Learn how to create a visually striking background in modern art style using Adobe Illustrator with our guide. From selecting the right colour palette to creating shapes and patterns, our guide covers all the essential steps for creating a modern art background that adds depth and dimension to your designs.
1 Form a green rectangle.
2 Apply Create Gradient Mesh with 6 rows and 6 columns.
3 The mesh will be like the one below.
4 Using the Direct Selection Tool choose all the outer points of the mesh. Then click on the colour black.
5 Open a new layer and make another rectangle in green. Using the Add Anchor Point Tool add three anchor points at the top of the rectangle. Convert them to curves using the Convert Anchor Point Tool. Adjust the points until they resemble a hill. Grab the two anchor points at the top. Hold the Shift key down and then pull it down.
6 Use the same method mentioned above. Apply black to the outer points.
7 Open a new layer. Make a new gradient and put it into the Swatches palette.
8 Draw a narrow triangle at an angle. Use the gradient tool with the new gradient and apply it to the rectangle.
9 Use the Alt and Shift key to duplicate horizontally. Then use the Reflect Tool to flip it. Choose both and use the same method to flip and copy vertically. After each layer is completed, lock them.
10 Open a new layer. Form a shape like the one below. Next to the shapes we just duplicated. Make a new gradient of the green and yellow and apply it to the crescent using the Gradient Tool.
11 Use the same procedure for duplication that we used to make the original four green to yellow gradient triangles
12 Form a circle. Use the same green and yellow gradient but move the slider for the yellow over as far as it will go in the gradient slider. Use a Radial gradient.
13 Use a Feather of .1 for the on the circle.
14 Unlock the hill layer. Choose individual points and drop some lighter colour on them.
15 Form a bunch of ovals and circles to create clouds. Use Pathfinder to combine them using Add to shape area.
16 Apply a black stroke at a size of 6 pixels the Feather at .1.
17 Using the Pen Tool with a black fill and no stroke make extensions into the cloud.
18 Feather using .03 in. to avoid rough edges.
19 Make some yellow highlights. Apply a Feather of .05.
20 Draw 4 dark blue shapes on a new layer. Apply a feather of .05. Set the layer transparency to 60%.
21 Draw a shape on the ground for the cloud shadow in black. Feather at .9.
22 Save the piece to use as a background for an animation, or whichever type of artwork.
