Drawing for a beginner

[Dachshund Daddy AJ]

Hi folks. I'm greener than grass, and I need help. I have never used any art software and I would like to start. I work with vinyl and I always buy someone elses work to create my products. How do I draw and what instrument(s) should I be using?

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Dachshund Daddy AJ,

Thanks for reaching out. You may start your creative journey in Illustrator with a 7-day free trial. Learn more here: (https://adobe.ly/4jHuPp3).

Here are some tutorials to get you started with vinyl designs:
https://adobe.ly/4kRugtO
https://adobe.ly/4jDpNK6

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.
Anubhav

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

You could just go to the Help menu and then look into the tutorials.

Or go here: https://www.adobe.com/de/learn/illustrator?locale=de&learnIn=1

And then you should take a look at a tutorial that guides you through the interface so you know how to handle all the tools and panels. Afterwards check out what's on the page and what you want to create.

What you need most will be basic shapes and the pen tool:

https://www.adobe.com/africa/learn/illustrator/web/shapes-basics?locale=en-x-AFRICA&learnIn=1

The pen tool requires practice. So if it doesn't work at first: that's not your fault. You just have to keep doing it. It's like eating with fork and knife: first you don't know how to hold it, then it becomes second nature.

Then you also need to know how to combine shapes. That will be the job of the pathfinder panel and/or the shapebuilder tool or Live paint. Apart from that you will need to know how to set up the file for production, but I would just start with creating something.

[Dachshund Daddy AJ]

Hi Monika.
Thank you for the valuable information! The links are very informative, and
also a big help. It is a very complex world I am venturing into, but with
help from folks like yourself, I'm sure I'll get more proficient at using
Illustrator as I proceed. Thanks again.


A. J. Castelli
KJ4JOA
General Class Operator
AEMT

[Monika Gause]

Glad I could help you.

If you get stuck, just ask about it.

[Bill Silbert]

By the way you've worded the question it is unclear to me whether you have ever drawn or designed anything even without a computer. The excellent advice given here can only help you in using the tools that exist within the program. If you are looking to create designs and/or illustrations and have no experience doing so then it would also be a good idea to find some basic art courses. These can teach you the basics of drawing and designing so that you can make use of the tools that Illustrator offers to create artwork that is really usable for your business.

[Dachshund Daddy AJ]

Hi Bill.
Thank you for the quick reply. I have done quite a bit of isometric drawing
(old school, not CAD). My drawing skill is "doodles" of cars and
landscapes. I've tried to draw some of my ideas using the mouse, but they
don't look like what I'm trying to draw; that is why I'm asking if there
is/are certain instrument(s) (pens, etc) I should be using to create
drawings. BTW, I did mention that I'm greener than
grass.😁😁😁 Thanks again for the advice.


A. J. Castelli
KJ4JOA
General Class Operator
AEMT

[Bobby Henderson]

If you are working with cut vinyl graphics it will be critical to know the differences between pixel-based objects and vector-based objects (especially if you plan to handle artwork provided by others). Additionally, it will be good to know the differences between vector artwork that is ready to send to a vinyl cutter/plotter versus artwork versus vector artwork that can only be printed. These technical details are easy to learn, but they are important for any vinyl production work flow.

[Dachshund Daddy AJ]

Thanks to everyone who has responded thus far to my querry. The genie is out of the bottle! I went to some of the suggested links and really had my eyes opened wide! I bought a book, learned that I don't have everything I need, and that this journey is going to be more about understanding the digital aspect of drawing. I'm glad I chose Illustrator to cut my digital teeth! I look forward to what lies ahead!