Tutorial: How to make a magic potion

Welcome to the seventh tutorial of the UI/Game Art for Beginners series. In this tutorial we will be learning how to make a magical potion in Adobe Illustrator.

BACKGROUND

Create a new document that is 600 pixels wide and 600 pixels high
Use the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw out a rectangle that is 600 pixels wide and 600 pixels high
Remove the border
Fill the rectangle with a dark gray (#353535)
Open the Layers Panel and rename Layer 1 as “background” and lock the layer

FLASK

Make a new layer above the background layer and rename it “flask”
Choose the Ellipse Tool (L) and click on the Artboard once
Make an ellipse that is 300 pixels x 300 pixels and fill it with white
Choose the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on the Artboard once
Make a rectangle that is 100 pixels x 50 pixels
Align the rectangle to the top-center of the ellipse (half above and half below the ellipse)
Send the rectangle to the back (Object > Arrange > Send to Back)
Choose the Ellipse Tool (L) and click on the Artboard once
Make an ellipse that is 125 pixels x 25 pixels
Make a copy of the ellipse (CTRL + C) and paste it in front (CTRL + F)
Move the copied ellipse up 60 pixels
Choose the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on the Artboard once
Make a rectangle that is 125 pixels x 60 pixels
Move the rectangle between the two ellipses
Choose the Ellipse Tool (L) and click on the Artboard once
Make an ellipse that is 100 pixels x 10 pixels
Change the color to a light gray (#e2e2e2)
Position the gray ellipse below the bottom of the bottom ellipse (step #13)
Select the original ellipse and make a copy of it (CTRL + C) and paste it in front (CTRL + F)
Make a second copy of the original ellipse (CTRL + C) and paste it in front (CTRL + F)
Move the second copy to the left 30 pixels
Select both copies of the ellipse
Open the Pathfinder Tool and choose Minus Front (second icon from the left under “Shape Modes”
Change the size of the highlight to 130 pixels x 250 pixels
Change the color to a light gray (#e2e2e2)
Change the Opacity to 50%

CORK

Select the top-ellipse and make a copy of it (CTRL + C) and paste it in front (CTRL + F)
Offset the inner ellipse (Object > Path > Offset Path ….. -7 pixels)
Fill the inner ellipse (potion) with a brown color (#b27b32)
Move the bottom of the cork up 5 pixels
Make a copy of the ellipse (CTRL + C) and paste it in front (CTRL + F)
Move the copied ellipse up 40 pixels
Choose the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on the Artboard once
Make a rectangle that is 101.767 pixels x 40 pixels
Move the rectangle between the two ellipses
Choose the top ellipse and make it a lighter color (#c6873c)
Select all three sections of the cork
Open the Pathfinder Tool and select Merge (third icon from the left under “Pathfinders”)
Make a copy of the cork (CTRL + C) and paste it in front (CTRL + F)
Move the copied cork down 60 pixels
Change the opacity of the copied cork to 50%

POTION

Select the original ellipse and make a copy of it (CTRL + C) and paste it in front (CTRL + F)
Offset the inner ellipse (Object > Path > Offset Path ….. -7 pixels)
Fill the inner ellipse (potion) with a blue color (#009995)
Choose the Add Anchor Point Tool (+)
Add two anchor points just above the middle anchor points (one on each side)
Choose the Direct Selection Tool (A)
Select both of the new anchor points and delete them
Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and click on the Artboard once
Make an ellipse that is 285 pixels x 55 pixels
Align the ellipse to the top-center of the inner-ellipse (half above and half below the inner-ellipse)
Change the color of the top ellipse to a lighter blue (#00a59d)
Choose the Direct Selection Tool (A)
Choose the top-center anchor point of the top ellipse
Move the right handle down and to the right to give the top ellipse an “s” shape
Select the cork and the top of the flask and group them (CTRL + G)
Align the cork and the top of the flask to the bottom of the flash
Select all the parts of the flask and group them together (CTRL + G)