe Illustrator projects.

T-shirt design in Illustrator using owl and skull vector art

Joshua Smith, aka maverick illustrator Hydro74, has a style that’s instantly recognizable – combining the thick, clean lines of graffiti with the iconography of tattoos and the symmetry and patterns of vector art. Here he takes you through how he created his latest work, based around his regular motifs of skulls and swirls mixed with this spring/summer’s illustration icon, the owl.

As you follow this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, you’ll discover lots of tricks to help you create better art and work faster in Illustrator. You’ll learn how to improve your skills with line art, shading using flat fills and color techniques for limited palettes (to keep printing costs down). Use this tutorial to create great illustrations.

Create a Baseball-Inspired Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator

For all of you sports fans out there, this Adobe Illustrator tutorial will teach you how to create a baseball-inspired text effect. You’ll start by preparing the text, then with the help of the Bas Relief effect and the Inner Glow effect you’ll easily add some dimension to it.

Next, you’ll create a vector texture and a Pattern Brush with which you’ll add the characteristic baseball stitches. Next on the to-do list is the worn out and dirty look, for which you will use a built-in Art Brush. You’ll finish with the grass background and the additional tufts of grass around the letters.  Great Illustrator lessons for sports lovers.

Design an isometric infographic

The isometric projection does not exist in nature, it is a unique view without perspective. Unlike, in reality, everything in the distance is at just the same scale as everything in the foreground, creating the characteristic unique to an isometric piece.

Here, illustrator Tim Smith details some of the intriguing yet surprisingly simple theory behind the isometric projection. He provides insightful tips and tricks to help pull off detailed isometric illustrations with ease as he offers up his experience in using this technique to create illustrations with witty narrative  A great tutorial on how to use Adobe Illustrator cc to maximum effect.

How to Create a Punk Nouveau Mermaid in Adobe Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, we’ll walk through the step by step procedure of making a mermaid with an affinity for all things punk rock and sold at your local Hot Topic or Spencer’s. From her Hello Kitty belly button ring to her wild and untamable quaff of blue-green hair, you’ll be exploring the mind-blowing world of color and form in this vector Illustrator tutorial.

Create 3D type art in Illustrator

For some reason, many graphic designers shy away from using 3D, perhaps thinking that it is more relevant to architects, animators, and product designers.

In fact, Illustrator features some basic 3D effects, which, as Jing Zhang shows in this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, can be combined to create surprisingly detailed, technical-looking images. This tutorial will assist you with creating cool illustrator designs.

Using the Blend Tool to Create a Halftone Effect Portrait in Adobe Illustrator

The Blend Tool has been part of Adobe Illustrator for a long time and it’s very simple to work with. The tool creates objects that fill the space between two key objects. Let’s say we have a square as object A and a circle as object B; the Blend Tool will create intermediate figure shapes between these two objects.

You can add how many steps you want and it remains editable until you expand it. We can use this tool to create many effects. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I’ll show you how to use the Blend Tool to create semi-realistic halftones with lines. A step closer to learn Illustrator and be a pro, able to create amazing Abobe Illustrator art.

Design a vector animal mascot

Vector illustration can produce beautifully clean, precise artwork, but the results can also be a bit soulless. Here Mark Oliver creates those clean, precise shapes and then ‘grubbies’ them up for a more organic retro look. He also gives you a recipe for transforming shapes to fit a predefined isometric projection without having to do any calculations.

You can modify this tutorial to work on an illustration of your own as long as it conforms with the projection used to create amazing Illustrator art.

How to Create a Conceptual Portrait Using the Scribble Effect in Adobe Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I will show you how to create a vector illustration with a sketchy style in Adobe Illustrator. A few techniques will be discussed to achieve the results, including Gradient, Roughen, and Scribble.  A great choice to make from a selection of Adobe Illustrator vector tutorials.

Create cool infographics

Infographics, such as the one opposite, are great visual tools for communicating large amounts of data. Breaking down large amounts of abstract data, they place the information in context and transform it into tangible and useful knowledge.

With a bit of personality and fun, an infographic can become a distinctive and charming way for the viewer to learn and access data. The most important aspect is the underlying message – the primary information that is being illustrated. All other elements should complement and reinforce the primary meaning to the viewer.  Find out how to make exciting infographics with these fun illustrator tutorials.

