Shape Drawing Challenge #5 – Turning an S-Shaped Squiggle Into Three New Characters

If your kids enjoy creative drawing activities, the newest installment of my Shape Drawing Challenge series is here — and this one is especially fun. In Shape Drawing Challenge #5, I start with a simple S-shaped squiggle and use it as the foundation to create three completely different characters. This video shows young artists how to Draw by Shape in a way that feels playful, imaginative, and approachable, and it directly ties into the creative challenges found in my Shape Drawing Challenge book.

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In this new video, I take that wiggly S-shaped squiggle and transform it into an old man, an alien, and a T-Rex dinosaur. Kids get to see how one unexpected shape can open the door to endless creative ideas, all by learning how to Draw by Shape using simple, friendly techniques.

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Inside Shape Drawing Challenge #5

This video centers around showing kids how to Draw by Shape using one of the most common doodle shapes out there: a loose scribbly S-shaped squiggle. Nothing complicated, nothing structured — just a simple shape that any child can draw in seconds.

From there, the fun begins.

In Shape Drawing Challenge #5, I turn that squiggle into:

  1. An Old Man – complete with character, expression, and personality
  2. An Alien – stylized, quirky, and imaginative
  3. A T-Rex Dinosaur – toothy, goofy, and full of energy

Each drawing is built step-by-step, and every line and curve is explained in a way that’s easy for kids to follow. When they learn how to Draw by Shape this way, they begin seeing potential in every unexpected line or scribble. That’s what makes this challenge so engaging — it develops creativity without adding pressure.

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As always, the video encourages kids to pause, rewind, and take their time. No perfection required. Just imagination.

How This Video Connects to the Shape Drawing Challenge Book

The whole video is modeled after the drawing process found in my Shape Drawing Challenge book. The goal in both is the same: help kids learn how to Draw by Shape and think outside the box by starting with something simple, then turning it into something completely new.

Inside the book, kids will find:

  • 16 different shapes, repeated multiple times
  • 6 hand-drawn example characters for each shape
  • 480 total drawing spaces for kids to explore
  • Clean, open pages designed to encourage experimentation 

    Check out the Book!

The book gives kids a full creative playground to practice the exact same idea used in the video. Every page is hand-drawn by me — not by AI — which helps maintain consistency, personality, and warmth in each example. If your kids like this video, the book lets them carry that excitement into dozens of new shapes and drawing prompts.

Learning to Draw by Shape becomes something they can do anytime, anywhere.

Why Drawing from Shapes Helps Kids Grow as Artists

One of the biggest advantages of learning to Draw by Shape is that it teaches artistic thinking instead of memorized steps. Kids develop the ability to:

  • Recognize shapes inside drawings
  • Reimagine everyday doodles
  • Create new characters from simple foundations
  • Solve artistic problems
  • Explore their imagination freely

It encourages creativity while helping kids feel more confident. The moment they realize a wiggly S-shaped line can become an old man, an alien, or a T-Rex, their mindset toward drawing shifts. They stop thinking, “I can’t draw that,” and start thinking, “I can turn this into something.”

Draw 480 Characters and Things

For kids who struggle to come up with ideas, the Draw by Shape method gives them a place to start — and that starting point is often all they need.

About the Shape Drawing Challenge Book

My Shape Drawing Challenge book is designed to open doors for kids who want a fun, creative, and screen-free drawing activity. Because each challenge begins with a shape, kids can dive right in without worrying about perfection. They practice creativity while having fun.

Here’s what makes the book a strong creative tool:

  • Hand-drawn examples made specifically for kids
  • Structured repetition that helps build confidence
  • Variety of shapes that spark different ideas
  • Flexibility — kids can make anything they want from each shape
  • No pressure — every drawing can look completely different

The book invites kids to experiment freely, helping them build drawing confidence one page at a time. It’s also a great activity for classrooms, art clubs, homeschooling, or quiet creative time at home.

Part of a Larger Art Books for Kids Series

The Shape Drawing Challenge book is one of more than 80 titles in my Art Books for Kids series, which also includes:

  • How to Draw (step-by-step drawing)
  • Trace Then Color (tracing and coloring practice)
  • Draw by Grid (grid-based drawing learning)
  • Shape Drawing Challenge (creative transformation exercises)

All books feature characters and artwork I draw myself by hand — never AI. The goal of the series is to give kids fun, screen-free art activities that build confidence and inspire creativity.

View all 80+ Art Books for Kids

If your child enjoys learning to Draw by Shape, there’s a whole world of other characters, creatures, robots, animals, monsters, dinosaurs, and more waiting in the rest of the series.

Video Drawing Tutorial: Shape Drawing Challenge #5 – illustration 5

Ready for Shape Drawing Challenge #5?

Now it’s time to grab a pencil and start drawing. Encourage your kids to follow along with the video, pause as needed, and try turning the S-shaped squiggle into their own versions of the old man, alien, and T-Rex. Or let them create brand-new characters from the same shape.

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And if they’re excited to take this creative challenge even further, the Shape Drawing Challenge book gives them everything they need to continue learning how to Draw by Shape across dozens of prompts.

Thanks for following along with Shape Drawing Challenge #5 — I can’t wait to see what your young artists create next.

Drawing Books for Kids