In this tutorial you will learn how to use the Mesh Tool and the Warp effects as well as how to make your images look better with some simple tweaks to Transparency settings—all while creating a flowerpot full of realistic daffodils!
If
you’d like to skip this tutorial and wish to purchase the end result with a couple more different flowers, head
over to GraphicRiver to purchase Spring and Summer Colorful Flowers in Vases.
Let’s get started!
1. How to Create Petals
Step 1
Create a yellow ellipse.
Step 2
Using the Mesh Tool (U), place a mesh node in the middle of the shape.
Step 3
With the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C), convert the rightmost node by clicking on it and drag it to the right.
Step 4
Create a Mesh, as shown in the screenshot.
Step 5
Color the mesh nodes as in the picture.
Step 6
Flatten the left side of the petal by dragging the nodes.
Step 7
Create a new row of mesh by placing a node with the Mesh Tool (U).
Step 8
Color the rest of the petal accordingly.
Step 9
Now, draw two brown lines with the Pen Tool (P).
Step 10
Apply a Stroke with a Width Profile 1 to both lines (Window > Stroke).
Step 11
Object > Expand Appearance of both lines.
Step 12
Go to Object > Blend > Blend Options and apply Specified Steps; 2. Then go to Object > Blend > Make with both lines selected.
Step 13
Repeat Step 11.
Step 14
Right-click on the shape and select Transform > Reflect.
Select Horizontal Axis and Copy.
Step 15
Arrange both shapes together, and then select them and make a compound path with Object > Compound Path > Make.
Step 16
Apply a gold Linear Gradient to the resulting shape.
Step 17
Apply a 30% Opacity and Screen transparency to the shape.
Step 18
Arrange our finished shapes onto each other.
Step 19
Create four more copies of the finished petal and apply a different Effect > Warp to each one of them. Expand Appearance after each Warp.
Step 20
Create a flower out of the finished petals.
2. How to Finish the Flower
Step 1
Create an ellipse and fill it with a brown Radial Gradient.
Step 2
Set the Transparency to Multiply and Opacity to 80%.
Step 3
Place the shadow in the middle of the flower.
Step 4
Create a yellow rectangle.
Step 5
Bend the shape and add mesh nodes with the Mesh Tool (U).
Step 6
Follow these four steps to color and modify the shape.
Step 7
Create another orange rectangle.
Step 8
Modify this rectangle, following the instructions below.
Step 9
Create an ellipse with a Radial Gradient.
Step 10
Apply the Multiply transparency mode to it.
Step 11
Arrange all of the shapes from this part of the tutorial together.
Step 12
You can add some pollen seeds to the flower. To find out how to create them, head over to the second section of another flower tutorial of mine.
Step 13
Finally, assemble your flower!
3. How to Create the Stalk and Leaves
Step 1
Create a narrow green rectangle and color it with Mesh.
Step 2
Apply Effect > Warp > Flag with -33% Bend and -15% Horizontal Distortion to the shape. Expand Appearance.
Step 3
Color the Mesh further.
Step 4
Create a green rectangle, and then color and modify it with the help of the Mesh Tool (U).
Step 5
Select the leaf and edit its color by going to Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors. Input the following settings:
- Red: 4%
- Green: 6%
- Blue: -3%
Step 6
Similarly color and modify another rectangle.
Step 7
Set the Transparency of the four rightmost nodes to 70%.
Step 8
Take the leaf we made in Step 5, create a copy of it, and flatten it a bit.
Step 9
Warp the flattened leaf with Arch and the following settings:
- Bend: 12%
- Vertical Distortion: -21%
Expand Appearance.
Step 10
Arrange the finished leaves together.
Step 11
Put the shape from Step 7 over the top of them.
Step 12
Attach the flower to the stalk. You can create a few different variants by rotating it.
Step 13
Arrange these flowers into a bouquet, similar to my example below.
Step 14
Add the created leaves to your bouquet.
You’re done with the flowers! Let’s move on to creating the flowerpot.
4. How to Create the Flowerpot
Step 1
Let’s begin by creating the rim of the pot. Create half of the shape, as indicated in the picture, and then flip it with Reflect and copy it, to create a symmetrical rim shape.
Step 2
Color the rim with the colors indicated in the screenshot below.
Step 3
Create a narrow, dark orange ellipse.
Step 4
Add it under the rim we made in the previous step. Send it back by pressing Shift-Control-[ on your keyboard.
Step 5
Now, move on to creating the rest of the pot.
Draw an orange rectangle.
Step 6
Bend the shape a little downwards, so it resembles the flowerpot more.
Step 7
Finish coloring the flowerpot with this set of instructions.
Step 8
Finally, let’s create the soil for the flowers. With the Pen Tool (P), draw a shape similar to mine below, and then fill it in with a brown color.
Step 9
Add the soil into the flowerpot. You can send it forward and back by right-clicking and selecting Arrange.
Step 10
Create two narrow ellipses, the smaller one filled with a dark orange color and the bigger with any color—it doesn’t matter. Then arrange both ellipses onto each other as indicated in the picture.
Step 11
Set the Opacity of the bigger ellipse to 0%.
Step 12
Go to Object > Blend > Blend Options and apply Specified Steps; 30. Then do Object > Blend > Make with both ellipses selected.
Step 13
Set the Transparency Mode to Multiply and the Opacity to 70%.
Step 14
Create two more ellipses, fill the smaller one with a dark brown color, and put it on top of the bigger one.
Step 15
Repeat Step 12.
Step 16
Set the Transparency Mode to Multiply.
Step 17
Put the first ellipse on top of the soil and the second one under the pot as a shadow.
Step 18
Create two final shapes, the smaller one filled with dark green, and the bigger one white.
Step 19
Repeat Step 12 once more.
Step 20
Set the Transparency Mode to Multiply and the Opacity to 70%.
Step 21
Put the bouquet into the pot we made and set the green shadow over top of the lowest part of the stalks and leaves.
Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!
What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile, or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original image we recreated in this tutorial.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and will be extremely happy to see any results in the comments below!