How to Create an Islamic Art Pattern Brush in Illustrator

'Marhaba'! Learn how to create an Islamic geometric pattern with an Illustrator brush. In this tutorial, we will go through the step-by-step process of how to create Islamic patterns with ease! 

For starters, you will learn how to set up the artboard and prepare the document to create the Illustrator brushes. Then we will use basic Illustrator tools and shape-building techniques to create a stylish corner tile and the side Islamic pattern border block for our Islamic pattern brush.

I hope you can follow and pick up the techniques along the way, and then perhaps create your very own Illustrator borders using those techniques. 

1. How to Set Up a New Document 

Open Adobe Illustrator.

File > New (Command-N) to open a blank new document. 

Name the file 'Islamic_Pattern_Brush', and set the dimensions and Settings to:

• 
  Number of Artboards: 1


• 
  Width: 2 cm
  
  


• 
  Height: 2 cm
  
  


• 
  Units: Centimetres
  
  

In the Advanced tab, use the following settings:

• 
  Colour Mode: RGB
  
  


• 
  Raster Effects: High (300ppi)
  
  


• 
  Preview Mode: Default

2. How to Design the Islamic Corner Pattern Tile

Step 1

To create an Islamic geometric pattern, we need to create two tiles for the design: one corner pattern tile and one basic pattern tile.

Let's begin with the corner pattern tile first, because it's the more complicated one, and it will make our side tile design easier to create.

Enable Smart Guides (Command-U), so we can create accurately aligned artwork.

From the toolbar, set the Stroke to null and apply a beige #d89c6a Fill.

Grab the Rectangle Tool (M), click once on the artboard to open the Rectangle dialog box, and set the Width & Height to 2 cm. This will be our tile backdrop.

Step 2

Next, let's create a reverse L-shaped diamond lining within the box.

With the Rectangle Tool (M) selected and a white Fill applied, click once on the artboard to open the Rectangle dialog box, and create a 0.1087 cm square.

Then select the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Shift key, and drag the cursor to snap the angle to 45°. Position the diamond at the base of the artboard as shown.

Step 3

Use the Selection Tool (V) to select the white diamond shape. Hold down the Shift-Alt keys to constrain the movement, and duplicate the selection by dragging the cursor vertically until the edges touch.

Use the Command-D shortcut to Transform Again and duplicate. Repeat until you reach one block away from the top of the artboard.

Then repeat horizontally to the end of the artboard.

Step 4

Now let's create a red border to encase the diamond lining rows.

Open the Stroke panel (Window > Stroke). Select the Pen Tool (P), and apply a brick red Stroke color of #902319 and a Stroke Weight of 0.2 pt.

With the help of the Smart Guides, draw a border around the diamond shape edges. Make sure you hold down the Shift key to constrain the line.

Step 5 

Use the Shift-X shortcut to Swap Fill & Stroke. 

With the shape selected, Object > Arrange > Send to Back (Shift-Command-[).

Then Shift-Command-] to Bring to Front, in front of our background shape. 

Step 6

Next, let's create two more backdrops for our corner tile pattern.

For the first square, select the Rectangle Tool (M) and apply an Evergreen Fill color of #203523. Starting from the bottom right of the artboard, hold down the Shift key and drag upwards to create a 1.61 cm square.

Then, in the bottom right corner, create a smaller square with a Brick red color Fill of #902319 and 0.15 cm.

Step 7

Moving on, take the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the bottom diamond shape, and drag horizontally to the end of the artboard, while holding down the Shift-Alt keys to constrain movement. Copy the shape into our red square.

To Bring to Front, use the shortcut Command-Shift-].

Step 8

Now we need to create the segments for our intertwining circle braid design. We will create ellipses within each other and then cut them into a quarter segment.

Let's start with the outer ellipse. 

Grab the Ellipse Tool (L) from the toolbar, and apply the Evergreen Stroke color #203523. Holding the Shift key down to constrain proportions, create a 1.33 cm circle.

In the Stroke panel, apply:

• Weight: 1.68 pt
  


• Cap: Butt Cap
  
  


• Corner: Miter Join
  


• Align Stroke: Align Stroke to Inside
  

Step 9  

For the second ellipse, with the first ellipse selected, Object > Path > Offset Path, set the Offset to -0.059 cm, and click OK.

Set a Stroke Weight of -1.68 cm, and apply a Beige color Stroke of #d89c6a.

