How to Create a Futuristic Racing Illustration in Sketch

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

Follow this tutorial to create a beautiful retro-futuristic style racing illustration. We’ll be using powerful Sketch drawing tools to create a futuristic composition with a desert landscape and racing hovercars.

By the end of this tutorial, you'll have learned how to combine simple vector shapes to create a fun and attractive illustration. Let's get started!

1. Set Up Your Document

As always let's start by creating our artboard. To do this, press A on the keyboard and draw an artboard sized at 850 px by 560 px.

2. Create Background

Select the Rectangle tool by pressing R on the keyboard and create a rectangle that is the same size as our artboard. Uncheck the borders, and then click on the Fill button and select Linear Gradient, using the Inspector Panel on the right.

For the top color stop, use #5D6AA4, and for the bottom color stop, use #ACE0EA.

3. Add Stars

Step 1

Let's add stars. To do that, we'll use different size circles. Grab the Oval (O) tool and start drawing stars. Don't forget to turn off borders using the Inspector Panel. For the colors, use #97C6CB and #F2CB89.

Step 2

Continue to add more stars, just as we did in the previous step, until you have something like this.

Select all the stars you've created and place them into a group using Command-G. Name this group "stars".

4. Create a Falling Star

Step 1

Go to Insert > Shape > Star and draw a triangle. For the color, use #FFFFFF.

Step 2

Next, pick the Vector (V) tool and draw a trail behind the triangle. Also use white (#FFFFFF) color.

Step 3

Change Fill to Linear Gradient using the following settings:

1 - Color: #FFFFFF; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #73FFFF; Alpha: 0%

Step 4

Apply Gaussian Blur with the Amount of 1 px to the trail, using the Inspector Panel.

Group both shapes into the "falling star" group.

5. Draw the Moon

Step 1

Let's create the moon. Grab the Oval (O) tool and draw a circle. Use #FFFFFF for the color.

Step 2

Again using the Oval (O) tool, draw craters over the moon. You can use any color for those circles. I've used #A9A9A9.

Step 3

Select all the circles (the moon shape and craters) and perform a Subtract operation from Layer > Combine > Subtract. Name the resulting shape "moon".

Step 4

Then, using the Inspector Panel on the right, change the Fill to Linear Gradient with the following settings:

1 - Color: #6C80B3; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #96C5CA; Alpha: 100%

6. Draw the Sun

Step 1

Use the Oval (O) tool to create the sun's outer glow by drawing a large circle at the bottom right corner of our artboard. Set the Fill to Linear Gradient using the settings:

1 - Color: #FAE8C7; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #F2C68B; Alpha: 100%

Step 2

Apply Gaussian Blur with the Amount of 5 px.

Step 3

Set the Opacity to 50%.

Step 4

Duplicate (Command-D) this circle, turn off Gaussian Blur, and set the Opacity back to 100%.

Duplicate outer glow and turn off gaussian blur and set opacity to 100

Step 5

Finally, scale it down a bit. Use the image shown below as a reference.

Select both circles and group them (Command-G) into "sun".

7. Create Sand Dunes

Step 1

Use the Vector (V) tool to create a shape as shown in the image below. Use #DB9C72 color. Name this shape "sand".

Step 2

Using the Oval (O) tool, draw an ellipse, and apply Linear Gradient for the Fill, with the following settings:

1 - Color: #C3736D; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #D99568; Alpha: 100%

Step 3

Draw another ellipse, but this time use the following settings for the Linear Gradient:

1 - Color: #DA896D; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #DCA474; Alpha: 100%

Step 4

Select both ellipses and the "sand" shape and choose Mask from the top toolbar. Here's what we have right now. Name the resulting group "dunes1".

8. Add More Sand Dunes

Step 1

Draw a shape as shown in the image below. Use #D79D73 for the color. Give this shape the name "sand2".

Step 2

Draw a rectangle using the Rectangle (R) tool. Set the Fill to Linear Gradient using the settings:

1 - Color: #D6806A; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #A3576D; Alpha: 100%

Step 3

Draw a shape as shown in the image below, using the Vector (V) tool. Use #D8D8D8 for the color.

Step 4

Select Linear Gradient for the Fill with the following settings:

1 - Color: #C5746D; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #D6866D; Alpha: 100%

Step 5

Apply a Linear Gradient to this shape. Click on the plus sign by the Fill title in the Inspector Panel to Add New Fill.

Here are the settings for the color stops:

1 - Color: #7A5E61; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #000000; Alpha: 0%

Step 6

Pick up the Vector (V) tool and draw one more shape. Again we'll apply Linear Gradient to this shape too. The settings are:

1 - Color: #B9707C; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #DBA374; Alpha: 100%

Step 7

At the end, select all the shapes that we've created in this step and select Mask from the top toolbar. Give this resulting group the name "dunes2".

9. Draw a Hovercar

Step 1

Draw a basic hovercar shape with the Vector (V) tool. Set the color to #AF191E.

