Adobe Illustrator can be a little tricky to get your hands around, particularly after getting used to the workflow of applications like Photoshop. The differences between layer use and the creation of objects and shapes can be really strange at first hand.

In the following steps you will learn how to create a Robotic Pony. You will start with simple rectangles and ellipses then using multiple fills, several simple techniques as Pathfinder, Clipping Mask… you will create your own robotic Pony.

Let’s get started!

Final Result

Let’s see what you will be creating in this tutorial.

Create A Robotic Pony in Illustrator

Step 1: The body of the Pony

1. Create a 800 by 800px, RGB document. Pick the Rectangle tool (M) and use it to create a 215 by 90px shape. Next switch to the Ellipse tool (L) and use this tool to create a 30 by 90px shape. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the ellipse shape once time and then place two ellipse shapes to the correct positions as shown in the second image.

2. Select the rectangle shape and the right side ellipse shape and then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder.

3. Select the remaining ellipse shape and go to the Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a -4px Offset and then click OK.

4. Fill shapes as shown below.

5. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the white shape once time and fill the copy with 90% black. Next move the copy 2px to the left and send it backward (Ctrl + Left Square Bracket).

6. Select the large black shape. Next pick the Add Anchor Point tool (+) and click on three points highlighted with yellow. Finally move these anchor points down as shown below.

Next select these anchor points again and click on the " Convert selected anchor points to smooth" button from the Properties bar. Adjust the handles of anchor point highlighted with yellow to get the result as shown in the second image.

Step 2: Create the saddle

7. Select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the large black shape once time. Next select anchor point highlight with white and move it 10px down.

8. Select two black shapes and click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder palette. Next fill the newly created shape with the linear gradient.

9. Duplicate (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F) the shape we have just edited in the previous step. Next select two anchor points highlighted with green and move them 10px down. Fill the newly created shape with the linear gradient.

10. Reselect the shape edited in the previous step and duplicate (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + F) it once time. Next select two anchor points highlighted with green and move them 10px down. Fill the result with the linear gradient.

11. Repeat the same techniques to get the result as shown below.

12. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) two shapes selected once time and send the copies to back (Ctrl +Shift+ Left Square Bracket). Next move the copies 10px up and then 10px to the left.

Pick the Direct Selection tool (A) and select two anchor points highlighted with green. Next move them to the position highlighted with green. Do the same to get the result as shown in the second image below.

Do the same to get the result as shown in the second image below.

13. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the shape selected once time. Next fill the copy with none and add a 2px stroke (white color). Finally send the copy downward (Ctrl+Left Square Bracket).

14. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the shape selected once time. Next fill the copy with none and add a 1px stroke (white color).

Step 3: The Head of the Pony

15. Pick the Rectangle tool (M) and use it to create a 120 by 70px shape. Next select two anchors highlighted with green and move them 15px follow directions of the arrows.

16. Switch to the Add Anchor Points tool (+) and click on the position highlighted with yellow to add an anchor point. Next click on the "Convert selected anchor points to smooth" button from the Properties bar. Finally move this anchor point 3px to the right.

17. Reselect the newly created shape and go to the Object menu/ Path/Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a 5px Offset and then click OK. Next change the color of the result to white. Keep the white shape selected, remove anchor points highlighted with red arrows and then move the green anchor point 30px to the left.

18. Create a yellow shape and place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. Next select the yellow shape and the white shape and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette. Finally ungroup (Ctrl +Shift +G) the result. Now select and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl+F) the black shape. Keep the copy selected, add two anchor points at the positions highlighted with yellow and then remove two anchor points highlighted with red. Next add an anchor point highlighted with yellow. Keep this anchor point selected, click on the " Convert selected anchor points to smooth" button from the Properties bar and then move it 2px to the right.

