How to Draw a Colorful Autumn Background With Leaves in Adobe Illustrator

In this simple tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator to create a bunch of autumn leaves.

If you want to skip the tutorial, you can find similar premium autumn leaves drawings to download from Envato Elements.

1. How to Draw a Fall Leaf

Let’s begin by drawing a red fall leaf with Gradient Mesh.

Step 1

Start by drawing a shape similar to the one in the screenshot below. You can use the Pen Tool (P).

Color the whole shape with #E54F2A and then grab the Mesh Tool (U)! Using the Mesh Tool, place nodes as indicated in the screenshot to create a Mesh Grid.

Next, add more nodes and drag them around to create a shape that resembles one half of a leaf. Then select the bottom row of mesh nodes and color them with #CF3A25!

Next, add a thin colored line by adding more mesh nodes and coloring the selected middle row with #931B23.

Continue by coloring the nodes that are selected in each part of the screenshot. You will need these colors:

1. #E54F2A
2. #CF3A25
3. #931B23
4. #B9B23
5. #D03E26
6. #D44127

Step 2

Continue similarly—look for the selected nodes and color them!

You will need these colors:

1. #5B0922
2. #DD4A29
3. #D03D25
4. #D74327
5. #B82E24
6. #ED5D2F

Step 3

Let’s draw the left part of the leaf in the same fashion! Use these colors:

1. #D74327
2. #9A1B23
3. #C03023
4. #C12F23
5. #ED5A2E
6. #861322

Step 4

Grab both parts of the leaf and align them together. This creates Leaf 1.

Step 5

To create Leaf 2, simply create a vertically reflected copy of Leaf 1 (Object > Transform > Reflect).

Step 6

For Leaf 3, grab a copy of Leaf 2 and modify its left side by bringing in its edges a bit.

Step 7

Put Leaf 1 and 2 together, as indicated below.

Step 8

Finally, add Leaf 3!

2. How to Draw the Stem

Step 1

Now that we’re done with the leaf, draw a stem for it.

Begin by drawing a long and narrow rectangle, coloring it with #CE3125 and adding a 5×4 Mesh Grid to it.

Color the second from the top row with #F79487 and the fourth from the top with #BC2B23.

Step 2

Zoom in on the left side of the stem and stretch the Mesh there a bit. Continue by coloring the indicated nodes with the indicated colors:

1. #861F36
2. #4E0924
3. #5D0F27

Step 3

Continue on the right side of the step in a similar fashion. Use these colors:

1. #E5643F
2. #510B2A
3. #8C1E29
4. #AB2929

Step 4

Grab the Warp Tool (Shift-R), and, using the following settings, bend the stem to make it more realistic:

• Width: 90 px
• Height: 90 px
• Angle: 0°
• Intensity: 20%
• Detail: 7
• Simplify: 13

Step 5

Finally, change the right edge’s Opacity to 0%.

Step 6

Attach the stem to the leaf!

3. How to Recolor the Fall Leaves Illustrations

Step 1

Make a copy of the red leaf and start by turning our leaf black and white by going to Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale.

Step 2

Turn that grey leaf yellow by going to Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors, selecting RGB Color Mode in the dropdown menu on the top, ticking Convert, and applying these settings:

• Red: 49%
• Green: 16%
• Blue: -64%

Step 3

Make a copy of the yellow leaf and turn it orange with the following settings:

• Red: -5%
• Green: -12%
• Blue: 0%

4. How to Create the Autumn Background

Step 1

For this final part, draw a background by simply adding a colored Mesh node (#FFA83F) to a white rectangle.

Step 2

Now create a shadow for the leaves! Draw an ellipse with a Radial gradient (#CAA27C to white) and change its Transparency mode to Multiply.

Step 3

Add a cluster of these ellipses to create a shadow under the orange leaf.

Step 4

Similarly, apply the shadows to the yellow leaf and place it on top of the orange one.

Step 5

Finally, add the red leaf with its own shadows.

Step 6

If you want to add more depth to the picture, learn how to create this sort of highlight in the last section of my window frame tutorial.

Then, create a smaller copy of it and place it in the middle of the original.

Step 7

Turn the Opacity of both shapes down to 60% and change their Transparency mode to Overlay.

Step 8

Create some copies of the highlight like so:

Step 9

And place them on top of the leaves!

Put the background we made in Step 1 under the leaves.

Step 10

We’re done! For a final improvement, you can learn how to draw bokeh lights in my sunflower tutorial (the first section of the tutorial).

Add them if you feel like it!

Awesome Work, You’re Now Done Learning How to Draw Autumn Leaves Illustrations!

Thank you for following this tutorial on how to draw autumn leaves illustrations. In this tutorial, you learned how to create beautiful photo-realistic autumn leaves 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.

Remember that you can find similar premium autumn leaves drawings assets on Envato Elements.

5 Leaves and Autumn Backgrounds for Adobe Illustrator From Envato Elements

Learning how to draw autumn leaves illustrations is easy, but sometimes you don’t have the time or energy.

If you want to add an autumnal look and feel to your projects, know that you can count on Envato Elements. You can find a ton more premium Illustrator leaves and autumn backgrounds and assets and download as many as you want for one low monthly fee.

Just check out a few of these awesome Illustrator fall drawings:

1. Autumn Still Life With Pumpkins, Beets and Apple (PNG)

Let’s begin with this beautiful illustration featuring apples, pumpkins, and beets in gorgeous fall colors. The download comes with a file you can use in Photoshop, Figma, Sketch, Affinity Designer, or Illustrator. It’s a professional and quirky still life autumn background.

2. Colorful Leaves and Autumn Backgrounds (JPG)

Get the full effect of the fall season, without having to spend a long time creating the perfect autumn background yourself! This magnificent download features four JPG image in 4096×2304 px resolution and a web/print-ready format. You don’t even have to know how to draw fall leaves illustrations!

3. Road in Forest at Sunset: Autumn Leaves Illustration (EPS, JPG)

Capture the essence of a tranquil, crisp fall day with this eye-catching autumn leaves illustration. Download this premium digital asset and get a JPG and EPS file with a 5760×3240 px resolution. It’s editable, so you can immerse your projects in an autumnal forest afternoon.

4. Vintage Pumpkins Halloween Seamless Pattern (PNG, JPG)

Few things are as representative of the fall season as pumpkins. Get your audience in the autumn mindset with this beautiful pattern of vintage pumpkins. This download is rich in features: high-resolution at 4000×4000 px, files that you can edit in Illustrator or Photoshop, and all the necessary documentation.

5. Autumn Leaves Drawings (PNG)

As a last premium option, here’s this brilliant autumn leaves download. It will add a rustic element to anything you use it for. The ten unique leaves included here are transparent PNGs, so you can just drag them into your artwork and instantly produce a magical effect. If going through how to draw autumn leaves isn’t for you, this is a captivating way to put together autumn leaves illustrations.

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