How to Create a Stylish Deer with Brushes and Graphic Styles in Adobe Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, we are going to draw a deer with custom Art Brushes, Graphic Styles and Blends in Adobe Illustrator, all of them created by us. This is a neat example from this article with Adobe Illustrator tutorials.   This is a great tutorial to select if you are interested in creating cool Adobe Illustrator projects.

Create quirky repeating patterns

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Imakethings (known to his mum as Andrew Groves) shows you how to make a repeat pattern based on map-like imagery. He uses simple shapes and icons to illustrate geographical features from a birds-eye point of view similar to those used in OS maps.

However, unlike in an official map, Imakethings uses bright colors and adds a few creatures here and there to create a whimsical, magical landscape. The map tiles to make a recurring image that could be applied to any number of surfaces.  This simple Illustrator tutorial will help you to create interesting designs.

How to Make an Icy Cocktail

Do you desire to drink an icy refreshing cocktail on a sunny day? I know I am, so in this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I will explain how I draw a refreshing cocktail drink in illustrator. Hope you will find this useful and inspiring to make other kinds of drinks or cocktails.  An interesting way to learn illustrator techniques.

Create a Candy Inspired Vector Snowboard Design

Learn how to put together a sweet candy inspired design in Illustrator by cutting, splitting and joining vector paths to produce an intricate weave of shapes. We’ll then add some finishing touches with subtle shading and a coolly striped overlay to add depth to the design. The final concept will them be ready for being mocked up as a custom snowboard design.  A popular illustrator tutorial choice for graphic designers.

Create a Simple Storefront Icon

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I will show you how to create a simple storefront icon using some rectangles, Illustrator Effects, and gradients. This icon is great for use in e-commerce sites and the techniques in this Adobe Illustrator tutorial can easily be applied to other icons, illustrations, and logos.  An excellent tutorial for Adobe Illustrator.

Design a Vector Pencil Cartoon Character

This is a step-by-step tutorial where I will show you how to create a character in Adobe Illustrator using a sketch template merely as a guide. The piece we are going to make is a crazy, and multicolored pen character. In this vector tutorial, you might be surprised that I only use fundamental shape tools, pathfinder commands, and transformation commands to come up with the illustration, showing off a method for easily converting a sketch into a vector piece. Learn a range of skills with these cool illustrator tutorials.

Create a Fun Print-Ready Doodled Business Card Design

There’s nothing more unique to your creative talent than a series of your own doodles and sketches. Let’s use the good old doodle to represent our design services by combining quick and fun doodles with a print ready business card design. We’ll be drawing our doodles directly in Illustrator, and using the application’s print abilities to set up our business card document with the correct margins and bleed to build a complete print-ready PDF document.  A great choice for learning Illustrator.

Create A Briefcase Icon

In this vector tutorial, I will show you how to create a briefcase icon with rectangles, ellipses, and gradients. This briefcase icon is great for web designs and user interfaces. Moreover, you can easily apply these techniques to other icons, logos, and illustrations.  A great chance to explore what you can do with Adobe Illustrator.

Do you want more Adobe Illustrator tutorials?

Read on.

Create a Cool Vector Panda Character in Illustrator

The character we’ll be building today started out as a mockup of a series of random shapes quickly put together in Illustrator. This provides the foundation upon which multiple gradients and colors can be overlaid to build up a recognizable character. Then, when everything is coming together and looking how it should, a few extra touches in the form of shadows can really help add that extra level of depth and realism.  A great opportunity to try out new digital art styles.

Create An Editable Stitched Label Type Treatment

Like the previous tutorials, this one relies heavily on the Appearance panel, making it easy to edit the text and apply the treatment to other fonts and vector elements.  A great tutorial for every computer illustrator to try out.

Realistic Orange

In this step-by-step tutorial, you will learn how to make a photo-realistic orange using Adobe Illustrator CS3.  A great way to explore some of the many Adobe Illustrator uses.

Create a Tasty Burger Icon

In this delicious tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a three-dimensional, scrumptious burger using Adobe Illustrator to create illustrations.

Create a 6-egg box

In this vector tutorial, you will learn how to create a 6-egg box (full of eggs). We will use 3D Rotate and Revolve Effects. We will also play a lot with masks. You may download the source file (created in Illustrator CS4, back-saved to CS2+).  An excellent choice to add to your vector illustration tutorials.

