How to make a pencil drawn image into a image in Illustrator

1. 

The first thing you are going to need to do is grab a pencil and paper and starting DRAWING! I looked up a motif to draw. This is the link. 

2. 

You are going to need to find a scanner and scan it into the computer. I made it into a PDF file. After that, upload it to Illustrator.  

3. 

Before you do anything else, create a new layer. I love using layers. They make sure you delete anything you might want to keep. 

4. 

Now grab the pen tool. This is going to become your friend. The Illustrator pen tool is a lot harder then the one in Photoshop. I choose the Illustrated pen because it is more sophisticated than the other. Play around with it!

5. 

Trace around the figure with the pen. Use shapes to fill in solid areas. DO NOT USE THE PAINT BRUSH TOOL! 

6. 

Use the live paint brush tool to fill it with color. 

7. 

I took it a little further and made it into a patter. A helpful hint for making a pattern use the gird to make sure things line up. 

Final 

For more information about converting hand art into line art. 

For basic patterns.