6 Portfolio-Friendly Adobe Illustrator Projects for Beginners

Adobe Illustrator is a versatile tool for creating vector graphics, illustrations, logos and more. However, if you’re just getting started with the program, you may feel overwhelmed about where to start.

For beginners, hands-on projects are important for developing practical skills and confidence. At the same time, less experience might mean you aren’t sure what types of projects will be the most helpful for making that happen.

This guide lists a series of beginner-friendly projects available through Skillshare classes, helping you start your creative journey.

1. Authentic, Artistic Drawing

Pale blue-lavender background with the words “Drawing in Illustrator: How to Retain the Artist’s Hand” next to a sketched flower with long, delicate, pink petals. — Designer Kris Ruff shows you how to keep your unique, hand-drawn style while using Adobe Illustrator.

Drawing in Adobe Illustrator: How to Retain the Artist’s Hand by Kris Ruff

About This Project

Kris Ruff, a surface designer, guides you through creating a vector drawing that retains the unique look of your own hand drawings. This will help your work stand out from other digital art while making the most of Adobe Illustrator’s various tools.

Illustrator Skills You’ll Practice

You’ll get a feel for Illustrator’s pencil and paintbrush tools, and learn to reset basic tools to give flowing lines and organic shapes. You’ll also find out how to keep a digital sketchbook for trying out your new skills.

Instructions

The class begins with an overview of Illustrator’s drawing tools and how to reset them. You’ll then practice with those new settings, as well as some smoothing and refining. Kris talks about getting inspired, starting a sketchbook and putting all your new skills together.

2. Illustrative Lettering

Bold, thick, stylized lettering reading “Intro to Illustrative Lettering” in purple, red and teal on a monochromatic purple palette of more stylized lettering — Illustrator Chris Piascik offers actionable steps for turning text-based illustration ideas into reality.

Intro to Illustrative Lettering by Chris Piascik

About This Project

Chris Piascik, a graphic designer and illustrator, helps you transform simple ideas for text-based illustrations into professional-looking hand lettering in a wide range of styles. For example, select a favorite quote and use textures, colors and more to make it visually appealing.

Illustrator Skills You’ll Practice

You’ll learn about typography fundamentals and how to avoid elements that can be distracting or confusing. Using grids, shapes and simple letterforms, you’ll create a framework to draw letters upon. You’ll also learn how to bring lettering into existing compositions.

Instructions

Class begins with typographic basics and lettering styles, then moves into sketching the letters themselves. Move from thumbnails to the actual composition, then add supporting elements and refine your overall look.

3. Add Depth With Gradients

The words “Mastering Gradients in Adobe Illustrator” on an abstract background of gradients in purple, magenta, orange, yellow and blue — Photographer/designer Evgeniya Righini-Brand teaches you tricks and techniques for using gradients to create drama, depth and texture in any Adobe Illustrator project.

Mastering Gradients in Adobe Illustrator by Evgeniya and Dominic Righini-Brand

About This Project

Evgeniya Righini-Brand, a graphic designer and photographer, teaches you to make gradient-based designs that will work for digital and print projects. From finding smoothness between the perfect colors to adding texture to gradient lettering, you’ll discover how to bring depth to numerous projects.

Illustrator Skills You’ll Practice

Get guidance on implementing Radial, Linear and Freeform Fill gradients and applying them to editable type. You’ll also experiment with Gradient Meshes, Blends and Opacity Masks. Finally, prepare your Adobe Illustrator projects for print or digital publishing.

Instructions

Class starts with creating colors and swatches, then moves into creating the gradients themselves. Then you’ll learn about applying gradients to different and multiple objects, as well as brushstrokes, blends and blurs. Finally, you’ll prep your project for output and sharing.

4. Surface Pattern Design in Adobe Illustrator: A Complete Introduction

Spread out stack of fabrics featuring all the colors in surface patterns of butterflies, lines, shapes, and flowers — Illustrator Esther Nariyoshi shows you how to take original, hand-drawn doodles and turn them into everything from fabric to tiles.

Surface Pattern Design in Adobe Illustrator: A Complete Introduction by Esther Nariyoshi

About This Project

Illustrator Esther Nariyoshi will guide you through the process of turning your hand-drawn on-paper doodles into digital, repeating patterns fit for wallpaper, fabrics, stationary and other products. You’ll also learn to convert the final art project into client-ready files.

Illustrator Skills You’ll Practice

You’ll learn how to vectorize images you’ve drawn on paper or the iPad and then edit and refine them within Adobe Illustrator. Much of this will explore the editing tools used to create aesthetically pleasing shapes, lines and colors and to make your images repeat neatly yet artistically.

Instructions

The class starts with setting up your customized workspace in Adobe Illustrator and then turning your physical or digital drawing into a vector. Simple editing and smoothing refine your art, and then you’ll determine how the pattern will repeat on the actual products. Finally, you’ll prep the project for sharing with a client.

5. Build Stylized Characters

Five colorful thumbnails of stylized, drawn characters of varied races, genders and facial expressions, each holding golfing equipment and dressed to play the game — Illustrator Kirk Wallace demonstrates how to use Adobe Illustrator to tell stories through stylized, interesting characters.

Storytelling Through Details! Building a Stylized Character in Adobe Illustrator by Kirk Wallace

About This Project

Kirk Wallace, an illustrator, shows you how to take a simple character idea to a full-blown, loveable and believable character suited for personal and professional projects. Much of this is about pinpointing what makes a character unique, simplifying and stylizing that and then sketching using templates and color palettes.

Illustrator Skills You’ll Practice

In this case, the ultimate goal is storytelling, and you'll use Adobe Illustrator’s basic tools to do that. So you’ll use drawing, color, texture, zooming in to refine details and add shading and the various brushes. This isn’t about creating realism but rather developing characters that evoke stories and feelings.

Instructions

Class begins with brainstorming about yourself and the characters you want to create. Then you’ll explore “building” character bodies from simple shapes and adding complexities, details and color. After finalizing everything, you’ll turn the work into vectors and share it.

6. Geometric Design in Adobe Illustrator

Three large circles containing antlered deer heads, all formed from geometric shapes in yellow, blues, reds and neutrals, above the words “Geometric Design in Adobe Illustrator against a wood grain background. — Graphic designer Kyle Aaron Parson shows you how to create realistic faces from geometric shapes.

Geometric Design in Adobe Illustrator by Kyle Aaron Parson

About This Project

Kyle Aaron Parson, a graphic designer, teaches you to create realistic animal images from geometric low-poly forms. The idea is to develop a face that looks three-dimensional but is within a two-dimensional environment.

Illustrator Skills You’ll Practice

You’ll use the pen tool to create line work and design a simple color palette. You’ll also apply patterns to your design and work with drop shadows using the blend tool. Discover how to refine images and change colors, and wrap up the project for sharing personally or professionally.

Instructions

Class starts with finding your reference, such as a photograph of the face of your favorite animal. Then you’ll create and color your line work, and give it life with patterns and strokes. After some shading and color customization, you’ll complete the project with some framing for the final image.

Keep Practicing Your Illustrator Skills with Skillshare

If you’re a beginner with Adobe Illustrator, you’ll benefit from the guidance and detail of structured projects and Skillshare classes. The instructors design the courses to be accessible to everyone, even if you’re just starting out.

Spend time exploring classes shared here–complete the projects, share them and continue developing your Illustrator skills. To further your learning and creativity, delve into the wealth of classes on Adobe Illustrator and other digital art platforms.

Written By

Katie Mitchell

Katie lives in Michigan with her husband, kids and pets. She enjoys cooking, travel and live music.