Then for the third ellipse, and with that second ellipse selected, Object > Path > Offset Path, and set the Offset to -0.059 cm.

Set the Stroke Weight to 5 cm, and apply a Light Beige color Stroke of #ffefe3.

Step 10

After that, with the third ellipse selected, Object > Path > Offset Path, and set the Offset to -0.059 cm.

Set the Stroke Weight to 1.68 cm, and apply a Beige color Stroke of #d89c6a.

And again, Object > Path > Offset Path, and set the Offset to -0.059 cm.

Set the Stroke Weight to 1.68 cm, and apply an Evergreen Stroke color of #203523.

Step 11

For the final section of the circle Islamic pattern, select the Ellipse Tool (L).

Apply a Brick red Fill color #902319, hold down the Shift key to constrain proportions, and from the center, start drawing a 0.51 cm circle.

Then take the Selection Tool (V), and select all the ellipses. 

Object > Expand Appearance, to turn the paths into compound shapes.

Step 12

Next, let's cut our circles into a quarter segment. 

From the Tools menu, hold down the Eraser Tool in order to select the Knife Tool.

Let's start with the outer circle and work our way inwards. Select the outer circle. 

In order to cut through a straight path with the Knife Tool, hold down the Shift-Option keys as you click the artboard, and then drag to cut. Cut the mid-top and mid-left sections. The cuts created will appear as strokes on the object.

Then take the Selection Tool (V), and select the three-quarter section on the right, and hit Delete.

Step 13

Now repeat the previous step for the remaining five circles.

Once you are done, Group (Command-G) all six arcs together, to create our quarter segment.

Step 14

Once our quarter segment is complete, let's align it to our artboard.

Open the Align panel (Window > Align). Simply select the quarter segment and choose Align to Artboard from the Align Options dialog box. 

Select Horizontal Align Right, and position the quarter segment on top of the green square backdrop.

Then take the Reflect Tool (O) and set the center reference point to the bottom edge of the segment; Option-Shift-Drag and release when the group is mirrored below, as shown. 

Step 15

Now let's select both circle segments using the Selection Tool (V), and mirror them to the base of the artboard.

Simply select the Reflect Tool (O). Set the center reference point to the right corner of the artboard; Option-Shift-Drag and release when the group is mirrored as shown. Once that's done, we can create our Fleur de Lis design to place in the corner section of our Illustrator brush.

3. How to Draw the Fleur de Lis Design

Step 1

Moving on, we need to create a Fleur de Lis design to complete our corner tile.

We will create half the flower and then mirror it for the symmetrical look.

Select the Pen Tool (P) and apply a color Fill of #d89c6a, null Stroke.

To start drawing, begin with the mid-section of the flower, which will be our mirror point. Hold down the Shift key, draw a 0.9 cm straight line down, and then continue to freehand draw the right half of the flower design, as I have.

Once you are done, take the Reflect Tool (O) and set the center reference point to the left edge of the design; Option-Shift-Drag and release to mirror.

Step 2

Next, we need to create flower petals to place within the design.

Grab the Ellipse Tool (L), and apply a white Fill, null Stroke. 

Draw a long ellipse, about 0.15 x 0.5 cm.

With the ellipse selected, hold down the Shift-Alt keys to constrain movement, and duplicate the selection. Drag the selection a short distance horizontally to duplicate it.

Then open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). 

Select both ellipses using the Selection Tool (V), and apply the Shape Modes: Intersect option. The Smart Guides will help you align the selection to the center of the flower.

Step 3

Now, we need to create a curved petal on each side of the middle petal design.

Grab the Pen Tool (P), and apply a white Fill, null Stroke.

Freehand draw an S-shaped petal design, as shown.

Then take the Reflect Tool (O) and set the center reference point to the bottom of the mid-petal design; Option-Shift-Drag and release to mirror across.

Step 4

Now let's create the pistil and sepal parts of the flower.

Using the Ellipse Tool (L) in a Brick red FIll of #902319 and null Stroke, draw a 0.08 x 0.07 cm oval.

Then take the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a 0.03 x 0.14 cm rectangle underneath the ellipse, as shown.

Step 5

Select the Pen Tool (P), and apply a Fill in the Evergreen color #203523 with null Stroke. Next, freehand draw an S-shaped sepal.

Then use the Reflect Tool (O). Set the center reference point at the bottom of the sepal, and then Option-Shift-Drag and release to mirror across.

Step 6

Next, using the Selection Tool (V), select all the Fleur de Lis elements and Group (Command-G) together.

