Step 1

Open up a new document and select the Rounded Rectangle Tool. Draw a rectangle and adjust the corners radius using arrow keys.

Press “+” to select the Add Anchor Point Tool and add an anchor point on the right edge of the rectangle. Press “A” to select the Direct Selecting Tool and move this anchor point to the right (about 10 pixels depending on you rectangle size) using arrow keys.

Press now “Shift + C” to select the Convert Anchor Point Tool, click on the newly created anchor point and pull down a little to make the back of the van rounded.

Now, add another anchor point on the front edge of the bus just like you did with the right one. Select it and those two bottom left anchor points and move them to the left.

Add another anchor point on the top left corner and then move it to the right and a little up to achieve a path as you see in the image.

Step 2

The most basic shape of the van is ready, now we need to edit the bottom of the van so we can place some wheels later. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a circle intersecting the body of the van.

Select both of these paths and press the Minus Front button in the Pathfinder panel to cut that circle from the body.

Repeat this step one again but use a rounded rectangle instead.

Step 3

Select the body path, set “none” for stroke color and fill it with a vertical (-90 degrees) gradient from #F179AB to #EE3876, enter a 70% value.

Select the Pen Tool (P) and draw a path as you see below.

Press “Ctrl + [” to move in under the body path.

Step 4

To travel around the world, our bus need some wheels, so let’s draw them. Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a big circle that fits into the space that we reserved for it. Also make it no stroke and fill with a radial gradient from 70% (Location 46%) to 90%gray. That’s going to be our tire.

With your tire selected go to Object > Path > Offset Path and create a smaller circle inside.

Fill it with 90% gray and give it a 6 pixels Gaussian Blur.

Repeat the Offset Path command once again to create an even smaller circle. Fill it with a radial gradient from white to 10% gray to #A3DCE8. Adjust the size and position of the gradient.

Our wheel is ready! Select it, press “Ctrl + G” to group those three circles together and drag a copy of the wheel. Press “Ctrl + [” twice to move the wheel under the body sub layer.

Step 5

Zoom in and draw a path as you see in the image. That’s going to be the support for the head light. Fill it with linear gradient from #A3DCE8 to 10% gray to #A3DCE8.

Select Ellipse Tool again and draw a red ellipse. Intersecting newly drawn path. Then press “Ctrl + Shift + [” to send it back.

Use Rounded Rectangle Tool to create the bumper. Fill it with the same gradient as the head light support.

Make a copy of the bumper path, rotate it 90 degrees, make it smaller and more narrow then place it on the back fender.

Use Rounded Rectangle Tool once again to create tail lights.

The same way draw the head indicator light.

Step 6

It’s time to give some colors to the van. Here is where Illustrator’s CS5 new drawing mode comes handy. Instead of thinking about Clipping masks or use Pathfinder commands we’ll just select the body path and press “Shift + D” twice to switch to “Draw Inside” mode. Now grab your Pen Tool and start drawing.

Try do draw a couple of random lines of various thickness intersecting the bus.

Select them, right-click on them and select Make Compound Path. Since these two path are now part of one single Compound Path we can apply a gradient across both of them. Fill them with a vertical gradient from #AED25E to #9EC63B.

Select these lines and give them a thick yellow stroke.

Somewhere on your artboard draw a simple flower and a heart. Place them and a copule of smaller copies on the bus. You may also change their colors.

Step 7

Use Rectangle Tool (M) to draw four windows on the van.

With your windows paths selected go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners and enter a suitable value for the Radius.

Now go to Object > Path > Offset Path and enter a very small value for the Offset to create a slightly visible stroke around the windows. Fill it with a dark pink (#EE3876).