How To Build a Vector Clock Graphic in Illustrator

If you’re looking to develop your Illustrator skills, here’s a tutorial for you! Follow this walkthrough to see the how adding layer after layer of vector shapes, along with a range of gradients and a spot of texture can quickly create a great looking icon-style clock graphic.  A great tutorial for every Illustrator designer to explore.

Create Lady Birds Insect Tutorial Using Adobe Illustrator

Ladybirds, is there any other insect that symbolizes the prosperity and freshness of nature more? You can find these cute being almost anywhere and they won’t ever cause anything but cheers. In this vector tutorial, I will show you how to create a cool ladybird using Adobe Illustrator.  One of the fun illustrator drawing tutorials to explore.

Create A Mouthwatering Chocolate Covered Strawberry

It’s almost Valentine’s day and rather than getting your loved one the same old cheap gifts you get every year, why not create a chocolate covered strawberry illustration for them? You can easily apply this illustration to your own greeting card, t-shirt, or anything else you can think of. Moreover, you can apply this tutorial to other illustrations and logos.  A great tut illustrator for you to use.

How to Create a Cool Monkey Character in Illustrator

In this tutorial, we’re going to be creating a monkey character illustration using Adobe Illustrator. You’ll be using basic Shape Tools, the Pen Tool and various other Illustrator techniques to create the illustration.  Learn a lot from this Adobe Illustrator draw tutorial.

Design a Fun Invoice Template

You’re a designer: your invoices need not be boring! Follow this tutorial to set up a fun yet professional-looking invoice template using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.  An exciting way to learn Illustrator graphics.

Seamless Pattern

For this beginner level tutorial, I will show you how to create a type of design I like to call “Sauce.” The design will be done in Illustrator and will be a vector so that we can scale the design up or down depending on where you want to use it, coming out with a vector image that will allow you to apply the design anywhere you’d like.  An excellent way to learn Illustrator basics.

How to Make Abstract Typography Art

Flowers and leaves are an all-time favorite theme in design. Whether you’re designing for a website, a magazine or a fabric pattern, these simply never go out of trend!  An excellent illustrator flower tutorial for every designer.

Flowers and leaves

Flowers and leaves are an all time favourite theme in design. Whether you’re designing for a website, a magazine or a fabric pattern, these simply never go out of trend!

Create a Google Phone Styled Background in 6 Easy Steps

The new rumored “Nexus One” Google Phone has a pretty cool (and probably animated) background image. Today I’ll show you how to create that style with a few simple steps that powerfully integrate transparency modes to create cool lighting effects. You can learn a range of new Adobe Illustrator ideas from this tutorial.

How to Create a Crafts Inspired Vector Kids Illustration

Another one of these Adobe Illustrator tutorials is the following. Learn how to create a couple of cute and simple kids illustrations of a car and airplane using Adobe Illustrator’s basic shapes. Take inspiration from hand crafted artwork to give each graphic a plaid effect fabric texture and stitching effect.

Create a Valentine’s card in Illustrator

Another one of these Adobe Illustrator tutorials is the following. Learn how to create a couple of cute and simple kids illustrations of a car and airplane using Adobe Illustrator’s basic shapes. Take inspiration from handcrafted artwork to give each graphic a plaid effect fabric texture and stitching effect.  This is one of the great Adobe Illustrator practice projects for developing artists.

Gradient Mesh Flower

Gradient Mesh can be a wonderful tool to master but the learning curve can bring a bit of frustration to the beginner, I myself found it confusing at first but with a little practice and a simple plan I was able to get around a few of the tools weaknesses and avoid snapping Wacom pens in anguish.  If you are interested in cool Illustrator projects, this is the tutorial for you.

Create A Grisly Zombie Illustration With A Pen Tablet

Halloween is almost here, and I’m sure some of you need to do some last minute graphics for a client project or maybe so graphics for your Halloween party. So in this intermediate tutorial you will learn how to create a zombie illustration with a pen tablet from a photo. Have fun utilizing the Blob Brush and Eraser tool in recreating this tutorial or apply these techniques to other ghoulish illustrations!

Still a lot more Adobe Illustrator tutorials in this article.

You can also bookmark the link and check it later when you have more time.

Create a Rolling Stones Inspired Tongue Illustration

The bright red Rolling Stones tongue and lips logo is a graphic design icon, and has been a pop culture fav for years! I don’t think you can beat it, so we’ll not create a direct copy of the original in this tut. Instead, let’s take a look at drawing our own Stones inspired tongue graphic, starting with a quick pencil sketch and finishing with a vector-based graphics in Adobe Illustrator. One of the best graphic design tutorials available.

