Phoenix Fan Fusion Recap | Lots of Books, Laughs, and People

by | Jun 9, 2025 | How to Draw Books for Kids

Phoenix Fan Fusion Was A Huge Success, and Super Fun!

This past weekend, I spent three jam-packed days at Phoenix Fan Fusion—Arizona’s biggest and best comic convention—and I’m still riding the high. I don’t know the exact attendance numbers, but everywhere I looked, it was a sea of fans, costumes, and energy.

One of the highlights for me was hosting the Shape Drawing Challenge panel on Saturday. It was a blast—and a bit of a family affair. Midway through, my daughter decided to “co-host” with her quick wit and serious art chops. At one point, someone asked me to draw Squirtle. Just as I reached for my phone to look him up, she snatched it away, forcing me to draw the turtle-squirrel Pokémon entirely from memory. Chaos (and laughter) ensued, and somehow we ended up with a packed room full of smiles and doodles.

The rest of the time, I was at my table in the exhibitor hall, introducing kids and parents to my drawing books and sending as many as I could off to new homes. I had set some pretty ambitious (possibly delusional) goals for the weekend—and somehow managed to beat them all.

It was incredible to meet so many new people discovering my books for the first time, and even more rewarding to see the joy on kids’ faces as they found the books that spoke to them. I’m also deeply grateful for the friends and familiar faces who stopped by to show their support.

I’m already planning more live drawing events, so stay tuned for updates. And in the meantime—keep drawing!

– Kevin Coulston

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Meet The Author & Artist

Kevin Coulston is an accomplished cartoonist, animator, and writer. He is the author and illustrator of over 80 (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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