Madigitified Patterns

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Coloring Methods

Madigitified Patterns
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Lesson 21 of 24

swatches.ai

Coloring Methods

In this lesson you'll watch as I create a simple motif and color it up using three different methods:

  • The Live Paint Bucket Tool (K)

  • The Shape Builder Tool (Shift M)

  • Draw Behind Method using the Blob Brush Tool (Shift B)

I'll also introduce you to the Recolor Artwork Tool. It's the most complex and exciting tool in Illustrator and we'll be diving into all of its capabilities in the weeks to come.

Assignment:

  1. Download the color palettes in the document and add them to your swatches panel (or use your own!).

  2. Draw a simple motif (like the flower I've shown here, or anything else you like!).

  3. Color it first using the Live Paint Bucket Tool (K). Practice giving the outline no stroke. Make sure to expand after you're finished.

  4. Now try coloring the same motif using the Shape Builder Tool (Shift M). Practice drawing a line through your illustration, or just coloring the inside of the motif by clicking once.

  5. Next switch to the 'draw behind mode', grab the Blob Brush Tool (Shift B) and color your illustration from behind.

  6. Select your artwork and open the Recolor Artwork Tool. Practice dragging and dropping colors to rearrange them, reducing the number of colors in the document and flipping through potential color combinations by 'Randomly Changing the Color Order'.