Premium Tutorial: Parrot

In the following steps, you will learn how to create a realistic and colorful parrot. We’ll start with some simple shapes by using basic tools. Once we have the starting shapes, we’ll add depth and shades using the complex gradients, masking and vector shape building techniques along with some effects. Finally, you will learn how to add some extra highlights and shadows for your colorful parrot. Now let’s start!

(Clubdeportestolima)

Difficulty: Intermediate
Requirements: Adobe Illustrator

What will you get?

Instant download of PDF e-book (36 pages, 56 steps)
Comes with Ai file for easy reference
Detailed step by step tutorial to draw a nice realistic parrot

Tutorial Preview:

Create a New Document

1. Launch Illustrator and press (Ctrl + N) to create a New document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 820 in the width box and 760 in the height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.

Create the Main Objects

2. Start by drawing a 337px by 704px ellipse using the Ellipse Tool (L). Next, pick the Line Segment Tool (\) and use it to create a horizontal and vertical path. Reselect the three newly created objects, open the Align palette (Window > Align), and click on the Horizontal Align Center button and then click on the Vertical Align Center button. Now, select the horizontal path, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it and then move the duplicate to 210px up. Reselect the remaining horizontal path and move it 90px down.

3. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and use it to create objects as shown in the images below.

Create the Beak

4.With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create an object as you can see in the first image. Once your object is drawn, reselect it and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a -2px Offset and then click OK. Next, pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and adjust the newly created object to get the result as shown in the third image below. Once you are done with adjusting the smaller object of the beak, fill the two newly created objects with the linear gradient. Reselect the smaller object of the beak and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 2px Radius and then click OK.

5. Now we'll create the shine of the beak's surface. Use the Pen Tool (P) to draw an object as shown in the first image below. Once your object is drawn, fill it with the linear gradient. Make sure that your newly created shape is still selected and go to the Effect > Texture > Grain. Follow the data as shown below and then click OK. Keep the resulting shape selected. Go to the Effect > Stylize > Feather. Enter a 3px Radius and then click OK.

6. Next is the lower mandible. Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an object and fill it with the linear gradient as shown below. To add highlights on the lower mandible, initially draw an object as shown in the third image. Next, fill this object with R=221, G=194, B=172 and then apply a 1px Gaussian Blur for the result.

7. To add some details for the beak, create a yellow path as shown below. Once your path is drawn, fill it with none and add a 1px stroke (apply the linear gradient along stroke) and then apply the Width Profile 3 for the result. Keep the resulting path selected. Go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 1px Radius and then click OK. Now make a duplicate of the newly created object. Replace the existing stroke color of it with the new linear gradient and then remove the Gaussian Blur effect. Make sure that the newly created object is still selected. Go to the Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag. Follow the data as shown in the third image below and then click OK.