Make Watercolor and Marker Style Portraits with Illustrator

With this tutorial, we are going to work through ways of creating digital portrait illustrations that have a unique and somewhat tactile feel of marker and watercolor. This tutorial will focus on using a drawing tablet and Adobe Illustrator. There will be a focus on technique and technical settings, but the overall product will rely on your own personal style and taste.  Try this tutorial for Illustrator if you would like to advance your painting or illustration skills.

Create a Happy Sun Character

This intermediate tutorial is great for logos, children illustrations, and other Adobe Illustrator projects relating to climate change. Moreover, you can easily apply this tutorial to other illustrations, logos, and projects!  Learn more about Adobe Illustrator graphics with this great tutorial.

Design a Cute Hamster Avatar

Going through my sketchbook I noticed I’ve been drawing cute characters lately. Where is all this cuteness coming from? Probably from an exciting job I’m doing right now. Anyways I picked one of the characters for a tutorial so here it goes.  Learn illustrations with this cute illustrator tutorial.

Create a Penguins Illustration Tutorial

Global Warming is one of the biggest problems of the 21st century. Global Warming is changing our world and the way we live, it destroying habitats of animals. In this vector graphic tutorial, I will show you how to create an illustration of penguins whose habitat is being destroyed by global warming.

Create a yummy vector cupcake

How to reduce EPS file size

Sometimes it happens to everyone – you create a really cool vector illustration and want it to submit and sell on microstock, but you found, that the exported EPS file is too big. What can you do, to make the EPS file smaller? Here you will find several tips and tricks for reducing the EPS file size.  A great Illustrator tut to learn simple tips and techniques.

Create a colorful cocktail icon

The cocktails are probably the only drink that can get any color in this world. The variety of colors, shapes, and ingredients of these drinks is just amazing. In this simple tutorial, I will show you how to create a colorful cocktail icon inside Illustrator.  Create easy illustrator projects using this tutorial.

Illustrator type technique using shapes

One of the questions I often get from readers is if I could write a tutorial on how to create a certain logo. It’s something that I think is not very good material for a tutorial because it’s so very specific. The hard part is not the execution in Illustrator, it’s the design itself, the creative process.

Then again I think certain parts are explanatory e.g. a logo made of letters you draw yourself using circles, simple shapes and lines of equal thickness. The technique I have in mind is something that only works for logo’s that contain only a few characters, ideally not more than 5. It also stands or falls with the characters at hand e.g. if o’s and other circular shapes are involved, then it can get interesting to try this technique out…if you’re interested in Adobe Illustrator logo tutorials for beginners, this tutorial will be a great choice for you.

Create the face of a greedy monkey

This tutorial will help you create a simple illustration of a monkey face. It uses the Ellipse Tool, the Pen Tool, the Rectangle Tool, the Crystallize Tool or the Gradient Tool. For the shadow effects, you’ll use some classic effects like the Inner Glow or the Gaussian Blur.  A fun and effective illustration tutorial.

Playing with Vectors in Illustrator

Last week I decided to spend some time playing with Illustrator and trying to come up with a cool black and white artwork. My inspiration came from some skateboard deck designs which have this sort of 3D effect without using gradients or anything, and not exactly a woodcut effect either. After a few hours I was able to come up with a really nice design, but the most important thing, the whole process was an excellent way to improve my Illustrator techniques. If you are looking for effective illustrator vector tutorials, look no further.

How to Design a Cheeky Koala Mascot Head

We’re going to put those vector eyes you learned how to make not long ago to some good use! This tutorial will show you how to combine basic shapes with some clever coloring and blending to make a fantastic looking koala character.

We’ll use some opacity masks, brushes, gradients, and effects, in addition to an easy shading technique you’ll find yourself using in plenty of other Adobe Illustrator projects. Great for those wishing to learn Adobe Illustrator graphic design techniques.

Create an arrow through a heart icon

In the next one of these Adobe Illustrator tutorials, we are going to create a vector/icon heart with an arrow going through it, using Adobe Illustrator. This tutorial will teach you to take simple shapes and use them to create more complex objects, as well as several other techniques.  If you’re looking to great simple images using vector illustrator tutorials, try this effective tutorial.

