Texture with brushes

Continue from "Intro to Brushes"

This project continues with the file from "Intro to Brushes"

Learn about Highlights and Shadows

• Highlights: When light hits an object it forms highlights where it directly touches the object.

• Shadows: The areas that are hidden from the light are shadows. Shadows are formed by the object itself blocking the light.

• Light: Always try and determine where the light is coming from in order to get the proper placement of highlights and shadows.

Light

Decide where the light is going to be coming from.

1. • In my example, I will show light coming from the top left.

Add Highlights

1. Layer: In your "Layers" panel on the right side, click on your "Highlights and Shadows" layer.

2. No Fill: Click on the "Fill" box and click the "none" box with the red line through it.

3. White outline/stroke: Double click the "Outline/Stroke" square on the bottom of the left toolbar to open the "Color Picker" and choose white.

4. Paintbrush: Using your "Paintbrush Tool" draw highlights on the owl.

   • • You should draw the white highlights on non-white areas.

     • Think about where the light is coming from and where it would hit.

       • Example (Light coming from the top left):

         • top of the head

         • top left of the left eye and pupil

         • left side of face

         • top left side belly

         • top left of beak

Add Shadows

1. Dark outline/stroke: Double click the "Outline/Stroke" square on the bottom of the left toolbar to open the "Color Picker" and choose a darker color.

2. Paintbrush: Using your "Paintbrush Tool" draw shadows on the owl.

   1. • Think about where the light is coming from and where there would be no light (shadows).

        • Example (Light coming from the top left):

          • bottom right side of the belly

          • bottom right side of face

          • bottom right of eye

          • right side of beak

Add a Background Texture

1. Layer: In your "Layers" panel on the right side, click on your "Backg. Texture" layer.

2. Texture: Using the "Paintbrush Tool" draw lines and zigzags and squiggles.

Add a Brush Texture

1. Open the "Brushes" panel by:

   • Top menu: Going to "Window" > "Brushes" in the top menu

   • Keyboard: Clicking the "F5" key on your keyboard

   • Right toolbar: Clicking on the icon that looks like brushes in a cup

2. Select all: Using the "Selection Tool" click outside the artboard, hold, and drag down to the other side to select all

3. Choose a Brush:

   • Click on the "Brush Libraries Menu" icon (looks like three books) in the bottom left of the "Brushes" panel.

   • Pick a brush from one of the following libraries:

     • "Artistic"

       • "Artistic_ChalkCharcoalPencil"

       • "Artistic_Ink"

       • "Artistic_Paintbrush"

       • "Artistic_ScrollPen"

       • "Artistic_Watercolor"

     • "Bristle Brush" > "Bristle Brush Library"

     • "Vector Packs"

       • "Grunge brushes vector pack"

       • "Hand Drawn brushes vector pack"

Save as .aic and .pdf

1. Go to "File" > "Save" to make sure to save your .aic file (if it is grayed out then it is already saved).

2. Go to "File" > "Save As..."

3. Choose "On your computer"

4. Click "Creative Cloud Files" folder on the left menu

5. Name: "Last Name, Texture with Brushes"

6. Click "Save"

7. Click "Save PDF"

8. Once you save as a .pdf, exit out of Illustrator. If you need to edit again and resave, make sure to edit your .aic file and re-save as a .pdf.