How does one create an arrow shape using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator CS6?

To create an arrow shape using the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator CS6, follow these step-by-step instructions: 

1.      Launch Adobe Illustrator CS6 and open a new document or an existing one where you want to create the arrow shape. 

2.      Select the Pen Tool from the Tools panel on the left side of the screen. Alternatively, you can press the "P" key on your keyboard to activate the Pen Tool.

3.      Choose the Stroke and Fill colors for your arrow shape. You can set these in the Color panel or the Control panel at the top of the screen.

4.      Click on the canvas to set the starting point of your arrow. This will be the tail of the arrow.

5.      Move the cursor to where you want the tip of the arrow to be and click again. This will create a straight line segment.

6.      Now, position the cursor near the tip of the arrow and click and drag to create a curve. This will create the arrowhead shape. The length and curvature of the curve will determine the appearance of the arrowhead.

7.      Release the mouse button to complete the curve. You will notice that the Pen Tool cursor has a small "o" next to it, indicating that you are about to close the path.

8.      Move the cursor back to the starting point, which is the tail of the arrow. When you hover over the starting point, you will see a small circle appear next to the Pen Tool cursor, indicating that you are about to close the path.

9.      Click on the starting point to close the path and create the arrow shape.

10.  If you want to adjust the shape of the arrow, you can use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select and manipulate the anchor points and handles. This allows you to modify the curve of the arrowhead or make any other adjustments to the shape.

11.  You can also apply stroke and fill attributes to the arrow shape using the Stroke and Fill options in the Control panel or the Appearance panel. This allows you to customize the color, thickness, and other visual properties of the arrow.

12.  Once you are satisfied with the appearance of the arrow shape, you can continue working on your artwork or save the file.

By following these steps, you can easily create an arrow shape using the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator CS6. Experiment with different curves and adjustments to achieve the desired arrowhead shape.