How to Create a Cafe Illustration in Adobe Illustrator

Everybody has their own way of relaxing and enjoying their life. One of my favorite times of the day is taking a sip of morning coffee—this is pretty much the only time when I can sit back and read some books because once that time’s over, I’m in my Wonder Woman gear trying to get everything done. 

In this tutorial, I want to share this special moment by illustrating a lady who is relaxing with her coffee. While creating this illustration, you'll learn to manipulate shapes and also get acquainted with the Width Tool, which I haven’t used before in my previous tutorials. As usual, we will use basic shapes and the Warp Effect.

Why don't you browse through GraphicRiver and find more characters? Maybe you will decide to make another hair style or even clothes, who knows...

1. How to Create the Head

Step 1

After opening the Adobe Illustrator, create a new document with 850 x 850 px Width and Height. We’ll begin by illustrating the head.

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), draw an oval. In the image below, you can see which fill color you need. To give the head an irregular shape, go to Effect > Warp > Inflate. Enter the options you see below.

Step 2

Let’s start by drawing the top part of the hair. Draw two cream ovals with the Ellipse Tool (L). Take the Direct Selection Tool (A) and move the handles of the anchor points to create the shape you want.

Step 3

To create long hair, make another cream oval and change its shape: go to Effect > Warp > Inflate. Enter the options shown below. Be sure to place this oval behind the head (Control-C, Control-B).

Step 4

Let’s make a hair band. Create two more circles by using the Ellipse Tool (L), and make them overlap as in the image below. Go to the Pathfinder panel and press the Minus Front button.

Step 5

Place this hair band on the hair. 

Now we will add the ears. Make another small oval and rotate it to the left. Place this ear on the left side of the head. While keeping the left ear selected, right-click your mouse and select Transform > Reflect. Once you get a dialogue box, select Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and press Copy. Move the new ear to the right.

Step 6

For the dreamy, relaxed eyes, create an oval. Then grab the Scissors Tool (C) and click on the left and right sides of the ellipse. Delete the upper part of the ellipse by pressing the Delete button on your keyboard. You should be left with an arc. Increase the stroke Weight and check Round Cap on the Stroke panel. 

To add the eyelashes, make a copy of this arc, decrease the stroke weight, and attach it to the left corner of the larger arc. Make another copy of this small arc. Our romantic eye is ready.

Step 7

Place the left eye on the face and create the right eye. Right-click your mouse and select Transform > Reflect. Once you get a dialogue box, select Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and press Copy. Move the new eye to the right.

Step 8

Now the lips. Let’s create a little matte red ellipse and by using the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C), make the left and right anchor points sharp by clicking them. After that, select those two anchor points again (with the Direct Selection Tool (A)) and move them up by pressing the Up Arrow on your keyboard.

For the upper lip, create another small red ellipse. Select the top and bottom anchor points with the Direct Selection Tool (A)) and move to the right by pressing the Right Arrow on your keyboard. Make a reflected copy of this shape: right-click your mouse and select Transform > Reflect. In the dialogue box, select Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and hit Copy. Move this copy to the right. The lips are ready. 

(Note: You don't need the black strokes—it’s just to show you the shape and the placement).

Place the lips on the face.

Step 9

Let’s give the lady a pair of glasses.

Create an oval with a dark gray stroke color and no fill. To create the shape shown below, move the handles of the anchor points by using the Direct Selection Tool (A). Add a line from the left side of this shape using the Line Segment Tool (\). 

Then create the right part of the glasses, just as we’ve been doing in the previous steps: right-click, Transform > Reflect. In the dialogue box, select Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and hit Copy. Move this copy to the right. Use the Arc Tool to make the middle part of the glasses and attach the lenses together. An elegant pair of glasses is ready. You can play with the shape of the frames to create a unique pair of glasses you like.

Now place the pair of glasses on the face.

2. How to Create the Body

Step 1

Let’s start by creating the neck and the shoulders. For the neck, create a rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M) and attach it to the head. After that, create a horizontal oval (use the Ellipse Tool (L)) and attach it to the neck.

