In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a vector pencil and paper illustration with some pencil shavings and a sharpener. We will explain how to use the 3D Revolve Tool and Extrude Tool and how to simulate a dark wood background.

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We have the results in for the Cutest Character Design Contest. Up for grabs is a Wacom tablet, a Logitech G9 laser mouse, free 12-month subscriptions to VECTORTUTS Plus and lots of credit to spend at our other sites. We had a whole lot of artists enter the contest, and well over 100 entries. I hope everyone had a lot of fun getting their cute on! Learn all about the winning entries at the jump!

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This tutorial shows you how I build a Bucket ‘o’ Thought character and add a dynamic background effect. This process can be applied to any sketch you are vectorising. It takes some knowledge and skill with the Pen tool, but gives you ultimate control over your line work. In this tutorial, I will constantly refer to a tools’ quick key, learn your quick keys people, it makes things so much easier!

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Ossi Pirkonen is an illustrator with a knack for quirky character design and using vibrant, warm colors. His vector-style illustration has appeared on everything from album covers to books to Ford car ads.

Like many of you, Ossi moonlights as a freelancer while working full-time. In this interview Ossi shares his tricks of the trade, words of inspiration and tells how a career in illustration is all his mom’s fault!

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I’ve been fascinated by Spirograph designs since I was a kid. I love the cool symmetrical way they look. I know there’s programs out there that can draw Spirograph designs automatically, but that just isn’t as fun as making them by hand.

When I started learning Illustrator, I struggled to make the loops manually and the results were far from perfect. I knew Illustrator must have a better way to do it, and eventually I found it! That’s what it’s all about, just learning to use the tools so that your ideas can be set free.

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In this tutorial, we’ll look at how to create a magazine cover in InDesign. You’ll learn how to set up a page layout and add text. This is an introduction to InDesign and no previous knowledge is required. This is a simple project put together to help get you started with InDesign. Let’s get to it!

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Logos are everywhere. Because of this, only a few can rise among the noise — and often it’s the more unique logos that are most memorable. Sometimes to be unique, you’ve also got to be weird. In this post, we showcase twenty lovably strange logos that work.

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We have a new set of floral Illustrator brushes available exclusively for PLUS members. These are great for using in your design work. There are numerous floral brushes to add a decorative and organic touch to your next design. Learn more at the jump!

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December was another stellar month for the design community. Each month we scour the web for the best vector content and this month there was a lot of great stuff to choose from. This round up features some of the best content for the month of December. I hope everyone is having a wonderful holidays and has time to kick back and practice their vector skills.

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This tutorial will show the intermediate-to-advanced Adobe Illustrator artist how to make a realistic military style cap icon using predominately gradients, blends, and the Gradient Mesh Tool. We’ll be using a photo reference to base this illustration on, though utilizing creative judgement throughout the process.

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