Live Event: Tomorrow! Take the Shape Drawing Challenge at the Verde Valley Comic Expo

by | Mar 28, 2025 | How to Draw Books for Kids

Join Me at the Verde Valley Comic Expo on March 29th!

Are you ready for a fun-filled day of comics, creativity, and family-friendly activities? Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 29th, 2025, and come join me at the Verde Valley Comic Expo in Cottonwood, AZ!

This exciting event, hosted by the Cottonwood Public Library, is a fantastic opportunity to meet artists, discover amazing books, and enjoy a day dedicated to comics and creativity. I’ll be there all day with a table full of my kids’ art books, and I’m also hosting a special live drawing event you won’t want to miss!

Verde Valley Comic Expo Website

Event Details

  • What: Verde Valley Comic Expo
  • When: Saturday, March 29th, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Where: Cottonwood Recreation Center Gymnasium (150 S. 6th St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326)
  • Admission:
    • $5 per person
    • $3 with a donation of at least 2 non-perishable food items
    • Kids 10 & under get in free!
  • Proceeds Support: Cottonwood Bookmarks, Friends of the Library – helping fund the library’s Summer Reading Program

What You Can Expect at My Booth

I’ll be in the exhibit hall all day with a table full of my kids’ art books! If you or your child love to draw, color, or create, this is the perfect place to find fun and engaging books that make learning to draw easy and exciting.

You’ll be able to:

  • Browse my collection of drawing books, tracing books, and grid-based drawing books
  • Pick up a signed copy of your favorite titles
  • Ask me questions about drawing, book creation, and art tips
  • See my artwork up close and learn more about how I create my characters

Whether you’re a beginner artist, a young fan of cute and quirky characters, or a parent looking for creative activities for your kids, my books have something for everyone!

See The Books!

Live Drawing Event: The Shape Drawing Challenge!

One of the highlights of my day at the Verde Valley Comic Expo is my live drawing event, where I’ll be hosting the Shape Drawing Challenge!

  • Time: 11:00 AM
  • Location: Drawing Activity Area
  • What’s the Challenge?
    • I’ll take a simple shape and turn it into three completely different drawings—right in front of you!
    • You’ll get to follow along and create your own unique designs based on the same starting shape.
    • This is a fun and interactive way to spark creativity and improve drawing skills—perfect for kids, beginners, and anyone who loves to draw!

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn basic shapes into fun characters, this event is for you! It’s a great way to learn new drawing techniques and see how easy it can be to create something unique from just a simple starting point.

This live event is inspired by my book “Shape Drawing Challenge”, which is filled with similar exercises to help build creative thinking and drawing confidence. Whether you attend the event or stop by my booth afterward, I’d love to talk with you about how this book can make drawing fun and easy for everyone.

Shape Drawing Challenge – Activity Book

Why You Should Attend the Verde Valley Comic Expo

The Verde Valley Comic Expo is more than just a comic book convention—it’s a community event that brings together artists, writers, and fans for a day of creativity and fun.

Here’s why you should attend:

  • Support Local Artists & Creators – Meet talented artists and authors, and discover amazing comics, books, and artwork.
  • Fun for the Whole Family – With activities for kids, teens, and adults, there’s something for everyone.
  • Interactive Events & Panels – In addition to my Shape Drawing Challenge, there are other exciting activities happening throughout the day.
  • Help a Great Cause – Proceeds go toward supporting the Cottonwood Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, encouraging kids to keep reading and learning during summer break.

If you love comics, drawing, or just want a fun day out with family and friends, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

See You at the Verde Valley Comic Expo!

I can’t wait to meet all of you at this amazing event! Whether you’re stopping by my booth to check out my books, joining me for the Shape Drawing Challenge, or just exploring everything the expo has to offer, I know it’s going to be a fantastic day.

Make sure to bring your creativity, your love of comics, and maybe even a sketchbook to capture some inspiration!

If you have any questions about the event, feel free to reach out. See you on March 29th at the Verde Valley Comic Expo!

Learn More

Meet The Author & Artist

Kevin Coulston is an accomplished cartoonist, animator, and writer. He is the author and illustrator of over 70 (and still counting) children’s drawing books available here on FirstArtBooks.com. Kevin has also authored numerous kid-friendly comic book series, including “Dylan McVillain: A Super Villain with the Best Intentions” and “The Adventures of a 4th Grade Space Captain,” along with the Children’s Picture Book series “Alexis and the T-Rexes.”

Over a decade and a half since his initial published work, Kevin is now dedicating himself to inspiring the next generation of illustrators with his “How To Draw,” “Trace Then Color,” and “Draw by Grid” series of art books.

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What Our Customers Are Saying

“The author really does a great job demonstrating how easy (and rewarding!) it can be to draw seemingly ordinary things you (and your little ones!) may feel too intimidated to try drawing without the step-by-step guide! Putting already-known shapes together and making something new and original is a fantastic way to learn! And recognizing that you can add your own twists and personality to your drawings makes all the difference. I think it’s a fun, original approach to building confidence for a lifelong hobby. I have the ebook copy, and can only imagine how great a physical copy would be!”

– Daenarah [Amazon Review]

“There are several of these fun books by this author. My kids and I have had a lot of fun with these. It’s a great activity to do as a family and see how they all turn out. Almost like a sip and paint but more of a juice box and draw.”

Allison B. [Amazon Review]

My kids can’t wait to start drawing these monsters in their illustrations! The many different moods of the monsters appeal to their different personalities. We love the many options, styles, and opportunities to expand upon the characters. Recommended for all ages!

– Kasey [Amazon Review]

“Kevin has put out many books on drawing and animation, and has such a great feel for HOW to explain the process. His art is so expressive and kid-friendly, but his real strength is in his ability to really explain and show how it’s done, making it accessible to kids and adults. I’m a firm believer that not everyone who “can do” can teach, but Kevin does both beautifully! Pick this up and watch kids have a blast making robots of all sorts, while learning great fundamental art skills at the same time!”

Tom R. [Amazon Review]

“My 5yo LOVES this book! The drawings are cute and the instructions are easy to follow along with. She gets a kick out of drawing muffin monsters and ketchup monsters and it actually keeps her pretty focused for long periods of time.”

– Monica [Amazon Review]

“This is a fantastic book for kids who love art, cartoons, comic books, or just having fun! There are a lot of characters to choose from, and really easy step-by-step instructions to follow. You child will have a blast drawing these fun, silly characters! And just in time for Easter baskets!”

– Bestmomever [Amazon Review]

“This is a very good book for kids that want to learn to draw, my sons love it and Kevin does a great job of making drawing fun and not intimidating. Highly recommended for the long summer hours!”

David D. [Amazon Review]

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