How do I Draw a Bat in Illustrator?

Follow these instructions to create a bat illustration (all while learning how to use the basic drawing tools in Adobe Illustrator!).

This tutorial teaches the following tools:

Pen tool
Elipse tool
Changing the order of objects
Alignment via Smart Guides
Duplicating with the Selection Tool
Changing Fill and Stroke

Finished Product

When you are finished, you will create this lovely bat!

In this tutorial, you can choose to either follow along with a video, or use text and image instructions. Choose what's best for you! If you use the video, be ready to pause, rewind and rewatch areas.

Video Instructions

Text Instructions

Select the Pen Tool

Select the pen tool by either clicking on the pen, or using the keyboard shortcut for the pen tool by pressing the "p" key once, which will switch you to the pen tool.

Draw a Triangle by clicking where the corners of the triangle will go. Be sure to close the triangle by clicking the starting corner.

Select the Triangle with the selection tool

Switch to the selection tool (press the "v" key to switch quickly), then click on the triangle.

Change the fill to none, stroke to black.

Use the Selection tool to duplicate and align the triangle

Hold down alt/option while dragging with the selection tool to create a second triangle to the right.