... continued from the previous page.

1. Create the Pencil

Create a new document that's 500 X 600. Create a pencil shape using the pen tool with the color #f5ab1e.

Refer to this diagram, which will walk you through a simple way of making a perfect shape for the pencil, and then go to step 2 for the flat panels for the body before you rotate it into position.

1. draw a rectangle
2. add point in center of the side path
3. drag that new anchor point out to form the point,

2. Create the body of the pencil: Draw 3 rectangle shapes which make up the body of the pencil. Put a gradient on each of them using the colors in this diagram.
It will be easier to accomplish this series of operations building the pencil BEFORE rotating it to an angle.

• draw a short rectangle over the existing pencil
• Tap 'A' for the hollow pointer and select the end path (Anchors should look hollow) and DELETE to open the end of the rectangle
• Use the Pen tool to now connect the open anchors with a curve.
• Duplicate that shape two times (Click, option/alt, drag duplicates the shape)
• Select all three, and use the scale tool to vertically scale the three shapes to match the pencil rectangle behind the shapes.
• Continue to the next section for the metal ferrule and eraser. Don't rotate yet.

3. Create the metal ferrule: Draw the metal part of the pencil with the another rectangle. Choose a stroke that's 0.24 with the color #636363. Make the gradient #b9b9b9 and #fcfcfc.

• Use the rectangle tool (tap 'M') to draw the metal ferrul
• Double-click the gradient tool and set thet colors and angle as shown above, left
• Tap 'M' again, which should activate the round-corner rectangle tool (Or use the tool's pull-out to select the round-corner rectangle)
• Drage out a skinny rectangle as shown, then option/alt, click, drag to duplicate it.

4. Create the eraser using the same technique as above, except set up your gradient as shown, and set to a slight angle -- as above, right. Make the gradient color #5b0405 & #fe9fba. Be sure to send the eraser's round-rectangle to the BACK so only half of it shows.

5. Create sharpened wood Next draw this section of the pencil with the pen tool and make it a gradient with the colors #e8e0d2 and #f6bc62. Put a a stroke of 0.25 pixels with the color #383735. (left above)

6. Draw the lead tip of the pencil using the pen tool with a gradient of dark black to grey. (center above)

7. Draw the wood grain: Draw some pattern on this part of the pen. Choose a brown color and make the transperancy 23% opacity. (right above)

Depending on experimentation, and options, your finished pencil could look something like this, once rotated into position.

NEXT: The Triangle Ruler...

... continues on the next page!