In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw a realistic lipstick in Adobe Illustrator.
All you’ll need are ellipses, rectangles and a bunch of gradients. The skills you will learn can easily be transferred to creating various basic objects, so let’s get started!
Final Image
As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:
Tutorial Details
- Program: Adobe Illustrator CS6
- Estimated Completion Time: 120 minutes
- Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate
Step 1
Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New document.
Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 990 in the width box and 860 in the height box then click on the Advanced button.
Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.
Step 2
First of all, we’ll create the base of the lipstick. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 120 by 39px blue ellipse.
Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created ellipse and then move the copy 198px up.
Keep the newly create ellipse selected and make a copy of it, then replace the existing stroke color of the copy with red.
Focus on the third image, with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift key, select the four anchor points highlighted with black. Then click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" icon from the Properties bar. This makes the red and the lower blue ellipses become four curved paths.
Select the two curved paths as shown in the fourth image and remove them.
Now reselect the remaining two curved paths, right click on the artboard and then select the Join section from the drop-down menu.
Next right click on the artboard again, then select the Join section.
Step 3
Select the red object created in step 2, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the first image.
Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the resulting shape, then replace the existing fill color of the copy with the new linear gradient shown in the second image.
Keep the resulting shape selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Feather… Enter a 6px Radius and click OK.
Step 4
Select the blue ellipse and bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Remove the stroke of this ellipse and then fill it with the linear gradient shown in the first image.
Keep the resulting ellipse selected and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Next replace the existing fill color of the copy with the radial gradient shown in the second image.
Finally apply a 5px Feather effect to the resulting ellipse.
Step 5
Select the ellipse with feather effect applied in step 4 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it.
Keep the copy selected and go to the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance), then remove the Feather section.
Remove the existing fill color of the resulting ellipse and add a 3px yellow stroke.
Now pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and click on the two points highlighted with red. This will add two new anchor points to the yellow ellipse.
With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift key, select the two newly added anchor points and click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" icon from the Properties bar. This makes the yellow ellipse become two curved paths.
Select and remove the upper path. Now reselect the remaining curved path and replace the existing stroke color with the linear gradient within stroke shown in the third image.
Then apply Width Profile 1 and a 2px Feather effect to the resulting path.
Step 6
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create two rectangles with dimensions: 23 by 220px and 35 by 220px. Then place these two rectangles to the positions you see in the first image.
Reselect the magenta rectangle, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the second image.
Keep the resulting rectangle selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 4px Radius and click OK.
Next select the red rectangle, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the fourth image.
Then apply a 6px Gaussian Blur effect to the resulting rectangle.
Focus on the sixth image, using the Line Segment Tool (\) create a vertical line, with a 1px red stroke and no fill.
Reselect the newly created line and replace the existing stroke color with the linear gradient within stroke shown in the seventh image.
Then apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect to the resulting line.
Now reselect and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created in this step.
Next select the shape with feather effect applied in step 3 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).
Still having this copy selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the group created in this step. Right click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from the beginning of step 2 to this time.
The base of the lipstick is done!
Step 7
We will continue with the metal body of the lipstick. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 97 by 24px red ellipse, then place it in the correct position as shown in the first image.
Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of this ellipse and then move the copy 51px up.
Keep this copy selected and go to Object > Transform > Transform Each… Enter the data shown in the last image and click Copy.
Step 8
Select the first and the last ellipses created in step 7 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them, then replace the existing stroke colors of the copies with blue.
Next select the second ellipse created in step 7 and make a copy of it, then replace the existing stroke color of the copy with black.
Focus on the third image, with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift key, select the six anchor points highlighted with magenta. Then click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" icon from the Properties bar. This makes the two blue and the black ellipse become six curved paths.
Select the three curved paths shown in the fourth image and remove them.
Step 9
Select the black path created in step 8 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it.
Keep the copy selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the upper blue created in step 8. Right click on the artboard and then select the Join section from the drop-down menu.
Next right click on the artboard again, then select the Join section.
Select the remaining black and the blue paths and then press (Ctrl +J) twice to connect them.
Step 10
Select the black object created in step 9, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the first image.
