You guys! I recovered the video!
(If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I tell the whole video saga at the end of this post).
Anytime I see a video – whether it’s a makeup tutorial, lettering sample, photo editing – I tune in. I love watching the creative process of an artist doing his/her thing. I look for tips that I can use and find I’m much more confident trying the technique out after I’ve watched someone else do it.
While creating the illustration for the Blueberry Muffin recipe art print, I video screen-captured while I worked. I did this once before with the Christmas Essentials print to show how I turn watercolor paintings into a digital print and this time I wanted to show how I create the drawings straight from the computer.
I use Adobe Illustrator – which I love so much that I teach a Simplified Class on it (more below). Some graphic artists prefer a tablet to sketch with; I just use my regular wireless mouse. My drawing style is a little on the cartoony/not-realistic side, so precision is not a huge concern.
Okay! Ready to see how the Blueberry Muffin illustration was made?
Wasn’t that fun?!
Let me remind you of a few things:
- While art/drawing/creating has always been my thing, I really don’t think it takes a special talent to illustrate using this technique. You can do it!
- I sped the video up by 900%. So basically, what looks like it happened really quickly actually took me over an hour. Slow and steady wins the race.
- There is so much more to share with you about designing using Adobe Illustrator. I want to teach you all the things to encourage and empower you to try it! If you’ve ever had the desire (or need) to make graphics, illustrations, logos, collages, art prints, invitations, (the list goes on), you’ll love the Simplified Graphic Design class.
You don’t have to start right away and there is no expiration for the class, so really, once you join you can begin when it works for your schedule.
I’d love to answer any questions you have about the classes or the illustration process or anything else graphic design related in the comments. Ask away!
Wow, that was impressive! Thank you so much for posting that video! Glad you were able to recover it.
I love this. Really fun to watch you do your thing. I used to design blogs using Illustrator and we work very similarly! I miss it!
http://carolynvdesign.blogspot.com/
Wow that’s amazing! I’m excited to be as familiar with the program as you are some day :)
Oh my GOSH I LOVE WATCHING THAT!!!! I, like you, LOVE watching videos of artists doing their “thing”! So not only did I love the video, I LOVED what you created! I NEVER thought about using reference pictures like you did to draw from though. Sounds silly that i never thought about doing that now. Anyway, thanks a million for sharing and PLEASE DO MORE!!!!!!
Hugs!
G
Oh my gosh, that was so fun to watch. I’m going to go practice with the pen tool now. ;)
Mind blown! This video is amazing! I’m making my way through your graphic design class (loving it btw!) and after seeing this I feel ready to tackle something new and beyond my current abilities. Thank you so much for sharing you process.
-Kaitlin
Thanks for sharing it! I feel so inspired! Loved it!
so cool, loved watching this video! makes me want to illustrate again!
http://www.katelynryan.com
I’d love to know who inspires you!
Really cool! I loved the printable you shared the other day, and I think I love this video even more!
I agree that it doesn’t take a ton of talent to draw with Illustrator. I used a similar method the other day, downloading an image and tracing it in Illustrator, and I was so pleased with the results. If I had tried to draw it on paper it would have been a mess. :-)
Oh Emily xxx Thank you so much for sharing! Your video is awesome and inspiring. I just love your work and seriously keen to do your course. Im in Australia and have a family holiday planned next week so this might be my perfect holiday read! Thank you again….brilliant xxx
I love that you made and shared a video! Thank you! I have lots of experience with InDesign, but I keep coming back to learn more about Illustrator from your blog. I love your style and the fact that you share so much. I’m saving my pennies for the projects class!
So talented! I bought the illustrator class from you quite awhile ago and never finished it. This is inspiring me to get going on it!! Thanks for sharing your talents!
This is SOOOO cool!! And fun to watch!
Emily, you are so talented! You inspire me to try harder and to never stop believing that I can do it. My blogging journey started when I realized I wanted to make it a career and since then it’s been ups and downs. Thanks for being a great role model!
This was SO good, Emily!!! So excited to sign up for the 2nd class! I’m a graduate of the 1st;)
I love that you made and shared a video! I have lots of experience in InDesign, but I keep coming back to learn from you about Illustrator. I’m saving my pennies for when I can take your projects class. I love your style and how much you share and teach!
Emily, you are so humble. That does take talent & you have an eye for awesome style which is in everything you do. I can’t wait to take blueberry muffins so to people with this adorable card! Thank you for sharing!
This is so fun to watch!
Can you tell me (because the movie is so fast it is difficult to see) which tool you use when use make the outline from an image of a ‘real’ product?
I use the pencil tool.
Emily, do you use a pen or the mouse for your drawing? If so, what do you use?
I use the mouse for everything!
Emily, will you be offering this class again? I just bought a silhouette cameo so this class is not in my budget right now, but I do want to take it. I think it will help a lot with using the cameo actually.
Yes! We’ll offer it again this summer.
Holy Moly! That – that was amazing and inspiring and.. just wow! What a fabulous advert for your courses if ever I saw one!
Ok, LOVED the video. What’s an estimate of how long it took you to create the recipe card (and I know your quick cause you are an ace at the program…I’m just curious). (:
It took me a little over an hour – but I pulled a few illustrations I had already created.
Love love love! The graphic recipes are my favorite!! I so love your style! Ive had the class for awhile now and still need to dig in!!
In the class do you give instructions for use with Apple products as well?
All of the videos are done using my mac, but illustrator works great on a pc as well. I share shortcuts for both mac + pc.
You are so sweet for sharing this video! I loved watching it and am inspired to use your tips for my next blog post. I’m hoping to feature my 90 year old mother-in-laws wonderful chocolate Easter eggs. It would look so cute to sketch them this way!
Your blog is a blessing!!
So fun! Please share the link if you post!
Thank you for sharing this with us! I loved watching you create. and thank you for the classes. I can’t draw a straight line, but with the help of illustrator and your instruction, I have been able to create some artsy prints. Yay!
Hi! How does Adobe illustrator differ from Adobe InDesign?
Thanks in advance!
There is a bit of overlap between most of the Adobe products, so I know there are people who do great design using photoshop or indesign and they are quite happy with the software. Illustrator’s unique function is creating vectors – a series of anchors and paths that make up lines. They are not pixels and therefore can be expanded or reduced without any change in quality. InDesign is best known for working with text, images and layout (like for magazines). I hope this helps!