One thing I absolutely love - about Illustrator is how many ways you can be creative in it.
You can create simple shapes that become building blocks - for whatever you want to create.
In Illustrator there are a lot of tools - you can use to make the shapes you just saw - that make up that artwork.
But what if we want to create - more freeform looking or what we call hand-drawn artwork like this or this?
That's where a wide range of other tools, - what we call our drawing tools come into play.
Your drawing tools are found here - in the Toolbar on the left and the main drawing tools are - the Curvature Tool, the Paintbrush Tool, the Blob Brush Tool, the Pencil Tool and a tool you may have heard of before - the Pen Tool.
Now, just because I say drawing tools doesn't mean you need to be - a professional artist to use these.
They're here to make fantastic artwork - in Illustrator easier.
You might be asking yourself, - why do we need so many drawing tools?
Each of these tools - lets you create differently, as you'll see.
But you can use them together - to make anything.
Let me take you on a quick tour - of these drawing tools.
We'll begin with something - that you can get creative with right now.
We'll start with the Pencil Tool.
It's over here in the Toolbar - under the Paintbrush Tool.
Using it, - is like drawing with a pencil on paper.
These butterfly wings you see here, - those were drawn with the Pencil Tool.
Now, with some drawing tools, you can start by setting Tool Options - to work the way you like.
You can then draw what you want and even redraw parts.
Not only can you draw curvy lines - with this tool, but you can also draw straight lines - by pressing the Alt or Option key.
Like the other drawing tools, - Pencil Tools make what we call a path.
Now, one of my favorite drawing tools - is the Blob Brush Tool.
I love the name.
These flowers were created - using the Blob Brush Tool.
This tool is also - for creating freeform shapes, but you can use it like a marker - or even a crayon to fill in areas and merge shapes to create new ones.
The next tool is called - the Paintbrush Tool.
You can see it here.
The great thing - about the Paintbrush Tool is you can apply a brush to a path - before you even draw to give that path some texture.
It's also for drawing more freeform patterns - like you saw with the Pencil Tool.
Now these tools are fun, but what if you want to control - what you're drawing with more precision?
Then you need to take a look - at the Curvature and Pen Tools.
Let's start with the easier of the two, - the Curvature Tool.
This cupcake was created - using the Curvature Tool.
Now the Curvature Tool - is an intuitive drawing tool.
It allows you to create more precise paths - without having to switch tools.
Instead of just dragging - like the Pencil or Paintbrush Tools, you click to create and edit points.
Where you want the path to change you can add in your point, - or even delete points.
It makes curves by default, - but you can also make straight lines with it.
Now, the last tool we'll look at - is the Pen Tool.
It's the most powerful - of the drawing tools and a tool that most people think of - when I say drawing.
This whale was made with the Pen Tool.
Now, with the Pen Tool, - you can make and edit points to create paths - like you saw with the Curvature Tool.
But with the Pen Tool - you press and drag to make curves.
You have total control over the path using these little handles - called direction lines.
Like I said earlier, - all these tools can be used together to make an edit paths - depending on what you need.
As you learn some of the drawing tools, - you'll gravitate toward your favorites but know that they all - create paths and shapes each just has special characteristics - that make them unique.
Now it's your turn.
Start exploring these drawing tools.
Take your first steps toward - creating something amazing in Illustrator. -
