How to Draw Vector Peaches Using Gradient Mesh in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will have the opportunity to learn how to use the Gradient Mesh Tool to draw a pair of appetizing peaches.

If you'd like to skip this tutorial and just use these peaches in your work, you can go ahead and simply purchase Two Fresh Peaches from GraphicRiver!

1. How to Draw a Peach Using Mesh

Step 1

Let's start off by drawing the top bun with Gradient Mesh.

Create an orange rectangle—the color is #FFAC38.

Next, grab the Mesh Tool (U). Click to create nodes, which in turn create a Mesh Grid. When you have a thick enough mesh grid, grab the edges of the rectangle and move them to make the shape rounder. It should resemble the shape of a peach.

Once you're done with the shaping, select the middle cluster of nodes (they are already colored differently in the screenshot) and color them with #FF7B46.

Next, select the nodes that are darker (they're selected below) and proceed to change their color to #FF3A09.

Add some darker orange tones in the fourth step with #FF901C, and then darken it more with #FF6F1C and #FF6E20.

Always make sure to select the nodes that are selected in each screenshot below and apply the corresponding color to them!

Step 2

Continue coloring the peach further. You will need to add more mesh nodes to make the image more complex.

You will need these colors:

1. #FF8018
2. #FF7035
3. #FF7E26
4. #FF9F3C
5. #FFBA55
6. #FFC776

Step 3

Finish this part of the peach with these colors:

1. #FF8732
2. #FF9A5C
3. #FF7F41

Step 4

Begin drawing the top of the peach.

1. #FBDAA7
2. #FEBB86
3. #FF6B3F
4. #FFA673
5. #FF8753
6. #FF4105
   

Step 5

Finish the peach.

1. #FBDDAC
2. #C82B00
3. #FFCE9A
4. #FF882D
5. #FFBC85

Step 6

Draw another part of the peach.

1. #882505
2. #611404
3. #CB7103
4. #5B1501
5. #6A1A02
6. #903804

Step 7

Draw two ellipses, filling the bigger ellipse with #D82B00 and the smaller one with #602E0C. Place the brown ellipse into the red one, and then make the big ellipse completely transparent.

Step 8

Go to Object > Blend > Blend Options, selecting Specified Steps and 30.

Next, select both ellipses and click Object > Blend > Make.Change the Transparency to Multiply.

Step 9

Add the stem and the shadow to the peach.

2. How to Add Texture

Step 1

For this step, download the attachmentof this tutorial and drag texture.jpg into your file in Adobe Illustrator.

Go to Window > Image Trace, change the Mode to Black and White and Threshold to 144, and click Trace. Expand the result.

Step 2

Create a copy of the expanded trace result, and then draw an outline of the mesh peach. Place the outline on top of the texture. Select both, right-click and Make Clipping Mask.

Step 3

Change the texture to Overlay and 20% Opacity.

Step 4

Draw an outline of the top part of the peach and make a Clipping Mask with the copy of the original texture. Set it to Overlay with 20% Opacity.

Step 5

Place the textures onto the peach.

3. How to Draw the Leaf

Step 1

Draw a part of the leaf using the Pen Tool (P) with the shown stroke profile.

Step 2

Select the object and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Next, apply a Linear Gradient (#5D6D10 to #6B7A00) to it.

Step 3

Change it to Screen with 40% Opacity.

Step 4

Draw a mesh foundation for the leaf.

1. #5D6D10
2. #2F4304
3. #415409
4. #9CAA39
   

Step 5

Draw an outline of the leaf, place it on top of the mesh, and Apply Clipping Mask.

Step 6

Bend the leaf with Effect > Warp > Arc, a -37% Bend and -34% Horizontal Distortion.

Apply Object > Expand Appearance to the result.

Step 7

Draw a shadow by applying a Radial Gradient (from #8E6D51 to white) to an ellipse.

Step 8

Change the ellipse to Multiply with 86% Opacity.

Step 9

Add several shadows under the mesh peach.

Step 10

Place the leaf with more shadows.

Step 11

Add a second copy of the peach to the picture.

Awesome Work, You're Now Done!

Thank you for following along, and please feel welcome to post your result in the comments. I'll be looking forward to seeing it!

In this tutorial, you learned how to create a pair of peaches using the Mesh Tool.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and learned how to use some useful tools for the future! Check out some of my other vector tutorials on my instructor profile.

You can purchase this item as well as other similar designs in my portfolio on GraphicRiver.