Step 2

Let's add some highlights. Grab the Vector (V) tool and draw the shape shown in the image below. The color should be #E42A30.

Step 3

Select this and the hovercar shape and perform Mask from the top toolbar. The result of this masking operation is automatically placed into a new group in the Layers List on the left. Name this group "body".

Step 4

Make sure you're inside the "body". This way, everything we draw will be inside our "body" shape. Using the Vector (V) tool, create one more shape on top. For this shape, use a slightly darker red color, #DA1C23.

Step 5

Then pick up the Rectangle (R) tool and create a rectangle over the hovercar's nose. Make sure the color is #D8D8D8.

Step 6

Change the Blend mode to Multiply.

Step 7

Now let's add some details. Invoke the Line (L) tool and draw some lines. Use #A32C2D for the color and set the Thickness to 1 px.

Step 8

Then draw a shape as shown in the image below, using the Vector (V) tool. You can use any color; it really doesn't matter. I've used #FFFFFF.

Hovercar details - rectangle at the bottom

Step 9

Add a Shadow from the Inspector Panel. The settings are:

X: 2 px
Y: 0 px
Blur: 0 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 30%

Hovercar details rectangle at the bottom add shadow

Step 10

Then add another Shadow with the following values:

X: -1 px
Y: 0 px
Blur: 0 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 35%

Hovercar details rectangle at the bottom add second shadow

Step 11

At the end, set the Opacity of this shape to 0%.

Hovercar details rectangle at the bottom finished

Step 12

It's time to add some screws. Draw a circle using the Oval (O) tool. Set the color to #A32C2D.

Step 13

Add more circles by duplicating (Command-D) the one we just made. Use the image shown below as a reference.

10. Create Side Vents

Step 1

Just above the "body" group, draw a rectangle using the Rectangle (R) tool. For the color, use #C62128.

Step 2

Apply Shadow from the Inspector Panel. The values are:

X: 1 px
Y: 0 px
Blur: 1 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 60%

Step 3

Duplicate (Command-D) this shape 8 more times and place them as shown in the image below.

Step 4

Using the method explained above, create three more groups of side vents. Use the image shown below as a reference.

Select all the side vent shapes and group them into a "side vents" group.

11. Create the Side Exhaust

Step 1

Draw a rounded rectangle using the Rounded (U) tool. Set the Radius to 50 px, and for the color use #231F20.

Step 2

Using the Rotate tool from the top toolbar, rotate the rectangle 5°.

Step 3

Apply Inner Shadow:

X: 2 px
Y: 4 px
Blur: 6 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 50%

Step 4

Then Shadow:

X: -1 px
Y: -1 px
Blur: 1 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 50%

Step 5

And apply one more Shadow:

X: 1 px
Y: 1 px
Blur: 1 px
Color: #FFFFFF
Alpha: 10%

Step 6

Draw a circle using the Oval (O) tool. The color is #262626. Set the Borders position to Outside, Color to #FFFFFF, and Thickness to 1 px.

Step 7

Click on the Borders Color and switch it to Linear Gradient. For the color stops, use:

1 - Color: #CED0CF; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #777777; Alpha: 100%

Step 8

Give this circle an Inner Shadow with the following settings:

X: 3 px
Y: 2 px
Blur: 3 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 75%

Step 9

Duplicate (Command-D) this circle 5 more times and position them as shown in the image below.

Select all the shapes created in this step and Group (Command-G) them into "side exhaust".

12. Create the Back Exhaust

Step 1

Using the Vector (V) tool, draw a back exhaust shape. Color this shape with #3C3544.

Step 2

Draw a rectangle over the exhaust shape using the Rectangle (R) tool. For the color, use #5B5366.

Step 3

Then draw another one, but this time use #B6B6B6 for the color.

Step 4

Select the exhaust shape and both rectangles and apply a Mask operation from the top toolbar menu. Sketch will automatically put the result inside a group. Name this group "back exhaust".

Step 5

Let's finish this by adding exhaust gas. Pick up the Rectangle (R) tool and draw a grey (#D8D8D8) rectangle.

Step 6

Under the Fill, switch to Linear Gradient and use the following values for the color stops:

1 - Color: #BFE1E0; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #BFE0E0; Alpha: 50%

Step 7

Finally, move this rectangle inside and at the bottom of the "back exhaust" group in the Layers List.

13. Draw the Steering Wheel

Step 1

Using the Vector (V) tool, draw a steering wheel. For the color, use #2D2628. Name this shape "steering wheel".

Step 2

Place "steering wheel" below the "body" group in the Layers List on the left.

14. Create the Driver's Seat

Step 1

Pick up the Vector (V) tool and draw the shape of the driver's seat as shown in the image below. Set the color to #212121.

Step 2

Then, using the Vector (V) tool, create another shape over the seat shape. For this shape, use #979797.

Step 3

Select both shapes and apply the Mask operation from the top toolbar. Name this group "seat".

Step 4

Move "seat" also below the "body" group in the Layers List on the left.