19. Fill the larger black shape with the linear gradient.

20. Pick the Polygon tool (hidden in the Rectangle tool group) and click on the anywhere in the document. In the Polygon box, enter 1.5px Radius and 6 Sides and then click OK. Create similar shapes and then place them to the positions as shown below. Finally select and group (Ctrl +G) all newly created shapes.

21. Select the smaller black shape and bring it to front (Ctrl + Shift + Right Square Bracket). Next place the newly created group to the correct position as shown in the second image. Keep this group selected, hold down Shift and click on the smaller black shape and then go to the Object menu/ Clipping Mask/ Make (Ctrl +7).

22. Create an ellipse shape (25 by 20px) and place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. Keep this shape selected and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F, Ctrl +F) it twice times. Next select a copy and the upper white shape and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette. Continue select the remaining copy and the lower white shape and then click on the Minus Front button again.

23. Fill two newly created shapes with the linear gradient.

24. Select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the upper white shape. Next move the copy 2px down and 1px to the left. Fill the copy with 40% black and then send it backward (Ctrl + Left Square Bracket)

Keep the copy selected, select the anchor point highlighted with yellow and move it 1px to the right. Next select the anchor point highlighted with green and move it to the position highlighted with blue.

25. Select and resize the red shape as shown below. Next create two ellipse shapes concentric with the red ellipse shape. Finally fill the ellipse shapes with the linear gradient as shown below.

26. Pick the Ellipse tool (L), click on the top point highlighted with yellow, hold down the mouse and drag to the bottom point. Next change the width of the newly created shape to 12px. Next fill the result with 5% black.

Keep the result selected and go to the Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a -2px Offset and then click OK. Fill the result with 70% black.

27. Select and group (Ctrl+G) all shapes created in the beginning of the step 15 to this time. Keep this group selected and double click on the Rotate tool button from the Tool palette. In the Rotate box, enter a -60 Angle and then click OK.

Place the newly created group to the correct position as shown below.

Step 4: The Neck of the Pony

28. Pick the Pen tool (P) and use it to create a red shape as shown below. Next fill this shape with the linear gradient.

29. Continue create an red other and fill it with the linear gradient.

30. Keep working with the Pen tool (P). Use this tool to create shapes and then fill them with the radial gradient.

31. Select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) four newly created shapes. Next move the copies to other position. Reselect and group (Ctrl+G) four original shapes and then go to the Effect menu/ Stylize/ Drop Shadow. In the Drop Shadow box, enter the data as shown below and then click OK. Name of this group is "A".

32. Look at the result, we can see an unwanted part of the shadow (highlighted with the red arrow). Don’t worry, we’ll fix this now.

33. Reselect four copies and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette. Next go to the Object menu/ Compound Path/ Release.

The result include a large shape (name of it is "B" ) and some small shapes. So move the large shape to other position and then remove all small shapes.

34. Now we ‘ll place the shape "B" to the correct position of the group "A". Select the group "A", hold down Shift, click on the shape "B", release Shift and click on the group "A" again ( to fixed position of the group "A" ). Next click on the Horizontal Center Align button from the Align palette and then click on the Vertival Center Align button

Select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) two shapes highlighted with yellow arrows. While the copies selected, hold down Shift and click on the shape "B" and then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette.

Keep the result selected, hold down Shift and click on the group "A". Next go to the Object menu/ Clipping Mask/ Make (Ctrl+7).

35. Pick the Rectangle tool (M) and use it to create a 20 by 15px shape. Next switch to the Ellipse tool (L). Use this tool to create two black shapes (20 by 3px) and a white shape ( 24 by 5px). Next select the rectangle shape and the lower black ellipse shape and then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette.

Fill the result with the linear gradient. Next fill the upper ellipse shape with the radient gradient. Keep this shape selected and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) it once time. Next lowered Opacity of the copy to 60% and then fill it with the radial gradient. Fill the remaining ellipse shape with the liear gradient and add a 0.5px stroke (60% black). Finally select and group (Ctrl+G) all shapes created from beginning step 35 to this time.

