Monkey-See Monkey-Do?

Actually yes.

Look, I’m sure there are lots of gift coloring tutorials out there.

Here’s a box. We shade this side and then we shade that side.

But why shade the side instead of the top?

If you don’t understand why, you’re going to feel lost trying to color a gift box on your own. Especially when your box is a little different than the example box.

And I know, there are a lot of little tricks or rules out there. Many of you have this one memorized:

If the sun is coming from the upper right corner— then shade the box on the lower left side.

But one rule doesn’t work for everything.

There are times when the one rule looks wrong!

Because the one rule is wrong more times than not.

There is no rule that tells you that stripes on a box go dark, light, dark, and light again.

Huh?

Look closely, that’s what’s happening on the front edge of this wrapping paper. As the top white stripes get closer to going over the fold and down the front side, they go dark, light, dark, then light again!

The same thing is happening to the extreme on the corners of the ribbon.

Have you ever seen that in a tutorial?

No, but it happens in real life all the time! Under certain lighting conditions with objects that have some sheen or pearlescence…

But sheesh, you don’t need a rule to tell you this anyway.

Not if you have a photo reference to work with!

What do you see?

I see color that darkens on the bend but carries a bright highlight at the point.

And a good instructor teaches you to see it too.

If you’re looking for the Free Digi Club, the program has been discontinued.

You can check out the many free resources at VanillaArts.com which include the Studio Journal Article Archives, Vanilla Beans, YouTube, Undercover Swatches

Happy coloring!

Select Supplies used in “Satin Gift”

(contains affiliate links to Amazon and Dick Blick)

**complete, printable supply list available with class purchase

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