In this tutorial, you will have the opportunity to learn how to use the Gradient Mesh Tool to draw a Halloween banner.

If you'd like to skip this tutorial and just use this banner and three others in your work, you can go ahead and simply purchase Four Halloween Banners from GraphicRiver!

1. How to Draw the Jack O'Lantern

Step 1

To draw the pumpkin, consult my How to Create a Thanksgiving Background with a Pumpkin and Leaves in Adobe Illustrator tutorial.

• Gradient Mesh Tool
  How to Create a Thanksgiving Background With a Pumpkin and Leaves in Adobe Illustrator
  Vladimir Galantsev

Modify the pumpkin with Effect > Warp > Inflate, using -18% Bend.

Use Object > Expand Appearance afterwards.

Step 2

Begin drawing the cutouts with Mesh.

Create an orange rectangle—the color is #F29F31.

Next, grab the Mesh Tool (U). Click to create nodes, which in turn create a Mesh Grid. When you have a thick enough mesh grid, grab the edges of the rectangle and move them to make the shape look like the one below.

Once you're done with the shaping, select the nodes on the right edge (they are already colored differently in the screenshot) and color them with #4E2414.

Next, select the nodes that are darker (they're selected below) and proceed to change their color to #AD681B.

Always make sure to select the nodes that are selected in each screenshot below and apply the corresponding color to them!

Step 3

Continue using Mesh. Use these colors:

1. #401A05
2. #F29F31
3. #5E210B

Step 4

Draw one more part.

1. #C26B10
2. #4E2414
3. #F29F31

Step 5

Combine the elements we made.

Step 6

Continue using Mesh.

1. #FFB83A
2. #6F3710
3. #DD8D1C
4. #C15F21
   

Step 7

1. #8A2600
2. #4C0F01
3. #C35F22
4. #B1511C
   

Step 8

Add a #2E1A0B triangle and create the next part.

Step 9

1. #F4AD24
2. #3D1B06
3. #823E06
4. #E88015
   

Step 10

1. #F4AD24
2. #491805
3. #A96F1D
4. #E98316
   

Step 11

1. #F4AD24
2. #491805
3. #E97723
4. #76360C
5. #A96F1D
   

Step 12

1. #E9971E
2. #2E150C
3. #EB8023
4. #F6B833
   

Step 13

Add a #381904 part to complete the look.

Step 14

Place the elements onto the pumpkin.

2. How to Complete the Banner

Step 1

Draw a spider's web with the Pen Tool. Use the #280707 color.

Step 2

Use a specific Stroke profile to draw black branches.

Step 3

Create a dead tree out of the branches, and then Expand them and Unite them in the Pathfinder panel.

Step 4

Draw a black house with #FFCD34 windows.

Step 5

Draw the moon. To create this round Mesh grid, begin with a rectangle and bend that into a circle.

Color it with these colors:

1. #FDEEA4
2. #FFD577
3. #F9E682
4. #FEF5C8

Set it to 80% Opacity.

Step 6

Draw the Mesh banner.

1. #F69F31
2. #B5211D
3. #FDE89A
   

Step 7

Add a black border.

Step 8

Add all the details. You can learn to draw the bats in this tutorial of mine:

• How to Draw a Spooky Halloween Background in Adobe Illustrator

  In this tutorial you will learn how to create a vector spooky Halloween background using the Mesh Tool and Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator!

Step 9

You're done!

Awesome Work, You're Now Done!

What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile, or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector we recreated in this tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below!

Check out some of my other tutorials!

• Halloween
  How to Draw a Spooky Halloween Background in Adobe Illustrator
  Vladimir Galantsev
• Gradient Mesh Tool
  How to Draw a Winter Christmas Landscape With a Wooden Sign in Adobe Illustrator
  Vladimir Galantsev
• Gradient Mesh Tool
  How to Draw a Festive Theatre Stage in Adobe Illustrator
  Vladimir Galantsev