In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator to create a pair of photo-realistic vector hands holding a plant!
1. How to Draw the Hands With Mesh
Step 1
Let's learn how to use Gradient Mesh!
Begin by drawing a rectangle and filling it with
#DAA592
. Next, take the Mesh Tool (U) and create a mesh grid inside the object by clicking on different spots.
Bend the object into the shape seen in the screenshot below. Once the shape and the mesh grid matches the image, select the upper left nodes and color them with
#F0C1B3
.
Continue by selecting and coloring the indicated nodes with the respective colors.
You will need these:
#DAA592
#F0C1B3
#D99F8A
#D18F76
#CC8A71
#C0826B
![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-17-5.780.jpg gradient mesh hand](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-17-5.780.jpg)
Step 2
Continue drawing the arm, using Mesh to color the indicated nodes.
#C48268
#C5846E
#C27B67
#F5E4DF
![vector mesh hand](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-19-29.859.jpg)
Step 3
Finish this part of the arm.
#B97A61
#CA8972
#CE8F78
#D69E8A
![arm mesh deconstruction](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-22-26.252.jpg)
Step 4
Begin drawing the next part of the arm.
#CB8B73
#903023
#E6BAAD
#E3A999
![mesh grid photo-realistic hand](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-24-53.103.jpg)
Step 5
Finish this part of the arm.
#DA9A86
#D18570
#C27561
#C47E68
![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-27-5.951.jpg human arm mesh](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-27-5.951.jpg)
Step 6
Align both arm parts together.
![vector arm](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-27-35.189.jpg)
Step 7
Move the parts close enough to put the border nodes on top of each other. Then select each pair of nodes (with the Lasso Tool (Q)) and color them with the same color code to match them perfectly.
#C8876F
#C8876F
#C7866F
#C5846E
#CB8B73
#C27B67
#C6846E
#C5846E
#CC8A71
#CB8A72
#CB8A72
#D69F8B
#F0C1B3
![adobe illustrator vector hand mesh](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-28-49.968.jpg)
Step 8
Draw the finger.
#DB9883
#F2C7BE
#D68372
#F4B9AC
#E8A897
![finger vector mesh tutorial](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-31-6.154.jpg)
Step 9
Continue drawing the finger.
#E29B86
#DA927C
#E6A593
#ECA592
#DD927C
#A94A3F
![gradient mesh tutorial](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-40-49.802.jpg)
Step 10
Finish the drawing.
#C8816A
#D4907A
#D77165
![realistic mesh tutorial](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-42-26.603.jpg)
Step 11
Draw the nail.
#E58F8C
#FCC1C1
#FAD0D3
#DF7C77
#FECDD1
#E89D9A
#F984B7
![vector mesh nail](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-44-54.894.jpg)
Step 12
Attach the nail to the finger.
![human finger drawing deconstruction](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-45-8.618.jpg)
Step 13
Attach the finger to the rest of the hand the way we did in Step 7.
#EDCEC5
#E1AB99
#CF917A
#CF917A
#C9826B
![how to draw hands](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-45-59.721.jpg)
Step 14
Begin drawing another finger.
#EBA79A
#FCD5D4
#DB8776
#CE8E79
#D69486
#DD907F
![vector finger](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-47-52.982.jpg)
Step 15
Finish the finger.
#D89788
#F4BCAF
#E69787
#FCD5D4
![mesh tool finger hand arm](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-50-0.587.jpg)
Step 16
Draw another nail.
#F0AAA9
#FFD9CD
#FFB9B8
#FCCCCC
#FAA69C
#FDC0B5
![nail drawing vector](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-52-27.988.jpg)
Step 17
Draw another finger.
#DE9D8E
#EEADA3
#F0BFB6
#C77863
![finger mesh](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-54-43.991.jpg)
Step 18
Finish the finger and attach the nail to it.
#DB8C7B
#E7B2A5
#CE8D76
#D89782
![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-57-57.211.jpg gradient mesh drawing](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-57-57.211.jpg)
Step 19
Draw the last finger of the first arm.
#E2A998
#D18B76
#D79987
#E5B8AA
![photo-realistic mesh arm](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_11-58-52.167.jpg)
Step 20
Draw the second arm.
#DB8C7B
#E2B9A9
#D28F76
#CD8F7A
![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-0-20.668.jpg vector mesh deconstruction](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-0-20.668.jpg)
Step 21
Draw a finger for the second arm.
#DC9F8A
#DA7D68
#EBC0B6
#D78F76
![human finger draw](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-1-46.292.jpg)
Step 22
Finish the drawing.
#E6A591
#E49587
#D38F7D
![gradient mesh](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-3-25.257.jpg)
Step 23
Assemble the hand out of the parts we made.
![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-4-16.290.jpg human hands drawing vector tutorial](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-4-16.290.jpg)
Step 24
Match the node colors just like before.
#CE8E79
#CE8E79
#CF8F7A
#CF8F7B
#D3937D
#D99984
#D59680
#D1917A
#E0AD9D
#E6B9AC
![mesh nodes](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-5-35.659.jpg)
2. How to Draw the Leaves and the Soil
Step 1
Draw a green mesh base (
#638F35
), and then add some mesh nodes colored with #5F8730
to the middle of it.
Draw an
#ADAD4D
outline, place it on top of the mesh, and then draw an outline for the leaf. Place it on top of both elements we made before, select everything, and use Make Clipping Mask after right-clicking on the image.![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-6-35.621.jpg draw mesh leaf](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-6-35.621.jpg)
Step 2
Draw a stem for the plant and fill it with a Linear Gradient (
#331408
- #6F9700
- #6F9700
).![gradient stem](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-7-5.733.jpg)
Step 3
Draw another part of the stem with Mesh.
#759334
#679134
![mesh stem](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-8-0.732.jpg)
Step 4
Make the left edge of the object completely transparent.
![opacity](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-8-19.819.jpg)
Step 5
Create a copy of the leaf we made before and proceed to Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors, using these settings:
- Red: 7%
- Green: 8%
- Blue: -43%
![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-9-24.343.jpg recoloring leaf](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-9-24.343.jpg)
Step 6
Assemble the plant.
![young plant vector](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-9-45.935.jpg)
Step 7
Draw an outline of soil and fill it with
#2D2115
.![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-9-58.419.jpg soil vector](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%202018-4-13_12-9-58.419.jpg)
Step 8
Place the soil and the plant into the vector hands.
![Image: https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/3a.jpg hands with plant vector mesh](https://cms-assets.tutsplus.com/uploads/users/1500/posts/30963/image/3a.jpg)
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