Version: Illustrator 8+

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1. Flower petal

Create two stroke paths: one yellow and one blue.

2. Blend Options

Go to Object > Blend > Blend Options and set it to Specified Steps = 10. Specified Steps basically tells how many step to blend from 1 object to another.

Blend

Now select the 2 petal paths, go to Object > Blend > Make or press Ctrl + Alt + B and you should get something looks like the image shown below.

3. Duplicate more petals

Duplicate more petals to form the flower by Copy & Paste or Alt + Drag.

4. Stem

Create a stem by using the same Blend technique as in the previous step. Here I set the Specified Steps = 8.

5. Leaf

The leaf is formed by 2 parts, top and bottom. I use Specified Steps = 5 here.

6. Put them together

Now put them together to create a beautiful flower.

7. Right long leaf

Create a long leaf with Blend step = 3.

8. Left long leaf

Repeat the previous step to create the left long leaf.

Final

Your final image should looks like the image shown below:

More…

Play around with the stroke color, stroke weight, Blend step, Transparency and you might get unexpected nice result. Here is a sample I did in Photoshop, with different Blend Mode, Multiply and Darken. This image style is good for creating website header, banner, wallpaper, background, large print, etc.

Version: Illustrator 9+Download Source File

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1. Create the feather paths

First create the paths of the feather with the Pen Tool.

2. Apply Gradient color

Select the top 2 paths, fill it with Radial Gradient, pick similar colors as shown. Then repeat this step for the rest of the paths.

3. Apply Multiply

Select all the feather paths, go to Transparency pallate, select Multiply.

Final

Now you can duplicate the feather and lower the Opacity (Transparency).

Version: Illustrator 9+Download Source File

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1. Place a photo

First place a photo in Layer 1 by File > Place or Copy & Paste from clip board. Double click on Layer 1 to change the Layer Options. Set Dim Images to: 30% and lock layer.

2. Start tracing

Make a new layer (Layer 2). Hold down Ctrl key and click on the eye icon of Layer 2 to view Layer 2 in Outline mode.

Use the Pen Tool and start tracing the basic features of the girl. While you are tracing, there are couple shortcut keys you should know in order to work more faster.

These shortcuts are:

• Ctrl+[ = Send Backward (This will send object back 1 step)
• Ctrl+] = Bring Forward (This will bring object front 1 step)
• Ctrl+Shift+[ = Send to Back (This will send object all the way to the back)
• Ctrl+Shift+] = Bring to Front (This will bring object all the way to the front)
• Ctrl+F = Paste in Front (This will paste object in front with same position)

3. Make shadow

Draw a new path as shown (top). Then Copy the base path of the face and Paste in Front. Select the copied base path and the new path, open your Pathfinder, Alt-click on Intersect shape areas.

Use the same technique from previous step and make all shadow paths for the overall illustration. You don’t have to get into the details yet, one simple shadow path of each part is good enough (ie. eye, lips, shirt, body, etc). Remember to use Ctrl+C for copy; and Ctrl+F to paste object in front. Trust me, this will save you a lot of time!

4. Fill in base color

Now fill in the base color for the face, eye, lips, and eyebrow.

5. Shadow gradient

Fill the shadow path of the face with a Gradient (white-skin tone) and select Multiply for Blending Mode.

Select the other shadow paths and use the Eyedropper Tool to copy the gradient fill of the main shadow path.

For the lip and eye shadow, use the Eyedropper to copy the base fill and select Multiply Blending Mode.

6. Body

Use the same technique, copy the gradient fill for the body. Note you might to adjust the gradient of each shadow path to blend in with the overall illustration.

7. Hair

Pretty much the same, fill 1 path with the gradient, then use the Eyedropper Tool to copy the fill.

8. Shirt

Same technique as the previous steps.

9. Skirt

Fill the skirt with a blue gradient, then use the Eyedropper Tool to copy the fill for the shadow.

10. Hair details

Now you can add more details to the hair. Make shadow effect by adding Multiply paths. Add some highlights by using lighter gradient color. If you want, you can add more details to the clothes, lips, or add a cool tattoo on her body.

Final

After you get used to this tracing technique, you can basically trace anything!

More Samples

Here are some samples that I traced from photo using the same technique.