Surprised Purple Alien

1/21/2020

This is a fun one, a cartoon style alien figure. The eyes are easy to create and really make the character look surprised.

Start the body with an oval. Choose a fill color and a dark stroke color.

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select and pull up on the center top point.

For the eye, stems, create two lines. Round the ends in the stoke panel to hot dog the ends.

Use the Width Shape Tool to select the top of each line and pull out from the center of the line to create a wider portion at the top.

Use the Width Shape Tool in the middle of the lines to select and then pull in toward the center of the line to create a thinner center, this will exaggerate the top bulbs.

Select both shapes and choose Object > Expand Appearance.

Add the same fill and stroke to the eyes stems as in the body.

Select all the shapes and use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create one shape from all three.

Select the shape and use the Object > Path > Offset path. Set the offset to a negative number to create a set of shapes inside the body. Fill these shapes with a darker color.

For the eyes, draw a circle, filled with white and a black stroke. Draw another circle and fill it with a gradient.

Set the gradient to start dark at the top, going to a lighter color at the bottom.
Add the last circle filled with black and add a small white circle that is offset.

Combine the circles together to create a cool eye. Select all the shapes and choose Object > Group.

Move the eyes into positions on the eye stems. Scale them as needed to fit.

For the legs, create a rectangle.

Use the Direct Selection tool to select the upper right corner and delete it. Select the lower left corner and pull the corner widget up and to the right to round the edge.

Use the Width Shape Tool to select the end and make it wider.

Choose Object > Expand Appearance to outline the leg/foot.

Add the same fill and stroke as the body. Move the legs behind the body. Copy and flip the leg to create a set.

For the mouth, create a circle.

On the right side of the circle is a handle (lollipop). Grab that lollipop and drag it around to the other side making a half circle.

Place it on the body, fill it with a darker color than the body,

For the tongue, create two circles that overlap and then create two smaller circles in the middle of the bigger circles. Group these together and CUT the shapes.

Select the mouth and click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar.

Paste the cut tongue into the mouth. Draw a line coming from the top of the mouth and round the end (hotdog) in the stroke panel.

Use the Width Shape tool to pull the end of the line width wider. Click on the Draw Normal mode when complete.

Select the legs and choose Object > Compound Path > Create to make these one shape to be able to draw inside them.

Click on the Draw Normal mode when complete. Select the legs and click on the Draw Inside Mode at the bottom of the Tool Bar. Draw an oval over the top of the legs, fill it with a darker color to create a drop shadow effect.