INFOGRAPHIC SERIES - Easy Chair

Sit back and relax in this easy chair. This icons uses Illustrators NEW Freeform Gradient Tool to create more realistic gradients that are easier to create and edit. 
This feature is only available in the most current version of Adobe Illustrator (CC 2019). To upgrade go under the Creative Cloud App and click upgrade next to the AI application

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Start with a rectangle fill, no stroke. 

Add a circle to the top of the rectangle, larger than the width of the rectangle for the top of the arm. Use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create one shape. 

Draw a rectangle to match the height of the lower section below the circle. Fill with a darker color. Draw another rectangle the height of the circle. 

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Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the left end of the selected rectangle and pull the corner widgets into the center to their max amount. 

Move the shape to line up with the circle and place it behind the circle. Object> Arrange> Send To Back. 

Draw another rectangle about twice the height of the existing shapes. 

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Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower left corner point and move it to the right to taper the back of the chair. 

Add a circle to the of the chair back, larger than the with width of the back. 

Select the back and the circle and use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create one shape. 

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Draw a large rectangle in back of the chair, fill it with a darker color. 

Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the bottom line of the rectangle and move it to the right to skew the back of the chair. 

Duplicate the left arm section and flip it using the Flip icon in the Properties Panel. 

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Duplicate the left upper arm section and move it over behind the right arm section. 

Create a rectangle the width and height of the current sections of arm that have been created. Use the Eyedropper Tool to select the color of the arm to match the color and fill the existing shape. 

Select the side and the arm curve; use the Pathfinder Unite Mode to create one shape. Add a rectangle for a cushion.

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Use the Curvature Tool to select the top edge of the cushion and pull up to slightly round the cushion top. 

Create the legs by using a wider rectangle filled with a lighter color and a rectangle half the width of the first rectangle filled with a darker color. Place them next to each tother to give the legs dimension. The legs in the back maker darker; legs in front make lighter. 

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Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the lower left of the wide part of the leg and the lower right of the narrow leg and pull the corner widgets to get the legs to be slightly rounded. Repeat this process on the other 3 leg shapes. 

Place the legs under the chair. 

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​Ready for the Freeform Gradient? Here we go. Select on the the panels of the chair. Click on the Gradient Tool in the Tool Bar. Open the NEW Properties Panel under the Window Menu. 

The Properties Panel will show the gradient types only when the shape is selected and the Gradient Tool is selected. ​

The Freeform Gradient is the 3rd choice. Select the Points Radio button. Once selected the shape will have dots appear on the shape, those dots can be double-clicked on to change the color of that area. ​

Once you double-click on the dots on the shape, the swatch panel will open up. Choose from the three color options on the left:
1: Color Picker,
2: Swatch panel (shown)
​3: Use the Eyedropper tool to sample a color from the existing artwork.

​Spread is the size of the blend area as shown by the Spread slider OR the dotted area around the dot on the artwork. 

Add A Dot: Click anywhere on the active shape.
Delete A Dot: Click on the dot, press the delete key.
Move A Dot: Click on the dot and move it around.

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Repeat the Freeform gradient on each shape by selecting the shape, choose the Gradient Tool on the Tool Bar, then click the Freeform Gradient icon the Properties Panel. You may get extra dots on the selected shape initially, click on the dot and use the delete key to remove it 

Double-click on the dots to change the color. Drag the dog on the selected shape to change the location of the color.
Repeat this process for the panel that you want to a apply a gradient to.

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Add gray rectangles to the tops of the legs. Select all 4 gray shapes and click on the Opacity Link in the Control Bar. 

Set the Blend Mode to Multiply to give a drop shadow effect to the legs. ​

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This is how the legs look. 

To add highlights to the shapes, duplicate a shape (I chose the left arm) on the chair and choose Object> Path> Offset Path. 

Set the path to be a negative number to get a smaller path inside the shape and click OK. Delete the shape you used leaving the smaller shape.  

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Apply a stroke to the new shape, no fill. Use the Direct Selection tool to remove the extra lines not needed from the shape. Move the highlight into position on the arm

Duplicate that shape and flip it in the Properties Panel. Add a line under the arm that is darker for a shadow line. 

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Duplicate the side of the chair. Repeat the Offset Path steps to get the shadow line on the side of the chair. 

Nice job, you now have an easy chair and you have used the NEW Illustrator Freeform Gradient feature.