Trace/paint

[TonyaandDextertheDog]

I'm still just trying to learn how to use AI.  Sometimes I get pretty frustrated because I can't find the tool suggested in various online videos.  😞 This is what I'm trying to learn today.

Drawing/painting over a photo to create a new image. I'm really confused about how to find a simple brush that I can decide how wide and just draw a shape and it colors it with my color choice.  I keep clicking the basic brush and when I go to paint, it changes to another brush.  I can then click the thing I drew to change it back, but obviously, I'm doing something wrong. I'm just looking for a simple shape that doesn't change shape on me if that makes sense. For example, I want to trace the nose and it stays that size/shape vs getting all funky.  Thanks.

[Monika Gause]

"Basic" is not a brush. It deletes an existing brush.

But the brush tool cannot draw without a brush applied. So it will always select one.

Use the pencil tool if you want to draw without a brush.

[TonyaandDextertheDog]

Thank you.  I see a pen tool.  That seems to make paths, click, etc.  Is there a pencil tool that I can select and draw?  Thank you for your help and time.

[Monika Gause]

Try the advanced toolbar in Window > Tools.

[Barbara Ash · Accepted solution]

Many tools are grouped. You should be able to find the Pencil tool by clicking on the Paintbrush tool in the Tools panel.

[TonyaandDextertheDog]

Thank you so much!  That helped!  

[TonyaandDextertheDog]

The blob tool seems to work well.  Is there a way to make the tool smaller?  Or larger?

[TonyaandDextertheDog]

Than the .25 pt

[Barbara Ash]

With the Blob brush selected, use the left and right straight bracket keys [ ] to make the size smaller/larger.

[Monika Gause]

The modifier keys might vary depending on the installed language. And if Illustrator language and system language/keyboard language don't match, you might run into modifiers not working at all.