Take the Selection Tool (V) to move the group onto our corner tile, as seen below.

Pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Shift key, and drag the cursor to snap to a 45° angle. Beautiful!

Step 7

Now that our corner tile Islamic art pattern is ready, open the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches). Then simply Select All (Command-A) and drag the corner tile elements onto the Swatches panel to save it as a pattern. We will use it later to create our Illustrator borders.

4. How to Design the Side Islamic Pattern Tile

Step 1

Moving on, we need to create the basic side tile of the Islamic pattern brush. To do that, we need to draw the most important part of our design, the intertwining circular Islamic braid design.

Select the two circle segments that are aligned to the right corner of the tile.

Grab the Reflect Tool (O) and set the center reference point outside the artboard; Option-Shift-Drag and release, to mirror across and off the artboard.

Then, with the mirrored segments still selected, set another center reference point to the center of the white section as shown below. Option-Shift-Drag and release to mirror. Make sure the green arcs are aligned back to back.

Step 2

Next, take the Selection Tool (V), and select the bottom-right circle segment.

Object > Arrange > Send to Back (Shift-Command-[), to create our braid look.

Select all four segments using the Selection Tool (V). Then, with the Reflect Tool (O), set the center reference point to the right edge of the group; Option-Shift-Drag and release to mirror across. Our main circular braid design is now ready for our Illustrator border.

Step 3

Let's create the backdrop for the side tile design for our Illustrator brush. 

Grab the Rectangle Tool (M), and apply a #d89c6a Fill, null Stroke. Use the Smart Guides to draw a rectangle 1.85 x2 cm, to fit from edge to edge of the design.

Object > Arrange > Send to Back (Shift-Command-[).

Step 4

Take the Selection Tool (V), and select all the white diamond shapes on the top row of the corner tile. 

Hold down Option-Shift and drag across horizontally to duplicate onto the side tile design. Position as shown.

Then, with the row still selected, Option-Shift and drag vertically to the base of the artboard, to duplicate again.

Step 5

Moving ahead, let's create the red bars that encase the diamond rows.

Grab the Rectangle Tool (M), and apply a brick red #902319 Fill, null Stroke. Use the Smart Guides to draw a 1.85 x 0.16 cm rectangle that runs from left to right of the tile, and top to bottom of the diamond row.

Repeat the same for the lower deck.

Select both red bars with Selection Tool (V).

Object > Arrange > Send to Back (Shift-Command-[). Then, move the bars one step towards the front by choosing Object > Arrange > Bring Forward (Command‑]).

Step 6

And for the last bit of our side Islamic pattern brush tile, we need to create a green backdrop that runs behind the circular braid.

Grab the Rectangle Tool (M), and apply the Evergreen color #203523 Fill, null Stroke. Use the Smart Guides to draw a 1.85 x 1.46 cm rectangle.

Object > Arrange > Send to Back (Shift-Command-[), and move forward by Object > Arrange > Bring Forward (Command‑]).

5. How to Create the Islamic Pattern Brush 

Step 1

Now, open the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches).

Take the Selection Tool (V) and grab all the side tile elements.

Then drag the group elements onto the Swatches panel to save it as a pattern. 

Step 2

Now, let's save the Islamic pattern brush, so we can use it to create our Illustrator borders.

Open the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes), and click the New Brush button. Check the Pattern Brush box and click OK.

Name your new brush 'Islamic Pattern Brush'. 

Open the Outer Corner Tile and select New Pattern Swatch 1 from that list. Make sure Fit is set to Approximate path.

Open the Side Tile and select New Pattern Swatch 2 from that list. 

Open the Inner Corner Tile and select the Auto-Sliced pattern from that list, and click OK.

Step 3

Wow, now that you've learned how to create an Islamic pattern in Illustrator, here's how you can use your Illustrator brushes to create amazing Illustrator borders.

Select the Rectangle Tool (M). Hold down the Shift key to constrain proportions, and draw a square. Make sure that there's no fill color, and select the stroke. Apply your Islamic Pattern Brush from the Brushes panel.

Open the Stroke fly-out panel and adjust the applied brush size through the Stroke Weight value.

Wonderful!

Amazing Job! You're Done!

Experiment with the brush weight and shapes and try to create your own variety of border designs, as I have. Check out the patterns I created. 

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and you were able to learn how to draw an Islamic geometric pattern brush using Illustrator. Please share your final results in the comments section, and show me what Illustrator border designs you come up with.

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