Illustrator: Drawing without the Pen Tool

Course details

In this installment of the Illustrator Insider Training series, Mordy Golding shows how to draw vector artwork quickly, precisely, and efficiently—without having to think about technical concepts like anchor points or control handles. The course highlights intuitive drawing techniques using the Pathfinder functions, Live Paint groups, Shape Builder tool, and variable-width strokes. It also describes the sketching workflow and features in Illustrator that use pressure-sensitive drawing tablets, allowing designers to focus more on their creativity.

Learning objectives
Drawing artwork versus building artwork
Sketching ideas on paper
Creating curves with the Reshape tool
Recording actions for speed and accuracy
Working with the Pathfinder functions
Understanding how Live Paint works
Using the Shape Builder tool
Building and coloring artwork at the same time
Turning variable-width strokes into filled paths
Adjusting the behavior of the Pencil tool
Drawing with the Calligraphic brush

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - The evolution of vector drawing
03 - Getting the most out of this training
04 - Using the exercise files

1. Core Drawing Concepts

05 - Plotting points vs. drawing paths
06 - Drawing artwork vs. building artwork
07 - The keyboard shortcuts you HAVE to know
08 - Groups and layers really do matter
09 - Taming Smart Guides and the Bounding Box
10 - Do you need a drawing tablet

2. Workflow - Drawing Paths

11 - To sketch or not to sketch
12 - Setting up a template layer for your sketch
13 - Optimizing default settings for drawing
14 - Using the primitive shapes tools
15 - Mastering the modifier keys
16 - Mastering the transform tools
17 - Creating curves with the Reshape tool
18 - Using the Smooth tool
19 - Using Simplify to create smooth paths
20 - Recording an action for the Simplify command
21 - Mirroring art for speed and accuracy

3. Pathfinder - Drawing with Math

22 - Deconstructing the Pathfinder panel
23 - Using the Shape Modes functions
24 - Using the Pathfinder functions
25 - Understanding how compound shapes work
26 - Understanding why compound shapes exist
27 - Exploring additional Pathfinder options

4. Live Paint - Changing the Rules

28 - Why Live Paint was created
29 - Creating a Live Paint group
30 - Using the Live Paint Bucket tool
31 - Using Live Paint with open paths
32 - Detecting gaps in Live Paint groups
33 - Adding paths to a Live Paint group
34 - Using the Live Paint Selection tool
35 - Releasing and expanding Live Paint groups
36 - Understanding how Live Paint works

5. Shape Builder - Building Artwork

37 - Why the Shape Builder tool was created
38 - Focusing on the big three - Add, Subtract, and Divide
39 - Using the Shape Builder tool to add and subtract artwork
40 - Using the Shape Builder to divide artwork
41 - Building and coloring artwork at the same time
42 - Using Gap Detection with the Shape Builder tool

6. Adding Expression - Variable Widths

43 - Understanding how variable widths work
44 - Modifying width points along a path
45 - Saving time with width profiles
46 - Turning variable width strokes into filled paths

7. Drawing with a Tablet

47 - Understanding how the Pen and Pencil tools differ
48 - Adjusting the behavior of the Pencil tool
49 - Using the Path Eraser tool
50 - Drawing with the Calligraphic Brush tool
51 - Drawing with the Blob Brush tool
52 - Using the Eraser tool

Conclusion

53 - Looking at the VectorScribe plug-in
54 - Next steps