36. Pick the Pen tool (P) and use it to create a white shape and then fill the result with the radial gradient. Continue use the Pen tool to create an other shape and place this shape to the correct position as shown in the second image. Next fill this shape with the radial gradient.

Continue create shapes and fill them with the radial gradient as shown below.

37. In the end your shapes should look roughly like the first image. Next select and group (Ctrl+G) all shapes created from beginning step 36 to this time. Now place this group to the correct position as shown in the second image below. Finally select and group (Ctrl+G) two newly created groups.

38. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the newly created group six times, rotate the copies and place to the correct positions as shown below.

Step 5: The Tail of the Pony

39. Pick the Ellipse tool (L) and use it to create a green shape (20 x 70px). Next place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. Switch to the Rectangle tool (M) and use it to create a red shape (10 x 70px). Next place it to the correct position as shown in the second image.

Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F, Ctrl+F) the green shape twice times. Next move a copy to the correct position as shown below and change color of it to blue. Select a green shape and the red shape and then click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette.

40. Fill the remaining green shape with 90% black (stroke: None). Next move the result 1px to the right and 1px down. Continue fill the red shape with the linear gradient (Stroke: None). Finally fill the blue shape with 20% black.

41. Do the same to get the result as shown below.

42. Create an ellipse shape and fill it with the radient gradient as shown below.

43. Select and resize the group created in the step 37. Next rotate it (enter 90 Angle in the Rotate box) and place it to the correct position as shown below.

44. Select shapes as shown below and then replace the existing color with the radial gradient.

Step 6: The Legs of the Pony

45. Create a red shape and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) it once time. Switch to the Add Anchor Point tool (+) and click on two positions highlighted with yellow. Next select and move the anchor point highlighted with green 28px down.

46. Fill two newly created shapes with the linear gradient.

47. Select and group (Ctrl+G) two newly created shapes. Next duplicate this group once time and place the copy to the correct position as shown below.

48. Group (Ctrl+G) shapes selected as shown in the first image and then hide this newly created group. Next use the Pen tool (P) to create a yellow shape as shown in the second image and then fill it with 100% black.

49. Press (Ctrl+Alt+3) to show the group hidden in the previous step. Keep this group selected, press (Ctrl+Shift+ Right Square Bracket) to bring it to front.

50. Now create a rectangle shape and an ellipse shape and then place them as shown in the second image. Next select two newly created shapes and click on the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette. While the result selected, go to the Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a 2px Offset and then click OK.

Keep the result selected, select the top, left anchor point and move it 45px down and 15px to the right. Continue select the top, right anchor point and move it 45px down and 15px to the left.

Fill two newly created shapes with the linear gradient.

51. Create a rectangle shape (38 by 54px). Next select the bottom, left anchor point and move it 2px to the right. Continue select the bottom, right anchor point and move it 2px to the left.

Fill the result with the linear gradient.

52. Now pick the Ellipse tool (L) and use it to create a 6 by 38px shape. Next place the shape to the correct position as shown in the first image. Keep this shape selected, go to the Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a 1.5px Offset and then click OK. Select two ellipse shapes and click on the Exclude button from the Pathfinder palette.

Use the Rectangle tool (M) to create a 32 by 32px shape and then place this shape to the correct position as shown in the first image. Next select two newly created shapes and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.

Fill the result with the linear gradient.

Now add an anchor point to the shape selected as shown in the first image. Keep the anchor point select and move it 2px down.

53. Use the Ellipse tool (L) to create two shapes and then place them to the correct positions as shown in the first image. Select two newly created shapes and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.

54. Fill the result with the linear gradient. Next duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) this shape once time. Keep the copy selected and select the top anchor point and then move it 10px up. Reselect the newly created shape and replace the existing color with a new linear gradient as shown in the third image.

55. Now create a red shape and place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. Next select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the shape created in the step 53. Keep the copy selected, click on the red shape and then click on the Intersect button from the Pathfinder palette.

