Illustrator Tutorial on Creating a Four Leaf Clover

 

 

With the Ellipse Tool (l) draw a circle. Choose the circle with the Selection Tool (v) and hold the Alt Key and the Shift Key. Drag out another copy of the circle. Pick both the circles and Add. Expand them from the Pathfinder Panel.

With the Direct Selection Tool (a), choose the bottom anchor point where the circles intersect. Drag it downward and double the length of the combined circles. Select the anchor and Convert it to a Smooth anchor point from the Control Panel. Click on the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-) to remove the anchor points on the left and right side of the anchor point you dragged.

 

 

To divide the shape into two objects, use the Line Segment Tool () and draw a line in the middle. Choose both the shapes and go to Align Panel > Horizontal Align Centre. With both objects selected, press Divide in the Pathfinder Panel and Ungroup (shift ⌘ g) both of these shapes using Object > Ungroup.

Choose a shape and make a Radial Gradient from the Gradient Panel. Use a light orange and a darker red for the swatches in the gradient. Use the Gradient Tool (g) and click and drag from the top right of the shape to the bottom left. Use the same Radial Gradient and gradient adjustments for the other leaf.

 

 

We finished one leaf and need three more. Choose both sides of the leaf and Group (Ctrl+ G) them. Navigate to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform to bring the Transform dialog box. In the Transform dialog box, change the Copies to 3, Rotate 90 degrees, and click the bottom central point in the 9-Point Proxy (the box with nine points above the Random check box). Now we have four leaves. Go to Object > Expand Appearance. If you don’t expand the clover, the next time you try to rotate it, you will get some undesired results.

 

 

 

Draw a rounded rectangle with the Rounded Rectangle Tool. Navigate to Effect > Warp > Arch. In the Warp Options dialog box, make the Bend 20% and the Horizontal Distortion 40%.without changing other options. Now go to Object > Expand Appearance. Give the stem a Linear Gradient of dark green from the Gradient Panel. Rotate the leaves and stem to a position you like!

Try different angles, dimensions, copies, or points on the 9-Point Proxy. The Warp Effects are great for creating consistent shapes. Divide is a great way to create multiple objects from a single object.