Next select the blue object, then pick the Eyedropper Tool (I) and click on the shape you just filled with linear gradient. This will copy the gradient from the shape you just filled with linear gradient onto the blue object.
Step 11
Using the Line Segment Tool (\) create three vertical lines as shown in the images below.
Now select the two shapes created in step 10 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them.
Keep the copies selected, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Unite button.
Then bring the resulting shape to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).
Still having the newly created shape selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the three lines created in this step. Right click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
Step 12
Before you continue, select the three red ellipses created in step 7 and bring them to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).
Next select the bottom red ellipse and make a copy of it. Remove the stroke of the copy and then fill this ellipse with black (# 000000).
Finally apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect to the resulting ellipse, then hide it behind the lower shape created in step 10.
Step 13
Select the two lower red ellipses and go to Object > Transform > Transform Each… Follow the data shown in the first image and click OK.
Replace the existing stroke colors of the resulting ellipses with blue.
Keep the blue ellipses selected and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them, then replace the existing stroke colors of the copies with turquoise.
Focus on the second image, with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift key, select the four anchor points highlighted with magenta.
Then click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" icon from the Properties bar.
Next select the two turquoise curved paths shown in the third image and remove them.
Finally select the remaining two turquoise paths and then press (Ctrl +J) twice to connect them.
Step 14
Select the upper blue ellipse and go to Object > Transform > Transform Each… Follow the data shown in the first image and click Copy.
Replace the existing stroke color of the copy with black.
Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the black ellipse and then move the copy up to the position shown in the second image.
Before you continue, select the upper black ellipse and make a copy of it. Focus on the third image, select the four anchor points highlighted with magenta and click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" icon from the Properties bar.
Select the two black curved paths as shown in the fourth image and remove them.
Finally reselect the two remaining black curved paths and press (Ctrl +J) twice to connect them.
Step 15
Select the upper object created in step 14, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the first image.
Keep the resulting shape selected and change the Blending Mode to Multiply.
Next select the black object created in step 14, then pick the Eyedropper Tool (I) and click on the shape you just filled with linear gradient.
Step 16
Select the upper blue ellipse, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the first image.
Change the Blending Mode of the resulting ellipse to Hard Light and then hide it behind the upper shape created in step 10.
Next select the black ellipse created in step 14, then pick the Eyedropper Tool (I) and click on the shape you just filled with linear gradient.
Now select the remaining blue ellipse and replace the existing stroke color with dark grayish red (# 908385).
Then change the Blending Mode of the resulting ellipse to Hard Light.
Finally hide this ellipse behind the lower shape created in step 15.
Step 17
Select the red ellipse and go to Object > Transform > Transform Each… Follow the data shown in the first image and click OK.
Keep the resulting ellipse selected, remove its stroke and fill this object with very dark violet (# 25222a).
With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), create an object as you see in the second and the third images.
Once your object is drawn, remove its stroke and then fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the fourth image.
Make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the resulting shape and then replace the existing fill color of the copy with the new linear gradient.
Finally apply a 5px Feather effect to the resulting shape.
Step 18
With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create two shapes as you see in the first and second images.
Once your shapes are drawn, reselect them and then apply a 5px Feather effect to these shapes.
Step 19
Pick the Pen Tool (P) and create two curved paths as you see in the first and the second images.
Once your paths are drawn, reselect the blue path, change the stroke weight to 5px and replace the existing stroke color with strong pink (# ca0a53).
Then apply Width Profile 5 and a 3px Feather effect to the resulting path.
Now select the yellow curved path, change the stroke weight to 4px and replace the existing stroke color with the linear gradient within stroke.
Finally apply Width Profile 5 and a 2px Feather effect to the resulting path.
Step 20
Draw a slightly curved path with the Pen Tool (P) and give it a 3.5px white stroke (# ffffff) for the moment.
Then apply Width Profile 5 and a 3px Feather effect to the newly created path.
Continue with the Pen Tool (P), create another line as shown in the second image, with a 2.5px white stroke and no fill.
Finally apply Width Profile 5 and a 3px Feather effect to the newly created path.
Step 21
The lipstick is ready and looks like this:
Step 22
Next comes the lid of the lipstick. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 108 by 123px ellipse.