Select all anchor points highlighted with the arrows and click on the "Convert selected anchor points to smooth" button from the Properties bar. Finally fill the resul with the linear gradient.

Whilte the result selected, go to the Effect menu/ Stylize/ Drop Shadow. In the Drop Shadow box, enter the data as shown below and then click OK.

56. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all shapes created from beginning step 50 to this time. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) this group and then rotate the copy an angle of 180 degrees. Next place the result to the correct position as shown in the first image. Ungroup (Ctrl + Alt + 3) for the copy and remove shapes as shown in the second image. Next add two anchor points to the shape selected as shown in the third image. Move two newly created anchor points 3px follow the directions of the green arrows. Continue move two bottom anchor points 3px follow the directions of the blue arrows.

57. Create a red shape and then fill it with 70% black. Next create similar others as shown in the second image and then place them to the positions as shown in the final image below.

58. Use the Pen tool (P) to create a red shape. Next select two anchor points highlighted with blue and click on the " Convert selected anchor points to smooth" button from the Properties bar. Now adjust the handles of these anchor points to get the result as shown in the second image.

59. Create a green ellipse shape (10 by 10px) and place it to the correct position as shown in the first image. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the newly created shape once time. Keep the copy selected, click on the red shape and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.

While the result selected, go to the Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a -1px Offset and click OK. Reselect the green shape and go to the Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a 1px Offset and click OK.

Select two newly created shapes (the smaller red shape and the larger green shape) and click on the Minus Back button from the Pathfinder palette. While the result selected, select two anchor points highlighted with yellow and click on the "Cut path at selected anchor points" button from the Properties bar. Next remove the shape selected as shown in the fourth image.

Select anchor points highlighted with yellow and move them to the positions highlighted with white. Next reselect the red curve and click on the Round Cap button from the Stroke palette. Finally change the color of the curve to 30 % black.

60. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F, Ctrl+F) the red shape twice times and move a copy 3px up.While the copy selected, click on a lower red shape and then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.

61. Fill the red shapes with the linear gradient.

62. Now select and resize the green shape as shown below. While the result selected, go to the Object menu/ Path/ Offset Path. In the Offset Path box, enter a -1.5px Offset and then click OK.

63. Fill the green shapes with the radial gradient.

64. Select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) two newly created shapes. Next resize and place the copies to the correct position as shown below.

65. Duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the shape selected as shown in the first image. Next resize the copy and replace the existing color with the new radial gradient. Finally lowered its Opacity to 50%.

66. Now select and group all shapes created from beginning step 50 to this time and then place this group to the correct position as shown in the first image. Next press ( Ctrl+Shift + Left Square Bracket) some times to get the result as shown in the second image.

67. We’ll create the remaining foreleg for the pony. Now select and duplicate (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) the newly created group. Move the copy to the new position and then ungroup (Ctrl + Shift + G) it.. Next select shapes as shown in the first image. While the shapes selected, pick the Rotate tool (R), hold down Alt and click on the center of two large circle shapes. In the Rotate box, enter 45 Angle and click OK.

Do the same as the previous step to rotate the shapes selected as shown in the first image (but enter -15 Angle in the Rotate box). Next edit the shapes highlighted with the green arrow to get the result as shown in the third image.

68. Select and group (Ctrl+G) all shapes created from beginning step 67 to this time. Place this group to the correct position as shown in the first image. Next press (Ctrl + Shift + Left Square Bracket) to send this group to back.

Repeat the same techniques to create two hindlegs. In the end the result should look like the image shown.

Final Result

Here is the final image. Hope you enjoy this tutorial. Have fun

Conclusion

As difficult as it looks I’m very sure if you follow my tutorial you will find a lot of help using your skills and images to produce your own creation! Ones again Thank you for using our tutorial, we will be very happy to answer any questions that you may have, You can simply leave a feedback and or a comment bellow.