How to Use Drawing Examples Without Copying Every Idea
An example can show that a shape has possibilities without deciding what everyone should draw. The Shape Drawing Challenge book includes six illustrated examples per starting shape; the artist can use them as invitations rather than targets to match.
Try a practical approach
Look for a choice in the example
Notice whether the outline became an entire character, an accessory, or a small part of a larger drawing. Name the kind of decision instead of focusing only on the subject. Then turn back to an unused space and consider another use for the beginning shape.
Make one change at a time
If the artist wants to begin near an example, suggest changing a role, an orientation, or one feature on separate paper. A different interpretation does not have to be wildly unusual to be worthwhile. Keep the original example visible when useful, without requiring an exact match.
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
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