Adobe Illustrator tutorial: pen tool practice guide

There's no doubt, the pen tool is by far the most valuable tool within Adobe Illustrator. It is also the hardest tool to master. When I started learning Illustrator in school, my teacher made us spend an entire class period tracing a bunch of lines in order to get comfortable with the tool. I have created a similar practice guide so you can start getting comfortable and learn how to become a master with the pen tool.

Don't get discouraged. It's tough but you just have to keep drawing and keep using it. Pretty soon it will become second nature.  It's worth taking the extra time because you can use it for SO many different things. 

You can download the beginner's practice guide here and then just "place" the PNG download inside a new Illustrator document.  In the video I will walk you through the best techniques for each shape.

I have also added an intermediate practice guide for those of you that have become comfortable with the beginners practice guide.

---

more ways to learn...

The Ultimate Illustrator Resource Guide

$15.99

Get access to over 150 links to FREE tutorials, FREE templates, FREE vector downloads, money making ideas, merchandise and books!!

FREE ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIAL VIDEOS

-64 links to Illustrator VIDEO Tutorials

-Beginners Techniques

-Intermediate Techniques

-Pen Tool

-Logo Design

-Create Your Own Font

-Social Media Graphics

-Design & Layout 

ILLUSTRATOR PAID LEARNING INVESTMENTS

-10 links to online Illustrator investments (paid learning)

FREE ILLUSTRATOR DESIGN ASSETS

-25 links to FREE templates

-15 links to FREE brushes (some links have 50+ brushes)

-25 links to FREE vector icons

-10 links to FREE font websites

ILLUSTRATOR CAREERS

-25 links to money making ideas using Illustrator

-10 links to help you get started freelanceing

-9 links to help you build a strong portfolio

-10 links to the best Illustrator design portfolios

ILLUSTRATOR GOOD READS

-5 top selling Illustrator paper books to curve your cravings 

Illustrator MERCH

- 9 links to some cool Illustrator inspired merchandise​

Shop

Complete Beginner's Guide To Adobe Illustrator

$15.99

This PDF eBook includes 37 pages of my written guidance for everything a complete beginner will need to know in order to function and start creating vector graphics with Adobe Illustrator. ​

• CHAPTER 1: Creating a New Document
• CHAPTER  2: Customizing Your Workspace
• CHAPTER 3: Tool Infographic (function of each tool)
• CHAPTER 4: Color Basics (how to change colors, use swatches and PMS colors)
•  CHAPTER 5: Manipulating Type and Text
•  CHAPTER 6: Rulers, Guides and Grids
•  CHAPTER 7: How to Group Objects, Create Compound Paths and Clipping Masks
•  CHAPTER 8: Mastering the PEN TOOL!!
•  CHAPTER 9: How to turn raster images into vector graphics using Image Trace
•  CHAPTER 10: How to Save (and/or) Export Your Documents Correctly

Shop

---

You may also enjoy...