Is is possible to convert a shape of a leaf into a stroke of variable width profile in Illustrator?

[ngshaikh]

I am working on water color brushes.  I use variable width profile to get appropriate shape out of water color brush stroke.  This gives good organic color effect to the resulting shape.  But since I am not getting the exact shape I want through use of width tool, for example, a barbed leaf of Azadirachta indica  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica  , I am trying to convert a leaf shape, created by me, into a stroke, but since I am a beginner I am unsure whether there it is possible to convert a shape of a leaf into a stroke?  Community, please guide me.  Thanks.       

[Kurt Gold]

The link to the Wikipedia article is pretty informative, but I think it does not really help to get something that you might call a solution or at least a possible way to go.

To me, it sounds as if you are looking for brushes (in Illustrator there are different ones). Does that perhaps apply?

[ngshaikh]

I have created this shape    Now I want to convert this shape into a stroke with variable width exactly that of created shape. Please remember that with help of width tool, I could not get exactly this shape (particularly the barbed edge of a leaf), hence I am using shape to get desired result. 

Furthermore, by trials I could come to know that when I apply water colour brush with variable width profile like this, I get natural effect of water colour brushes which is far better than that of a brush created with a shape.  Therefore, I am trying to convert a shape into a stroke of variable width profile.  I am a water colour enthusiast and am trying to go as much near to original as possible in Illustrator.

Community, please reflect on the above and guide me.  Thanks for all the responses received from you. 👍😃

[Doug A Roberts]

You won't get that exact shape with a width profile. Can you show images of what you mean when you say 'natural effect of water colour brushes' and how that compares to the undesired(?) result from a brush?

[meganchi]

Have you learned how to use the curvature tool? When I draw leaves, I turn on my grid and use that tool, which allows you to turn points into sharp edges as you draw. Then, once you have a desired leaf shape you might want to make an art brush from it or save it as a symbol. It really depends on what end result you are trying to achieve.

[happie_97]

We need more information. This link you provided doesn't really help. Would you supply a photo of what you have drawn so far? 

At first glance, I am thinking you can select your object and go to Object > Path > Outline Stroke and that will make it a separate shape.

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

ngshaikh,

"whether there it is possible to convert a shape of a leaf into a stroke?"

The long answer is no.

Here is a bit of smalltalk about it: at any point along the path you can ony have one width, so it is impossible to have the upward spikes in the shape shown form (the additional outer) parts of a Stroke.

I agree with Kurt that one of the Brushes is the obvious choice, the choice depending on your actual use.

https://helpx.adobe.com/search-results.html?q=illustrator+brushes&scope=%5B%22helpx%22%5D&subscope=%...

Apart from everything else, it makes an exquisite toothpaste, so I see (the images of) Neem leaves several times every day.