Ever painted an apple that looked more like a flat red circle? Sketched a portrait that seemed to float right off the page? Don’t worry. You’re not missing talent. You’re missing light and shadow.

Whether you work in oil, watercolor, charcoal, or anything in between, the secret to making art look real comes down to one thing: understanding how light behaves and where shadows fall. Master that, and suddenly your still lifes have weight, your portraits come alive, and your landscapes have depth you could practically walk into.

Cost: $25