How to Make a Flat Screen HDTV in Adobe Illustrator

This tutorial is going to walk you through the process of making a nice flat-screen HDTV. This could be great for showing off images or videos or just honing your Illustrator skills. We will cover a variety of tools including the Gradient Palette and the Pathfinder Palette. Let’s get started with creating some great Adobe Illustrator illustrations!

Create a Stylized Avocado in Illustrator

In this vector illustrations tutorial, we’ll explain how to create a cut avocado with simple shapes, blends, and textures. We’ll design both the outer skin, yummy light green avocado filling, and the inner core.

Grass text effect in Illustrator

In the following one of these Adobe Illustrator tutorials, I will show you how to create grass text effect in Illustrator. This lesson is made for beginner illustrator artists so that nothing difficult about it.

Create a Stunning Retro Futuristic Typography

If you’re looking for illustrator practice in creating retro designs, look no further.  Retro-futuristic design is a return to, and an enthusiasm for, the depictions of the future produced in the past, both in science fiction and in nonfiction futurism of the time, which often seem dated by modern standards. We always strive towards creating a better future. Whats more compelling than envisioning one.

How to Create Perfect Radial Shapes in Illustrator

One of our latest design packs that we just released contained 50 different styles of radial shapes. We received a good amount of feedback and questions on how we created them. In this vector graphics tutorial, I will walk you through the creation process on how to effectively recreate some perfect radial shapes. Once you have completed this tutorial. I am sure you will be creating some amazing radial shapes to include in your Adobe Illustrator designs.

Tips for Working with the Gradient Mesh Tool In Illustrator

One of the most amazing and confounding tools in Adobe Illustrator is probably the Gradient Mesh tool. Working with this feature allows the user to divide almost any shape into a mesh. Each intersection of two lines (horizontal/vertical) can be colored with a solid color. This tutorial takes a different format than some of our other tuts and will help you work with the Mesh tool better.  This will make a massive impact on your Adobe Illustrator work.

In this vector art tutorial, we’ll show you some tips that will improve your Meshwork. We’ll also show you a proper workflow to get outstanding results with this tool. We’ll take a close look at creating a layer within the detailed file of a meshed boot.

Rad Pattern in Illustrator that Makes you Dizzy

Yesterday I was checking a book I have about skateboard decks design called New Skateboard Graphics. It’s a super cool book and we have even given a copy away here on Abduzeedo. So while I was flipping through the pages I found this beautiful design that was a crazy pattern. It was a deck from Element, and I decided to try to do that in Illustrator.  Have a look at my illustrator samples to learn more.

Geometric Flower Effect Logo in Illustrator

In this next Illustrator logo tutorial, I will show you how I made this nice logo for one of my clients in the Czech Republic. Feel free to use it as inspiration, but please do not copy it in any form. All copyrights belong to the owner whom I made it for. Last but not least, please excuse Czech language appearing in the dialog boxes on pictures; I use a localized version of illustrator.  I hope my Adobe Illustrator samples inspire you.

Create a Fun Icon for Frozen People on Ice – Part I

In this Adobe Illustrator works tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a fun, vector icon of a people symbol, frozen in an ice cube, from scratch. We’ll explore the usefulness of Adobe Illustrator’s 3D tools. The whole creation can be divided into two different parts. Part I: The ice cube, and Part II: The people icon. We’ll start with the ice cube in Part I. Then we’ll create the people icon and integrate them together in Part II

Create a Fun Icon of Frozen People on Ice – Part II

How to Draw a Vector Kiwi

Ever wonder how to make a vector kiwi in illustrator? Well, I did and here is what I came up with. In this vector art tutorial illustrator, I will teach you how to do it using effects like Texturizer, Pointillize, Grain and Film Grain. Hope you can learn some new stuff in this tutorial.

How to Create a Rocketing, Vector Aircraft Shuttle

In this Illustrator illustration tutorial, we’ll be creating an illustration of a speeding aircraft shuttle. It’s going to be all vector, but along the way, we’ll use blends, and other techniques that give this rocketing aircraft an interesting look.

Create An Awesome Space Rocket Avatar in Illustrator

What? You still don’t have your own avatar? Remedy this situation immediately with this tutorial. We’ll draw a shiny, awesome-looking space rocket in Adobe Illustrator using advanced techniques such as gradient meshes, pattern brushes, and opacity masks. We will then add a flare, smoke, clouds, and sky to complete a fun illustration. Ready to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator?  Learn advanced illustrator techniques with this great tutorial.

