Illustrating a Summer Field Landscape

8/7/2019 Illustrating a Summer Field Landscape

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Illustrating a summer field landscape

In this Illustrator tutorial I will show you how to draw a summer outdoor landscapeenvironment.Final image:

Here's how you do it:

1. First we will create a border for the image that will keep everything we draw withina nice clean shape. Start by drawing two rectangles with the Rounded RectangleTool. You can use the Pathfinder Palette like in step 2 to make a traditional matte orthe more simple technique is to make just one rectangle with a really thick stroke.


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2. Select both rectangles and then in the Pathfinder Palette click on "Substract fromShape area" and then click on expand. Now make the new shape white and place iton it's own layer and keep all other layers below it. As we continue throughout thetutorial you can make new layers as you see fit to place your different objects on. Iwill leave that up to your discretion; as such, I won't be pointing out when we makenew layers.


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3. Draw a new rectangle and apply to it a blue gradient. This is the basis of what willbecome the sky. Note that this looks like a rounded corner rectangle because it isbehind the matte layer.


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4.Using the Pen Tool (P) draw some wavy shapes on the scene that will become thegrass.


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5. Now to make the bushes. Using the Pen Tool draw an abstract shape like below.

6. Select the new shape and go to Effects -> Distort & Transform -> Zig Zag and putin the settings below or you can experiment to get something different.


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7. Next we will make a few variations of the bush shape. First copy it two times andthen fill the copies with slightly different gradients. Finally double-click on Zig Zag inthe Appearance palette and play with the settings a bit to vary each shape.

8. Select the 3 shapes and go to Object -> Expand Appearance. This will lock the ZigZag effect we applied.

9. Now place the 3 shapes on a new layer behind the grass field and scatter them


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arround however you would like them to look. A simple way to copy them arround isto hold down the Alt key while dragging the shape. This will make a copy of it in therelease spot.

10. Next we will create the sun rays. Start by drawing a hourglass shape like below.


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11. Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+D to open the Transform window, put in the settings asbelow and press Copy.


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12. Repeat the previous step until you get a full circle.


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13. Go to Object -> Envelope Distort -> Make with Warp (Ctrl+Shift+Alt+W), selectTwist and set Bend to 100%.


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14. Move this shape over the scene, go to Object -> Expand Appearance and click

OK.


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15. Set the fill color to white and Opacity to 10%.


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16. Now to make the Sun: draw a circle and apply a Radial gradient to it.


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17. Duplicate the Sun (press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+F to paste in front)

18. Set the fill color to yellow and then go to Effect - > Blur -> Gaussian Blur.


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Conclusion

You should now have a better insight into what it takes to use simple shapes, color,and gradients to create a summer landscape environment. A pleasing illustration isnot always about intricacy, one of the most rudimentary factors is composition. Keeppracticing, learning, and continue to have fun.


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Illustrating a Summer Field Landscape