15. Add Final Details

Step 1

First, using the Vector (V) tool, draw two triangles.

1 - Color: #CA181F; Alpha: 100%
2 - Color: #A60D19; Alpha: 100%

Step 2

Second, let's add a number to the hovercar. Grab the Oval (O) tool and draw a white (#FFFFFF) circle over the back side of the hovercar.

Step 3

Duplicate (Command-D) the circle, scale it down a bit, turn off Fill, and set the Border Color to #3A3A3A, Position to Center, and Thickness to 2 px.

Step 4

Finally, add the racing number. I’m using the Noto Sans free font, setting the Weight to Bold, Font Size to 50 px, and the Color to #181818 in the Inspector Panel.

Select both circles and the number and place them inside the group using Command-G. Give this group the name "number".

Step 5

The last detail we're going to add is a wing mirror. Again, invoke the Vector (V) tool and draw a wing mirror. Set the color to #C1181F.

Step 6

Add a Shadow using the Inspector Panel. The values are:

X: 0 px
Y: 1 px
Blur: 0 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 30%

Step 7

Next, draw two rectangles over the mirror shape to create highlights. Use these colors for the rectangles:

1 - Color: #DA1C23
2 - Color: #F13238

Step 8

Select the rectangles and the mirror shape and then choose Mask in the top toolbar. Rename the resulting group to "wing mirror".

Step 9

Our hovercar is now finished, and this what we have right now.

Step 10

Pick up the Oval (O) tool and draw an ellipse to create a shadow below the hovercar. Use #000000 color.

Step 11

Set Blending to Multiply, Opacity to 10%, and give it a Gaussian Blur with the Amount of 2 px.

16. Draw the Driver

Step 1

Grab the Vector (V) tool and draw the driver's silhouette. We'll only draw the part that is going to be visible in our illustration. Color it with #E7AC88.

Step 2

Let's create the driver's suit. Again, using the Vector (V) tool, roughly draw a shape over the silhouette. It doesn't have to be perfect since we're going to use a mask operation to keep it in place. I'm using #F1DCB6 color for the suit.

Step 3

Select both shapes in the Layers List and perform a Mask operation from the top toolbar. As you can remember, the result is automatically placed inside a group. Rename this group "silhouette".

Step 4

Let's add some creases and shadows to the driver's suit. Make sure you're inside the "silhouette" group, pick up the Vector (V) tool, and draw two shapes as shown in the image below. Use #D5957A for the color.

Add creases and shadows to a driver suit

Step 5

Next, draw a shape over the hand to create a glove. Color the glove with #1A5E4F.

Step 6

Let's move on. Above the "silhouette" group, draw a helmet shape using the mighty Vector (V) tool. Color the helmet with the same dark green color that we used for the gloves.

Step 7

Draw a small ellipse to create some shine. Use #FFFFFF for the color and set the Opacity to 80%.

Keep things clean and tidy and group the helmet shape and shine into the "helmet" group.

Step 8

Now let's create goggles. One more time, we'll use the Vector (V) tool. I'm using #FFBB6E color for the goggles.

Step 9

Give the goggles a light Shadow with the following settings:

X: 0 px
Y: 1 px
Blur: 0 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 10%

Step 10

Then, again using the Vector (V) tool, draw a lens shape. Use #363636 for the lens color.

Step 11

Add an Inner Shadow from the Inspector Panel. Use the following settings:

X: 1 px
Y: 2 px
Blur: 3 px
Color: #000000
Alpha: 50%

Place the goggles shape and lens into the "goggles" group.

Step 12

Use the Vector (V) tool to outline the scarf. Fill the shape with #FFBB6E color.

Step 13

Create stripes using the Vector (V) tool. Set the color of the stripes to #ED5701.

Step 14

Select the scarf shape and stripes and click on Mask in the top toolbar. Name the resulting layer "scarf".

Step 15

Select all the groups that we used to create the driver and group them into the "driver" group using Command-G.

In the Layers List, place the "driver" group above the "steering wheel" shape and below the "seat" group.

17. Create a "Racer" Group

This is where our proper naming and grouping comes in handy. Select all the groups and shapes that form our hovercar, along with the "driver" group, and place them all into a new "racer" group.

18. Add Another "Racer"

Step 1

Duplicate (Command-D) the "racer" group to add another racer to our illustration. Quickly change the colors of the hovercar and the driver's equipment, and also change the number on the hovercar. Rename this group to something like "second racer". Use the image shown below as a guide.

Step 2

Scale it down, and then rotate it using Scale and Rotate from the top toolbar, and position it as shown in the image below.

Step 3

Finally, lower the Opacity to 90%, and move it below our original racer in the Layers List.

19. Create Speed Trails

Step 1

To create a sense of high speed, we'll add speed trails. So grab the Rectangle (R) tool and draw a rectangle. Change Fill to Linear Gradient and use these values:

1 - Color: #D9B6A0; Alpha: 30%
2 - Color: #88AEC0; Alpha: 30%