ShapeDrawing Challenge ✏️

Choosing a Theme for a Shape Drawing Session

A broad theme can reduce the number of decisions at the beginning of a session. It should still allow several outcomes, so the prompt becomes an invitation rather than a hidden answer.

Try a practical approach

Choose a category with room inside it

Try machines, creatures, everyday objects, or faces. Ask the artist whether the starting shape might become a whole character or only one useful part. A robot theme, for example, can invite an invented tool instead of requiring another robot head.

Use reference books for a different purpose

A themed tracing, staged-drawing, or grid book can supply real examples of the artist’s favorite subject. A separate shape exercise can then explore an independent idea. The related catalog titles have their own methods; appearing beside a shape prompt does not make them shape-challenge books.

Keep the next idea open

Shape Drawing Challenge gives artists 16 repeated beginnings, six illustrated examples per shape, and room for 480 independently chosen drawings.

Try the separate website exercise or print the website idea planner.

Books for this starting preference

Bring another idea to the art table.

Kevin Coulston sends new book announcements and free drawing, tracing, and coloring activity pages.