How to Create a Vector Spider

One of the most universally creepy images is a spider. You can create a vector spider for a number of things. You can create them for Halloween invitations or decorations, T-shirt design, artwork that needs creepy elements and children's book illustrations, just to name a few applications. You can create a cute and simple spider using the same fundamentals as creating a creepy, more realistic spider.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vector-based drawing tool, such as Adobe Illustrator
• Reference photo of a spider, optional

1. 

   With your ellipse tool, draw a symmetrical circle. Select it and choose black as your fill.

2. 

   With the ellipse tool, or using copy and paste, create a smaller circle and place it at the top of the bigger circle. This will be the spider's head.

3. 

   Draw the spider's first 4 legs on one side of the body with your pen tool. Just click where you want each joint to be. Using a reference photo for the angles of the legs can be helpful. You can even create a simpler spider by clicking on the body, and then clicking out and dragging the point to create slightly arched, short, simple legs.

4. 

   In your strokes palette, increase the stroke size to your liking. You can also round the edges and the joints in your stroke palette.

5. 

   Select all 4 legs and group them together by going to Object > Group. Copy and paste the legs. With your copied group selected, go to Object > Transform > Reflect. Your default settings should be set to horizontal. Press "OK." Now place the copy symmetrical to the other side.

6. 

   You can stop there but if you'd like to add a black widow detail, draw out an hourglass shape on the body with your pen tool. With your shape still selected, choose a red fill.

Resources

• Adobe Illustrator Website