How to Create a Bat Icon in Adobe Illustrator Using Just Simple Ellipse Shapes

Final product image
What You'll Be Creating
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a very easy bat icon using just one shape—an ellipse. Also, you will learn how to cut off shapes and to make an Offset Path. It's one of the easiest tutorials I've ever posted!
Start by creating a New document (File > New) with 600 px width and 420 px height. We will first create the body. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) (fill color R=0, G=0, B=24) and draw an ellipse. Keeping it selected, take the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click on the lowest anchor point to make it sharp. Then take the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the left and right anchor points, and move them up a little bit. You will get something like an upside-down raindrop.
creating the body
Using the Ellipse Tool (L), draw a circle and place it like in the image below—this is the head. To make a nice round circle, hold the Shift key as you create this shape.
creating the head
Now we’ll create the ears. Copy-paste the shape you made in step 1.1 and make it shorter and smaller. We now have one ear. Rotate the ear slightly to the left and place it as in the image below. While keeping it selected, right-click your mouse and select Transform > Reflect. Once you get the dialogue box, select Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and press Copy. Move the new ear to the right.
Let's align everything. Select two ears, right-click the mouse and hit Group. After that, select all the body parts. Then go to the Align panel (Window > Align) and click the Horizontal Align Center button.
creating the ears
We will create the wings now. Draw an ellipse, and then draw four more using a different color and place them as in the image below. Can you see the bat wing shape now? Go to the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and press the Minus Front button.
creating the wing
Put the wing on the right side of the bat. Right-click the mouse and select Transform > Reflect. In the dialogue window, select Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees. Press Copy. Move the other wing to the left.
Select the two wings and group them (right-click the mouse and hit Group). Then select the whole bat. Go to the Align panel (Window > Align) and press Horizontal Align Center. Your bat is just perfect!
placing the wings
Slightly rotate the bat to the left. Create a circle using the Ellipse Tool (L) while holding the Shift key. Set the fill color at R=87, G=16, B=103. Create another smaller circle (fill color R=115, G=47, B=134). Send the circles to the back (Control‑X, Control-B).
creating the background 1
Holding the Alt key, start moving the bigger darker circle a little bit up and diagonally. Hold the Alt key to make a copy of path. Select the darker bigger circle you made in step 2.1 (not the copy you just made) and make a third copy of it (Control-C, Control-F). Keep it selected, then hold the Shift key, select the second copy (which you moved diagonally) and press the Minus Front button on the Pathfinder panel. You will get a moon shape. Color this shape with darkest violet color (R=66, G=7, B=81).
creating the background 2
Select the whole bat and on the Pathfinder panel press the Unite button—you will get one path. Keep the bat selected, and while holding the Shift key, select the biggest circle. Go to Object > Path > Offset Path. In the new dialogue window, make Offset 15 px (your Offset can be different than mine). Make Joins Miter, Miter Limit 4, and press OK.
creating Offset Path
Keep this new shape selected and on the Pathfinder panel, press the Unite button. Send it to the back (Control-X, Control-B). Set the fill color at R=136, G=73, B=156. Now…that's it! You’re done!
coloring Offset Path
Congratulations! You just made a clear, simple and nice bat icon!

TDasany

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