Create a Realistic, Vector Building Illustration

This is a massive AI tutorial that documents the creation of a realistic vector, building illustration, which is based on a photo reference. There are numerous techniques covered, each section is very well detailed with documentation on each step and process used to create this best Adobe Illustrator artwork.

Create a Realistic Candy Bar in Illustrator

Realistic renderings can be done easily in Adobe Illustrator.
With vector shapes, the objects can be preserved and edited infinitely which is a great advantage over raster objects.
A few simple tweaks from the Effects menu and an understanding of basic object rendering can create a bold and stunning finish.
In this AI tutorial, created exclusively for WDD by Wendy Ding, she’ll be guiding you step by step through the stages required to create a realistic candy bar using Illustrator.  If you’re interested in how to make illustrations more effective, this great tutorial will help you.

How to Create a Rainy Window Vector Background

Using the Symbolism Tools, plus a bit of Gradient Mesh, learn to make a realistic window covered with raindrops. This is an advanced tutorial that assumes a fair amount of Illustrator experience, but everyone should be able to follow along. It can be done with earlier versions of Illustrator but takes full advantage of newer features in CS4 with some Adobe Illustrator lessons.

Create an old TDK cassette

Do you have any of those at home? Even if they are considered retroelements, there are probably still a lot of people that continue to use them. Because retro style is very popular right now and besides that, they are just so nice! In this tutorial, I’ll show you to create a standard D-C60 TDk cassette in just some minutes.  One of the best Adobe tutorials you will find online.

Blend and Mask Yourself a Great Poster

In this AI tutorial, we’ll be creating a poster with a strong geometric central design, which utilizes flowing blends, masks shapes, and subtle gradients, to create a sophisticated final work. Learn each detailed step in creating this poster and find Adobe Illustrator inspiration for your own graphic design posters.

Illustrator full spectrum spirograph

First of all, I should point out to you that this is one of the ways of how you can create this kind of shapes. Also, this shape is not a 100% exact copy of Andy’s creation, but it’s close. I just tried to find a way so I can explain things in an easily understandable manner. Learn best illustrator techniques in this handy tutorial.

How to Create an Energy Saving Bulb in Illustrator

Here we’re showing how to create an energy saving bulb with the help of the Illustrator’s Mesh Tool. In the beginning, it could be quiet hard to work with, but if you get used to it, it’s fairly simple.  Using Adobe Illustrator will feel intuitive once you have mastered these tips and techniques.

Elegant gradient ribbon in Illustrator

One of the Duoh! dot com illustrations called Grafiek Grafik Grafico has this special shape which I thought would be ideal for an AI tutorial. A great way to learn how to create Adobe Illustrator designs.

How to Create Seamless Watermark Patterns

Watermarks play an important role in protecting your artwork. Generally, we do not give much attention towards a watermark’s appearance and use a text or a Logo to get the job done. A well designed and properly executed watermark can really protect the artwork without actually affecting its appearance. The best way to do this is pattern making. In this tutorial, we will cover two different watermark designs using the same pattern making technique.

Create a Vintage TV Set Icon in Illustrator

I have been living without a TV set for exactly three years and 8 months now. It’s great and I don’t miss a thing. Don’t get me wrong. I loved every awful program, every commercial, every useless newscast, but it was time for me to get on with my life. Like many other people, though, I love vintage appliances and cherish the memories associated with the old TV set we had when I was a kid. To celebrate that I decided to create a fun little icon in Adobe Illustrator. I hope you feel inspired by my Adobe Illustrator examples.

Craft a Vector Collegiate Notebook Design

Learn how to create a vector collegiate notebook design, which consists of a realistic vector notebook and accessories. It’s also the perfect base for creating a cool website header theme! Advanced knowledge of Adobe Illustrator is required to complete this tutorial.  Try this if you have a lot of experience with Illustrator work.

Bling Bling Text Effect

In this graphic design Illustrator tutorial, I’ll be teaching you how to create this eye-catching bling effect. You will learn how to create the texture and apply it to any text.

Create a Cute Baby Seal with Illustrator

Thus recites Frank Zappa’s “Nanook Rubs It” from the album Apostrophe (‘). Inspired by that line I put together in one of these cool Illustrator tutorials to teach you how to create a super cute baby seal.

Make an Eye-Popping Vector Eyeball

Need to improve your Illustrator skills? Learn to make an eye-popping vector eyeball with this intermediate Illustrator tutorial. We’ll use numerous Illustrator tools, including 3D tools, to create this illustration.

