How to Draw a Collection of Bags and Containers in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator to create a set of packages!

If you’d like to skip the tutorial and just use this vector in your work, you can go ahead and purchase the Collection of Shopping Bags and Gift Boxes from GraphicRiver!

1. How to Draw the Shopping Bag

Step 1

Begin by drawing a side for the shopping bag with mesh.

Create a square filled with #F5F5F5, and bend it to look like the image below.

Next, with the Mesh Tool (U), add a mesh node as indicated and color the bottom left edge with #A5A5A5. Color the new node with #BBBBBB.

Step 2

Draw another mesh object. You will need these colors:

1. #C6C6C6
2. #9B9B9B
3. #B3B3B3
4. #CCCCCC

Step 3

1. #C8C8C8
2. #A3A3A3
3. #B8B8B8

Step 4

1. #A2A2A2
2. #D0D0D0
3. #5A5A5A

Step 5

Draw a curved line and apply a grey, radial Gradient to its Stroke. Continue to Object > Expand.

Step 6

Draw a shadow with a Radial Gradient from #979797 to white. Change the Transparency mode to Multiply.

Step 7

Assemble the bag out of the elements we have made. Add the shadow under the bag.

Step 8

Create a copy of the original bag and bend it with Effect > Warp > Squeeze, using a 14% Bend with 7% Horizontal Distortion. Expand the finished object.

2. How to Draw the Paper Bag

Step 1

Continue by drawing the paper bag.

1. #EBEBEB
2. #B1B1B1
3. #FFFFFF

Step 2

Draw the side.

1. #EDEDED
2. #FFFFFF
3. #DDDDDD
4. #F3F3F3

Step 3

1. #E5E5E5
2. #DEDEDE
3. #FFFFFF

Step 4

Draw the top.

1. #D9D9D9
2. #777777
3. #989898

Step 5

Finish drawing this part.

1. #B2B2B2
2. #F0F0F0
3. #CBCBCB

Step 6

Assemble the paper bag.

Step 7

Add the shadows we made in the previous section.

3. How to Draw the Tube

Step 1

Draw the main part of the tube.

1. #EBEBEB
2. #F0F0F0
3. #8E8E8E
4. #FEFEFE
5. #DEDEDE
6. #E7E7E7

Step 2

Draw the lid.

1. #909090
2. #EFEFEF
3. #A4A4A4

Step 3

Assemble it, adding a shadow.

4. How to Draw the Bottle

Step 1

Draw the bottle.

1. #D2D2D2
2. #FDFDFD
3. #B1B1B1
4. #E2E2E2
5. #A0A0A0
6. #B1B1B1

Step 2

Draw the lid.

1. #DCDCDC
2. #FFFFFF
3. #BBBBBB
4. #CCCCCC
5. #D5D5D5

Step 3

1. #E8E8E8
2. #F9F9F9
3. #C4C4C4
4. #DBDBDB

Step 4

Assemble the bottle.

Step 5

Create a different version of the bottle by bending a copy with Effect > Warp > Arch. Use 17% Vertical Distortion and Expand Appearance.

Step 6

Create another version of the bottle by bending a copy of the original with Effect > Warp > Bulge. Use 12% Bend and Expand Appearance.

5. How to Add the Boxes

Step 1

Learn how to draw the first box right here:

• Learn how to create a vector group of colorful gift boxes with bows and ribbons using the Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator!

Color it with Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors. Use Grayscale mode and adjust the Black value to -3%.

Step 2

Learn to make the second box in the tutorial linked above, and then recolor it similarly: with Edit > Edit Colors > Adjust Colors, using Grayscale mode with Black at -16%.

Step 3

Finish with Edit > Edit Colors > Saturate at -52% Intensity.

Step 4

Learn how to make the final box in another tutorial of mine, and then add 26% Intensity with the Saturate function.

• In this tutorial you will learn how to create a vector collection of gift boxes and bows, styled in the Pantone Color of the Year 2018 – Ultra Violet, using…

Step 5

You’ve finished the set!

Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!

What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile, or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector I was inspired by for this tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below!

Try some other interesting tutorials!