Make sure that the newly created ellipse is still selected and go to Object > Transform > Rotate… Enter a 20 degrees Angle and click OK.
Still having the resulting ellipse selected, make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it. Then move the copy 41px up and 141px to the right.
Keep this ellipse selected and go to Object > Transform > Scale… Check Uniform and enter 98% in the Scale box, then click OK.
Step 23
Select the lower-left blue ellipse and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then replace the existing stroke color of the copy with magenta.
Focus on the first image, select the four anchor points highlighted with black and click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" icon from the Properties bar.
Select the two curved paths as shown in the second image and remove them.
Next select the two remaining curved paths and press (Ctrl +J) twice to connect them.
Finally remove the stroke of the resulting object and then fill it with the linear gradient shown in the last image.
Step 24
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create two magenta rectangles.
Reselect the two newly created rectangles and double click on the Rotate Tool icon from the Tool panel. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a 16 degrees Angle and click OK.
Then place these two rectangles in the positions shown in the first image.
Reselect the upper magenta rectangle, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the second image.
Keep the resulting rectangle selected and go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 6px Radius and click OK, then change the Blending Mode of the resulting rectangle to Hard Light.
Next select the remaining magenta rectangle, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the fourth image.
Apply a 4px Gaussian Blur effect to the resulting rectangle and then change the Blending Mode to Hard Light.
Now select the shape created in step 23 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).
Still having this copy selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the two shapes with blur effects applied in this step.
Right click on the artboard and then select the Make Clipping Mask section from the drop-down menu.
Step 25
Select the blue ellipse and go to Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -1.5px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created ellipse with red.
Keep the red ellipse selected and go to Object > Transform > Move… Enter a -1.5px in the Horizontal box and click OK.
Now select the blue ellipse, remove its stroke and fill this object with the linear gradient shown in the third image.
Next select the red ellipse, remove its stroke and fill this object with the radial gradient shown in the next to last image.
Finally apply a 3px Feather effect to the resulting ellipse.
Step 26
Select and group (Ctrl +G) all objects created from the beginning of step 22 to this time.
The lid of the lipstick is done!
Step 27
We’re done with the lipstick. It’s time for the background now. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a 984 by 860px very soft pink rectangle.
Next place the lipstick and the lid in the positions shown in the second image.
Now we’ll add a shadow for the lid of the lipstick. With the help of the Pen Tool (P) and the Gradient Tool (G), create a shape as you see in the last two images.
Finally apply a 3px Gaussian Blur effect to the newly created shape and then hide it behind the lid.
Step 28
Select the lid and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then move the copy down to the position shown in the first image.
With the Selection Tool (V), double click on the newly created lid and then remove the clipping set of it.
Next with the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), click on the ellipse with feather effect of the new lid to select it. Then select the gradient annotator of this ellipse and drag it up to the position shown in the last image.
Step 29
Select the soft pink rectangle created in step 27 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket).
Replace the existing fill color of the newly created rectangle with the new radial gradient shown in the first image.
Change the Blending Mode of the resulting rectangle to Difference and then move it 20px down.
Now select the lid created in step 28 and the rectangle created in this step. Then open the Transparency panel (Window > Transparency) and click on the Make Mask button. The gradient opacity mask should look like the last image below.
Step 30
Select the base of the lipstick and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then move the copy down to the position shown in the first image.
Pick the Selection Tool (V) and double click on the newly created group. Focus on the top of this group, select the two objects with feather effects and remove them.
Next select the remaining ellipse and replace the existing fill color with very dark red (#231f20).
Finally, double click anywhere outside of the group just edited.
Step 31
With the Selection Tool (V), double click on the group edited in step 30, then double click on the clipping set.
Now select the group that is contained in this clipping set and then double click on the Reflect Tool icon from the Tool panel. In the Reflect dialog box, check Horizontal and click OK.
Finally, double-click anywhere outside of the clipping set.
Step 32
With the Selection Tool (V), select the group edited in the previous steps and press (Ctrl +X) to cut it.
Next double click on the gradient opacity mask created in step 29 and press (Ctrl +F) to paste the group that was cut in this step.
Finally, double-click anywhere outside of the gradient opacity mask.
And We’re Done!