Just a few more Adobe Illustrator tutorials to check out.

How To Design A Hand-Drawn Vector Pattern Using Pencils, Photoshop And Illustrator

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about seamless patterns. Specifically, I’ve been working on various techniques for creating them. Obviously, there are a number of different ways you can go about this, and in this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to take a single hand drawn element and transform it into a highly flexible and editable seamless vector pattern.

Before really getting into the details, though, just be aware that the actual process can be pretty intensive. In addition to the time I spent writing this tutorial, I also invested several hours just in sketching and drawing.  If you are interested in illustrator background tutorials, this is a great option for you.

Craft a Delicious Chinese Food Icon

This AI tutorial will demonstrate how to craft a delicious Chinese food icon set. This tutorial requires a generous command of Adobe Illustrator’s tools. Let’s dig into this yummy icon design tutorial, which includes numerous vector illustration techniques.

Still unsure about what Adobe Illustrator can do? Check out this page from Adobe that shows exactly what you can do. Or these inspiring Illustrator artworks from various designers.

FAQ about Adobe Illustrator tutorials

How can I get started with Adobe Illustrator?

Well, buddy, starting with Adobe Illustrator is a piece of cake! To get going, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the interface, tools, and panels. There are tons of tutorials online for beginners that’ll guide you through basic operations like creating shapes, using the Pen tool, and managing layers. And don’t forget, practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting to get a feel for it!

What are the essential tools I should learn?

Hey there! When it comes to Illustrator, there are some key tools you’ll want to get comfortable with. These include the Selection and Direct Selection tools, the Pen tool, the Shape Builder tool, and the Pathfinder panel. Learning these will help you create and modify vector graphics like a pro! As you gain more experience, you’ll pick up other tools that fit your specific needs.

Can you recommend any great online tutorials?

Absolutely! There’s a wealth of online resources for learning Adobe Illustrator. Some top-notch ones include Adobe’s own Illustrator Tutorials page, Tutpad for step-by-step lessons, and Vector Tuts+ for a variety of topics. Also, don’t overlook YouTube – it’s packed with talented content creators like Dansky and Gigantic who offer easy-to-follow tutorials. Explore and find the ones that work best for you!

How do I create custom brushes in Illustrator?

Oh, custom brushes are so much fun! To make your own, first, create the artwork you want to use as the brush. Next, select your artwork and head over to the Brushes panel. Click the New Brush button, choose the brush type (Art, Pattern, Scatter, or Bristle), and hit OK. Tweak the settings in the brush options dialog box, and there you have it – your very own custom brush!

How can I improve my skills in using the Pen tool?

The Pen tool can be a little tricky at first, but no worries! To master it, start by practicing making simple shapes and curves. Pay attention to anchor points and control handles – they’re key to creating smooth paths. Check out tutorials specifically focused on the Pen tool, and try exercises like tracing objects or letterforms. With time and patience, you’ll be a Pen tool wizard!

What’s the best way to organize layers in Illustrator?

Layer management is essential for keeping your work tidy. To keep things organized, use layers and sublayers to separate different elements. Name your layers descriptively, and group related objects together. You can also color-code layers and use layer visibility and lock options to manage your workspace better. Trust me, future you will thank present you for being so organized!

How do I create a pattern in Illustrator?

Creating patterns is a breeze! First, design the elements you want in your pattern. Then, select them and go to Object > Pattern > Make. The Pattern Options panel will appear, allowing you to customize your pattern’s settings. Play with the tile type, spacing, and other options to get the look you want. Hit Done, and your pattern will be added to the Swatches panel, ready to use!

Can I use Illustrator for logo design?

You bet! Illustrator is perfect for logo design because it creates vector graphics, which are resolution-independent and can be scaled without losing quality. To design a logo, start with a concept, sketch it out, and then refine it using Illustrator’s tools. Remember to use a limited color palette, keep it simple, and make sure it’s versatile enough to work in various sizes and contexts.

Still hungry for Adobe Illustrator tutorials? How about some inspiration or related tips? Check out these articles:

• How to make an album cover – 46 artwork examples
• Best Business Card Designs – 300 Cool Examples and Ideas

Also, if you have a few great Adobe Illustrator tutorials that haven’t been featured in this article, let me know on Twitter. We should never have a shortage of cool Illustrator tutorials.