Mesh tool Problems Helpppp

[cynder_fire]

So i have this project that is due in the morning and we have to draw with the pen tool a clipart object of our favorite thing, so i did, then i added color and was about to use the mesh tool to make it 3d and shiny and such, but whenever i roll over to my shape my mouse has the error circle with a cross through it, i already brought it over to a different art board but that didn't work, perhaps it had something to do with colors or when i was messing with the gradient option earlier, but please help, i can't afford to redo this project from scratch and this is the last option i can think of.

[Doug A Roberts]

Can you show a screenshot of your workspace with the object selected and the layers panel visible?

[cynder_fire]

[cynder_fire]

whenever i try to select one portion of my project it selects the whole thing for some reason too

[Doug A Roberts]

How did you create it? Flip open the layer so we can see what kind of object it is.

[creative_curiosity1549]

Does the object already have a fill?

If not, you need to click on its path with the mesh tool.

[cynder_fire]

I'm not quite sure what you mean, i used the fill option when i was using the pen tool to add colors to my project, but i also used the live paint bucket tool too, maybe that has something to do with it? cause when i click the paths with the mesh tool it doesn't do anything either

[Doug A Roberts]

If it's a live paint object, or a group that contains live paint, you won't be able to use the mesh tool. 

Select it and go to Object > Live Paint > Expand

Then try again.

[cynder_fire]

This worked, but for some parts of my project and not others, the glass of the mech i can use the mesh on, but not the metal above it, or the metal on the arms.

[creative_curiosity1549]

You need to show what's inside the layers and group.

Also: we don't know what is "metal" in your artwork.

[cynder_fire]

Sorry, it's late, my descriptions are garbage right now lol but whatever is blue on the mech is metal, and the greenish round color object in the direct center is the glass. Most of the second layer is path's, some say compound paths though

[creative_curiosity1549]

Compound paths won't work with the mesh tool.

Are you sure you even need gradient meshes?

Gradients don't work? Freeform gradients?