Create Peonies the Quick and Easy Way in

Adobe Illustrator

What You'll Be Creating

In this tutorial, you will learn a quick, easy way create peonies. We will use the Warp Tool
and the Pucker Tool.
1. Drawing a Petal
Step 1

After creating a new document (600 px width and height), take the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw
a circle. Any fill color and with no stroke. Then replace the existing fill color with linear
gradient. In the picture below you can see exactly which color you can use.

To create a petal from the circle, you need to use the Warp Tool (Shift-R). But before using
it, let's adjust the options of this tool. Double-click on it and in the new dialogue window,
enter Width: around 20, Height: around 20, Intensity 70%, Detail 2, Simplify 50, and tick
Show Brush Size.

These measurements are just estimatesyou need to see what works better for you and how
much warp you want give the petal. The arrows on the second petal show the directions of the
Warp Tool (Shift-R).
Step 2

Create a few more copies of the petals and arrange them similar to the image below.
Step 3

Compose the whole flower as you did in the previous step. Note that every new layer is
behind the previous one and the petals are bigger. You can also move the Gradient Slider of
every petal on the Gradient panel (or just click on a petal and press the G button and then
move the slider).
Step 4

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a circle and set the Radial fill color as shown below.
Step 5

Now press down the Alt key and shift the previously created yellow circle a bit using your
mouse/pen tablet. You can hold the Alt key to copy-paste any object while moving it. After
you've created many of the yellow circles, compose them to show the middle part of flower.
Step 6

Create two more copies of the flower.

Step 7

Now we need to change the color of two flowers. Select the one you would like to change,
but note that you need to select just the petals, without the middle part. Then go to Edit >
Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork.

In the new dialogue window, select Edit. Look downward and find the button Link harmony
colors. Click on it. Move the circle with the thicker stroke presented on the color palette any
way you want. Look how your flower is changing!

Do the same with the third flower.

2. Creating the Leaf
Step 1

Draw an ellipse using the Ellipse Tool (L). Set the fill color shown in the image below. Then
distort the leaf using the Warp Tool (Shift-R) just as you did with the petal before.
Step 2

Add two lighter ellipses (fill color R=202 G=197 B=87) and distort them.

Step 3

Create two more leaves and arrange them close to what you see below.
Step 4

Double-click on the Pencil Tool (N) and adjust the options:

Make a thick stroke on the Stroke panel, check Round Cap and set the fill color to R=165
G=154 B=0. Draw a stalk. Afterwards, decrease the stroke Weight and draw veins. Expand
all strokes with no fill color. Select one vein or stalk which you have recently drawn and go
to Select > Same > Fill color. Once you have selected all the strokes, go to Object >
Expand.
Step 5

Hit the Pucker Tool on the Tools panel. If you can't find it, click on the Warp Tool (Shift-
R), hold for a while and then a pop-up menu will appear. After you've selected the Pucker
Tool, shift the top of each vein and stalk to make it sharp. Group the whole branch (right-
click > Group).
3. Arranging the Composition and Creating the
Background
Step 1

Compose the bouquet as you like.

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Step 2

A light pink square behind everything will be our background (fill color R=247 G=228
B=232). The dimensions of the background are 600 px width and height. And that's it, dear
florists!

Conclusion
Congratulations, you have made some beautiful peonies! You have mastered the Warp Tool
and learned how to quickly recolor your artwork. And now, using these techniques, you can
create any flower you want!
Nataliya Dolotko
I am totally self taught vector illustrator and surface pattern designer. I live in USA with my
family and my two main passions are drawing and fitness. I can draw all day long, where I
can easily loose my connection with the reality at times. My slogan is "Just keep going:
sports and drawing! I am really happy to write for Tuts+--it's a chance to share with others
what I can do and what I love. Please visit my portfolio on Shutterstock
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-333559p1.html