ShapeDrawing Challenge ✏️

A Shared Shape Activity for Siblings

Different artists can begin with the same outline without competing to match each other. A shared prompt can make the conversation about choices while allowing different amounts of detail.

A separate activity to try

Give each participant their own sheet and the same simple starting outline. Let them work quietly before showing pictures if comparison tends to influence the first idea. Offer tools suited to each person.

Look at the next choice

When people are ready, ask them to name one mark they added and what it changed. One child may use the shape as an entire animal while another makes it part of an object. Both are valid interpretations of the invitation.

Decide whether to continue

Choose whether the next round should use another shared shape or different methods. Someone may prefer tracing beside a sibling inventing independently. The purpose is a shared opportunity, not equal output or a drawing score.

Use a published book for another starting task

Trace Then Color: Baby Animals offers follow the printed character lines, then choose colors. Compare that task with Shape Drawing Challenge’s repeated outlines and open-ended responses. The practice suggestions in this article are website-created activities, not additional printed features being claimed for either book.

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.

Bring another idea to the art table.

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