Create a Cute Little Tiger in Illustrator
The tiger is one of the coolest animals in the earth. It’s a very powerful, dangerous, yet fascinating animal. In this tutorial, we will be drawing the tiger, but we will be doing it a little bit different. Instead of portraying the tiger as a savage and mean creature, I will teach you how to draw a cute little tiger that you will be able to use in your projects, as a desktop wallpaper, etc.
You will also learn lots of Illustrator techniques as well. This is the perfect tutorial for year 2010, the year of the tiger. So what are we waiting for? Let’s begin, r-r-r-r…
Step 1: Set Up #
Open Illustrator and set up a new document. Rename “Layer 1” to “Head”. Select the ellipse Tool (L) and draw a circle.
![Circle](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/cc26da42-b02b-4d30-b30c-80d33f3d732e/1.png)
Step 2: Head #
With the Direct Selection Tool (A) click on the top anchor point to select it and drag in down to modify your circle like this.
![Tiger head, modifying the circle](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/ddff9806-608d-40b3-b751-170dd9a039dc/2.png)
Select the left anchor point and rotate the handles so the path will look more rounded. Do the same thing to the right anchor point.
![Tiger head, left side, rotation of the handles, so the path looks more rounded](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/93df399c-4397-4674-aaee-75e3dd735ebd/3.png)
![Tiger head, right side, rotation of the handles, so the path looks more rounded](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/e2bcf10e-2997-4393-82a9-d02d280afa0e/4.png)
Step 3: Nose #
Make a copy of the head path. Select the Ellipse Tool and draw an ellipse on the top of the head shape.
![Tiger nose, copy of head path and drawing an ellipse on top of the head shape](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bf6bd0fc-e8b3-4bba-a3d2-814c81748d34/5.png)
Select this ellipse and the head path copy that we’ve made by shift clicking and pressing the Intersect button in the pathfinder palette.
![Tiger nose, modifying the ellipse on the head path copy](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/5fe65f31-cc00-4337-8005-5a140b3be795/6.png)
With the Pen Tool (P) try to draw nostrils path as you see below.
![Tiger nose, drawing nosdrils](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/ee7c896a-39e5-4e87-a803-82930298b9bf/7.png)
Move the nose path down a little.
![Tiger nose, moving nose path down a little](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/c063cfb9-6c54-49c5-bb11-965d42eb528d/8.png)
Select the lowest anchor point of the nose path and move it up to hide it behind the nostrils path.
![Tiger nose, moving lowest part of the nose to hide it behind the nosdrils](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/c5f1e31d-e027-4950-a74a-95081be1edf7/9.png)
Step 4: Cheeks #
Draw an ellipse and rotate it 8 degrees counterclock-wise.
![Tiger cheeks, drawing ellipse, right side](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/abc8d8da-bb1c-4f72-9ceb-f4ab1d8088fb/10.png)
Press Shift + Ctrl + [ to send it back.
![Tiger cheeks, seendiong ellipse back, right side](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/73369d21-d479-47a0-8dd1-6649a6e2a880/11.png)
Make a copy of this path, move it to the left and reflect.
![Tiger cheeks, drawing and sending ellipse back, left side](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/8b11ae16-696b-43f3-81c6-a4ff3a3b5f75/12.png)
Select both paths and press the Unite button in the Pathfinder palette.
![Tiger cheeks, both sidees selected and united](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/a1665967-8068-4610-bd2d-10b5e5df68c2/13.png)
With the Direct Selection Tool (A) select the anchor point that connects the two cheeks path and convert it to a smooth anchor point and then make the path more narrow.
![Tiger cheeks, making the connection point of both sides of cheeks smooth](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/8dc7ca32-1f43-417f-9a66-b60869f213c3/14.png)
Step 5: Chin #
For the chin, draw another small ellipse and press Shift + Ctrl + [ to send it back.
![Tiger chin, drawing a small ellipse and sending it back](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/dd5a95d5-48ea-4a8f-9f1f-2f485bdca1f3/15.png)
Step 6: Ears #
Draw an ellipse and rotate it counter-clock-wise about 50 degrees.
