In this tutorial you will learn how to use the Mesh Tool to create a summer background with a vacation scene!
If you'd like to skip this tutorial and purchase the end result with a couple more elements, head over to GraphicRiver to purchase Vacation Background.
1. How to Draw the Palm Trees
Step 1
Let's begin by drawing the stem! Using the Pen Tool (P), draw a curved line as shown below, and then change its Stroke Profile accordingly.
Finally, apply a Radial Gradient to the Stroke. It should go from #D3D991 to #5A6B00 to #576900.
Step 2
Proceed to Object > Expand Appearance to create an object out of the stroke.
Step 3
Draw another line, coloring its Stroke with #7C9808, and then apply a Profile to it.
Next, go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 4
We will be modifying this object with Mesh!
Take the Mesh Tool (U) and place a few nodes onto the object, as shown below, to create a Mesh grid. Then, select the nodes as below and recolor them with #75840A.
Proceed by coloring the Mesh further, using the #B2AE5B and #91AB11 colors.
Step 5
Take the finished object and go to Effect > Warp > Arc. Set the Bend to 7%, and then Expand Appearance of the objects.
Step 6
Make a smaller copy of the leaf, and then create a copy of that as well, and recolor it with Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors, setting the Red to 8%. You should have three different leaves after this step.
Step 7
Take these leaves and add them to the stem we made before, creating a palm leaf.
Step 8
Take a copy of the finished leaf and warp it with Effect > Warp > Arc. Use these values:
- Bend: 8%
- Horizontal Distortion: -2%
- Vertical Distortion: -12%
Don't forget to Expand Appearance of the result.
Step 9
Create another copy of the first leaf we made and recolor it with Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors. Use these:
- Red: -15%
- Blue: -16%
Step 10
Take the leaf we just made and apply Effect > Warp > Bulge to it.
- Bend: 22%
- Horizontal Distortion: -18%
- Vertical Distortion: -8%
Expand Appearance.
Step 11
Modify the leaf further, now with Effect > Warp > Arc.
- Bend: 24%
- Horizontal Distortion: -2%
- Vertical Distortion: -12%
Don't forget to Expand Appearance of the result.
Step 12
Layer the leaves we made.
Step 13
Draw an outline, keeping the part of leaves you want to see inside the rectangle.
Step 14
Select everything, right-click, and choose Make Clipping Mask.
Step 15
Our leaves are done!
2. How to Draw the Sea and the Sand
Step 1
For this step, you will need to download the attachment of this tutorial. You will be able to find it in the right sidebar.
Open sea.jpg in Adobe Illustrator and drag the image into your vector file. Bring up the Image Trace panel (you can do so by going through Window) and change the number of Colors to 3. Trace the image.
Step 2
Take the trace result, and then Ungroup it until you are left with different elements.
Step 3
Divide the sea into different colors by selecting one colored element and clicking Select > Same > Fill Color.
Step 4
You will get three different layers of elements. Keep the ones that are colored with #38D8F4 and #11B9D7, but delete all the elements colored with #5CEAFC, instead creating a full rectangle filled with that color.
Create a copy of the middle layer and put it aside for later.
Step 5
Combine these layers back into one background.
Step 6
Draw a new rectangle, filling it with #88DEE5, and then grab the Mesh Tool (U) and add a few mesh nodes.
Color the lower row of the object with #E7EFF0, and then add more nodes and color the new row with #CFEBED.
Modify the shape of the object by dragging its nodes with the Mesh Tool. Give it an organic, wavy shape.
Step 7
Select the nodes on the top and the bottom row of the object, changing their Opacity to 0%.
Step 8
Begin drawing the sand with Mesh.
#E7D9BD#CBA880-
#FFFFFF
Step 9
Assemble the coastline.
Step 10
Take the copy we made in Step 4. Draw a rectangular outline in the upper part of the texture, and then go to Pathfinder > Crop to crop out a part of it.
Step 11
Delete some parts of it to make it look more organic.
Step 12
Create an Art Brush out of the texture.
Step 13
Draw a line and apply the new brush to it.
Use the #EFEFEF color and set the Stroke to 0.5 pt.
Step 14
Expand Appearance of the object, and then set it to Screen and 50% Opacity.
Step 15
Place it on the coastline.
3. How to Draw the Sky and Clouds
Step 1
Draw the sky with Mesh.
#53A0D0#FFFFFF#88C0E1-
#89C2E0
Step 2
Make the bottom row transparent.
Step 3
Draw the cloud with Mesh.
#000000#808080#535353-
#353535
Step 4
Set the object to Screen.
Step 5
Overlay some copies of the clouds.
Step 6
Add the sky and the clouds to the background.
Step 7
Add the palm leaves.
Step 8
You can also draw a sun with a Radial Gradient from white to yellow to black. Use Screen on the object.
Step 9
Add the sun to the sky.
You can also add transparent Screen highlights—learn how to create this sort of highlight in the last section of my window frame tutorial.
Step 10
Finally, learn how to draw flip flops in this tutorial of mine!
Congratulations, 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 image we recreated in this tutorial.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I'll be extremely happy to see any results in the comments below!