Step 2

In this step, we will create the lady’s body. Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool, create a gray rounded rectangle. Let’s modify the bottom part of this shape. We’ll use the Fish effect: go to Effect > Warp > Fish and enter the options below.

Step 3

To create the arms, we will start with an arc. First, delete the fill color and set the stroke color similar to the body color. Check Round Cap on the Stroke panel and make the Weight of this stroke very thick. Now, using the Arc Tool, draw the woman's arms. Move the handles of the anchor points to achieve the result you need.

Step 4

Let’s continue drawing the arms.

Using the Line Segment Tool (/), create the lower part of the right arm. Then using the Arc Tool, create the left arm.

Now we will modify these shapes so that this part is a bit thinner than the upper arm. Select the Width Tool (Shift-W) and when you place the mouse over the woman's wrist, you will see new handles. If you move these handles outside the line, the width of the line will increase on one end. If you move anchor points inside the line, the width will decrease. So go ahead and make the arms a little thinner around the wrist area.

Step 5

For the hands, we will use two ovals, which will be modified by manipulating their handles. Remember to delete the stroke color and set the fill color. 


Here's a closer look at the handle positions for the lady’s right hand.

Step 6

Now we will create the cup. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle. Keep it selected and go to Effect > Warp > Bulge. Adjust the options as shown in the image below. Remove the fill color and make the same stroke. Increase the stroke on the Stroke panel and draw a circle (for a nice round circle you need to hold down the Shift key). That’s the handle.

Place the cup under the lady’s right hand, but over the body.

3. How to Create the Hips and Legs

Step 1

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), make an oval and attach it to the bottom part of the body. Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), move both side anchor points down. That's the hips.

Step 2

Let’s make the legs.

Grab the Line Segment Tool (\), and draw two vertical lines. To get a straight line, hold the Shift key as you draw the line. Remember to remove the fill color and choose the same stroke color as the skin color. Before drawing, be sure to check the Round Cap button on the Stroke panel and adjust the appropriate Weight of the stroke. To change the thickness of the legs, select the Width Tool (Shift-W) and move the handles to make the upper part of the leg thicker and the bottom ankle part a bit thinner.

Step 3

For the shoes, draw an oval with the Ellipse Tool (L) and place it behind the leg. Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), move the handles of the oval to create the shape which will look like a shoe. Feel free to design your favorite shoes!

4. How to Create the Background and the Table

Step 1

Create a light blue square behind the woman, 850 px Width and Height, by using the Rectangle Tool (M).

Step 2

For the table top, add a white rounded rectangle by using the Rounded Rectangle Tool.

Step 3

Add two vertical rectangles by using the Rectangle Tool (M), for the table legs.

Step 4

For the table decoration, add two spirals next to the table legs by using the Spiral Tool. If you don't see this tool, hold the Line Segment Tool (\) for a few seconds, and a pop-up menu will appear—then you can select the Spiral Tool.

Click on your artboard and a new dialogue window will appear, asking you about the Radius of your spiral, Decay and Segments. I recommend playing with different Decay and Segments to find out what you like the most. Select the Round Cap button on the Stroke panel and adjust the appropriate stroke Weight for this spiral. Create one spiral and make another vertical copy of it.

5. How to Create the Chair

Step 1

For the seat of the chair, create a rounded rectangle using the Rounded Rectangle Tool.

Step 2

For the back of the chair, create an oval with no fill and white stroke by using the Ellipse Tool (L). Place this oval behind the table and the lady. Slightly modify the oval shape by moving up its bottom anchor point.

Step 3

To add the chair legs, create a vertical rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (M) and a horizontal rounded rectangle with the Rounded Rectangle Tool.

Step 4

To decorate the chair, add two spirals on the bottom part of the chair’s leg. Create one spiral by using the Spiral Tool and make a vertical copy with the Reflect Tool (O).

Awesome Work, You're Done!

We are done! Great job! I hope you’ve enjoyed the process of illustrating using Adobe Illustrator and learned some new tips and tricks, which you can use in the future! Now it’s time to relax and grab a cup of coffee. Enjoy, have fun, and don’t forget to share your art with us!