![Tiger ears, drawing an ellipse and rotate 50 degrees](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1b417b6b-c55c-4287-816e-d54975ab32c0/16.png)
Draw a circle that intersects this ellipse and then press the Minus Front button in the pathfinder to extract this circle from the main ear path.
![Tiger ears, drawing a circle that intersects the ellipse](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/ff33634b-78bd-487d-b70d-f1beba658b54/17.png)
![Tiger ears, extracting the circle from main ear path](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d75329c3-cc9a-4020-bd53-edc4d03861ea/18.png)
With the resulting path selected, go to Object > Path > Offset Path and create a smaller copy of this path inside it by entering negative Offset values.
![Tiger ears, creating a smaller copy of the path inside](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1f49ac38-78cd-4df5-b5b7-58d7551a141e/19.png)
Move the resulting path down and to the left.
![Tiger ears, moving the path down to the left](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/c20c23de-91b8-4089-946b-64f175dac71c/20.png)
Place the ear on the tiger’s head, create a reflection of it and place it on the left side.
![Tiger ears, creating the reflection of the left ear and pacing on the tiger’s head](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/58e062bf-a54c-4710-8800-14d49ee21a22/21.png)
Step 7: Adding Color #
Select the head path and give it a radial gradient from #F79442 to #C86735 and a 3pt #9E4D2A stroke. Adjust the position and Aspect Ration of the gradient.
![Tiger, adding color for head](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/9adf78fd-2bb2-4fcf-bc48-39d71f1f1ef1/22.png)
Apply the same gradient to the nose using the eyedropper Tool (I) but give it a 2pt stroke with #B3512B.
![Tiger, adding color for nose](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/f4208efd-4762-489b-bc2f-8176c19f3fa9/23.png)
On the cheek path apply a radial gradient from #C24B37 to #FCCB88 and a 0.25pt Tapered stroke (#8C372F
) .
![Tiger, adding color for cheeks](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/a5ed6959-6fb1-4bde-b991-e97eb6c47c43/24.png)
Select the nostrils path and give it a gradient fill from #341214 to #60180C.
![Tiger, adding color nosdrils](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/fffe786d-3f9c-4f6b-a659-1d393fbdfba9/25.png)
Apply the same gradient and stroke that we used for the cheeks to the chin but make it linear this time.
![Tiger, adding color for chin](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/200e94da-49ae-449b-99b8-354ba2c85131/26.png)
Select the biggest shape of the ear and Eyedropper tool and then click on the head path to apply the same settings to it. Select the smaller path, make it have no stroke and give it a linear gradient from #9E4D2A to #C86735.
![Tiger, adding color for inner ear part](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/5d4ddb42-ca48-446e-98ab-2abac8b14bef/27.png)
Step 8: Eyes #
Draw a circle, give it a 2pt white stroke and a radial gradient from #2B3990 to #27AAE1.
![Tiger eyes, drawing a circle and white stroke](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1599e61f-934b-41d1-af87-40d51c5e4372/28.png)
Create another, smaller circle. That way, their centers coincide and then fill it with 90% gray.
![Tiger eyes, creating another circle inside an eye, grey](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/36fb33ad-173b-46f6-9f59-c83386286a73/29.png)
Draw two highlights, those will be two white circles, one a little bigger than the first.
![Tiger eyes, draw two highlights of different sizes, white](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/f9ff9eec-2a4b-4795-b06d-b9bc180640f8/30.png)
Make a copy of this eye.
![Tiger eyes, making a copy of created eye](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6ab4e34b-00a8-45d1-b172-b217e026948d/31.png)
Draw small shadow under the eyes by making copies of the biggest paths and pasting them back.
![Tiger eyes, drawing small shasows under the eyes](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d251b4d6-f89e-4cce-8011-46503cab0e93/32.png)
Step 9: Tiger Pattern #
Draw a small black ellipse with no stroke and drag it into brush palette, check the “New Art Brush” and click ok. Name the new brush “Tiger Lines” and leave all setting with their default values.
