Line Tracing Help Please (Newbie)

[Scotty is New at this]

Hello Everyone.

Trying to convert this into a logo, but can't seem to complete the task.

Here's what I've attempted to use:

Created an outline Layer

Layer above it for the pencil tool

Removed the fill from outline layer

Made stroke of outline layer black

Videos I've watched suggested that take the pecil tool, trace inside then remove the outline or stroke.

Am I headed in the right direction 

or

Should I take a different ccourse of action.

Thanks in advance.

[John Mensinger]

"Created an outline Layer"

It's not really clear what you mean by this.

As much as I hate automatic tracing, this is a case where Image Trace will do the hardest of the work for you, and you can refine from there. Have you tried it?

[Scotty is New at this]

Apologies I'm still working on the terminolgy.

Did an automatic trace and it turned it black and white.

From there I'd like to:

Get an identical match to the style of the words

Change the color of the words

Extended the Arrow

Thank you for being patient with me as I develop thos skill.

[Mike_Gondek · Accepted solution]

Your description is difficult for us to follow.

Trace the shape using the pen tool, then apply a calligraphic brush, so the stroke is not even looking, but gets wider at certain angles.

[Scotty is New at this]

Thank you I will try that.

Please excuse me on the "outline layer"

On one of the layers I removed the fill and the stroke,

Then tried to trace it with the pencil tool & remove the "outline"

Sorry if I'm causing further confusion. I'm 3 weeks into this.