![Tiger pattern, creating a new brush called Tiger Lines](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/8d724e2b-bc16-484d-85a7-0dda9136ebca/33.png)
Now, Select the Pen Tool (P) and draw some lines with no fill, where you want your tiger to have lines.
![Tiger pattern, drawing lines on tiger face with Pen Tool](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/54127de0-6b20-4b6a-a49d-67c022563939/34.png)
Select all these lines and click on the newly created brush in the brushes palette.
![Tiger pattern, using the brush to create thicker lines on tiger face](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/b9662110-c14b-4881-8c50-4e827393aedb/35.png)
With the lines still selected go to Object > Expand Appearance to expand the lines.
![Tiger pattern, expanding lines on tiger face](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/716fe7f1-3931-44d0-ade5-a99171e85050/36.png)
Select the head path, make a copy of it and bring it to front.
![Tiger pattern, copying the head path and bringing it to front](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/cdf1282f-695d-40da-a7e4-04607acf2c8a/37.png)
By shift-clicking, select the copy and all expanded lines, right-click on the copy of the head path and select Make Clipping Mask.
![Tiger pattern, making clipping mask](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/55dce1e6-2992-429e-a171-6852d6e4ab47/38.png)
![Tiger pattern, making clipping mask1](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/01d2d834-1993-43db-a6c6-9b31c5d7e6ab/39.png)
Select all lines and apply a linear gradient from #341214 to #60180C to them.
![Tiger pattern, applying a liner gradient](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/ffb9a009-9980-45fe-93c9-025b1bbe5836/40.png)
Step 10: Cheeks Details #
Draw a small circle and give it a vertical, linear gradient from #F79442 to #FCCB88 .
![Tiger cheek details, creating a dot](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d02997be-2fd4-45c1-a690-b22190f76635/41.png)
Make lots of copies of this circle and place these copies on the cheeks.
![Tiger cheek details, making lots of copies and scattering them on the cheeks](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/9a1a1c2e-0356-4090-828a-921de124a556/42.png)
Step 11: Face Shadows and Highlights #
Select the Pen Tool and draw highlights on the tiger’s face, eyebrow, nose and ears. Fill these paths with #FCCB88 .
![Tiger, face highlights, face, eyebrow, nose](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d0433f5e-cf68-469a-b4f6-1e5952b84ace/43.png)
Set the Blending mode to Soft Light.
![Tiger, setting the blending mode to soft light](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1f0be08b-1dd2-447b-877f-1edfa4b9e05c/44.png)
Select the nostrils path, press Ctrl + C and Ctrl + B to create a copy behind it. Move the copy down a little and to right and fill it with #C86735.
![Tiger, copying the nosdrils path, moving ut behind and filling it with a bit lighter color](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/fa2c7ae4-8f87-413d-b111-937fc32f3a55/45.png)
Step 11: Body #
Create a new layer, name it “Body” and drag in under the “Head” layer. Use Pen Tool or Ellipse Tool to create an egg-like path and fill it with the same gradient that we’ve used for the head but adjust its position and angle.
Select the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt key and click on the center of the body shape to bring up the options dialog box. Check preview, set 12 as Angle value and hit OK.
![Tiger’s body, rotating the shape 12 degrees](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/23cd0936-8397-4d82-8a3c-6ad94e20a18c/47.png)
Place this path under the head.
![Tiger’s body, placing the body under the head](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/027ab646-cc79-446c-8f69-003d81fd329f/48.png)
Step 12: Belly #
Our tiger has a big bright spot on his belly. Take the Pen Tool and draw it. Pay attention only to the left side of the spot because the right edge will be covered by a hand. Apply a gradient from #FCCB88 to #DBAD75 and no stroke.
![Tiger’s belly, bright spot on tiger’s belly](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/43311883-8b9c-4224-840a-38c3f3ee2c55/49.png)
Extract a small part of the top of the belly path to add some detail to it.
![Tiger’s belly, adding some details to a bright spot on the belly](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/76ed4ec8-84d8-4266-ad9d-4ddb54f52308/50.png)
![Tiger’s hands, drawing an open path for a hand](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/9c8f2e2e-b316-4e7b-bc83-edd06d7a3bec/51.png)
Drag a copy of this hand to the left and press Shift + Ctrl + [ to send it back under the body path.
![Tiger, copying a secong hand](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/cb37fdf9-3943-4026-b29d-f2a182fb6e40/52.png)
Repeat step 9 to draw lines on the tiger’s hands.
![Tiger hands, drawing lines on the hands](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/7d817181-792b-4a2f-bb0c-10795dc2799d/53.png)
For the fingers, draw six ellipses with the same settings as the chin path and arrange them on the hands.
![Tiger’s fingers, six ellipses](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/72ec8e2b-9d73-4c09-a451-7399653cac6a/54.png)
Step 14: Legs #
Select the Pen Tool and try to draw a legs path. This will probably take a couple of tries before you get the needed result.
![Tiger’s legs, drawing a leg path with the Pen Tool](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/384187b8-2858-49ca-9bab-a9135b4e58f8/55.png)
Make a copy of the right hand fingers and place them on the leg.
![Tiger’s legs, copying the right fingers and placing them on the leg](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/66267435-eb68-4c98-828e-c9cee0171767/56.png)
Make a copy of the whole leg, drag the copy to the left a little and press Shift + Ctrl + [ to send it back.
![Tiger’s legs, copying the leg and sending it to the back](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/2a9fb15c-3394-4211-bcc1-50021dc158c2/57.png)
Repeat Step 9 and draw lines on the right leg.
![Tiger](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1210bbb6-5946-4dd8-b9dc-77126f6761f6/58.png)
Now, draw some more lines to the body, but make them bigger.
![Tiger’s legs, drawing the lines on the leg](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/abe114fc-7f69-49f1-ade1-0429371fca5a/59.png)
Step15: Tail #
Our tiger looks pretty good already but he won’t be a real tiger without a tail. Create a new layer and name it “Tail”. Drag it under the “Body” layer. Select the Pen Tool and draw the ttail path. Give it a 20pt stroke of any color.
![Tiger’ tail, drawing a tail with the Pen Tool](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1771da28-87c9-451c-adfd-13aa1f8d900b/60.png)
Expand it, (go to Object >Expand), select the Eyedropper Tool and click on the body path. Make it linear and position it vertically.
![Tiger’ tail, positioning the tail vertically](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/e7952d5b-98e3-4afa-8877-112954d452a9/61.png)
Repeat Step 9 one again and draw lines on the tail.
![Tiger’ tail, drawing lines on the tail](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/c69d8ab0-e9c4-4b08-bb72-e67e155b98e1/62.png)
Step 16: Background #
Create a new layer under the “Tail” and name it “background”. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a rectangle with the same dimensions as your art board and fill it with a radial gradient from #99CA3C to #006838.
![Tiger’s background, green](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bb376b0a-427a-48a3-b838-90c1984451da/63.png)
Lock this sublayer. Draw an ellipse under the tiger and fill it with #006838
. Go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Radius to 30 pixels.
![Tiger’s shadow, ellipse dark green shadow](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/e5fed435-3077-4035-bbd8-4491a9de0657/64.png)
Step 17: Text #
Add some text to your Illustration and we’re done!
![Tiger, text that says RRRRR on the background](https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/c36b0039-312c-4408-8404-c5e725c3f0ef/65.png)
Thank you for reading the tutorial. If you have any questions about the tutorial, please leave your comments below.
We’d love to hear your comments about this tutorial. Please leave some feedback about your opinion on this tiger tutorials.
Further Reading on SmashingMag: #
- Drawing A Cartoon In Illustrator
- How To Create A Dramatic Vector Illustration
- 40 Excellent Adobe Illustrator Tutorials
- Beautiful Illustrations By Photoshop Artists Around The World
![Smashing Editorial](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/logo/logo--red.png)
— Comments 51
really a nice work !!!
Hey Jad, Nice start in Illustrator. Really cool Tiger! Keep it up, cheers.