Shape Drawing Challenge Video 3: One Shape, Three New Characters + A Shape Drawing Book for Kids!
If you’ve been following along with my Shape Drawing Challenge video series, then you’re in for a treat. The third video in the series is here, and in this one, I take a single, simple shape and turn it into three completely different characters: a cuddly alien, a cheerful robot, and a fire-breathing dragon! These quick, creative sketches are a fun way to show just how far you can stretch your imagination using just one shape.
This challenge is all about creativity, thinking outside the box, and having fun while drawing. Each transformation happens in real-time as I draw on camera, talking through my ideas and how I use the shape as a foundation. Whether you’re a beginner or just looking for a fresh drawing exercise to try with your kids, the challenge in this shape drawing book for kids is a great place to start.
What Is the Shape Drawing Challenge?
The Shape Drawing Challenge is an art exercise where you start with a simple shape—like a blob, a square, or a squiggle—and turn it into multiple characters or objects. It’s a fantastic way for kids to train their creative thinking skills, and for adults to playfully loosen up their drawing hand.
This challenge in this shape drawing book for kids is especially fun because there’s no right or wrong answer. The only rule is: use the shape! It can be flipped, rotated, stretched, or twisted, but that shape has to be visible in the final character or object you create. It’s part puzzle, part art challenge, and all fun.
The Shape Drawing Book for Kids
If you and your kids are enjoying the videos, the good news is: there’s a whole book based on this idea. The Shape Drawing Challenge book is a companion to the video series and packed with even more inspiration. It includes 16 different shapes with enough drawing pages for you to draw up to 480 different things and characters!
This Shape Drawing Book for Kids is designed to spark creativity and boost confidence. It’s especially great for kids who love to draw but sometimes get stuck wondering what to draw. With a shape already on the page, it gives them a starting point—and from there, the possibilities are endless.
Whether they draw a robot, a slice of pizza, or a sleepy dragon, they’ll be flexing their imagination with every page. Some shapes are easy, some are challenging, but each one is designed to kickstart the creative process.
What Makes This Book Special?
As with all of my drawing books, the art in this book is hand-drawn by me—Kevin Coulston. I wanted the book to feel playful, imaginative, and inviting, so every page was created with young artists in mind. The prompts are open-ended, and kids can interpret them however they want.
The pages are large and printed with bold, clear shapes. There’s room to sketch, doodle, and let your ideas run wild. And since there are no instructions telling kids what to draw, it’s a pure creativity booster.
Here’s why this Shape Drawing Book for Kids is a favorite:
- It inspires storytelling: What kind of creature is that weird shape turning into?
- It builds confidence: There’s no wrong way to complete a page.
- It’s screen-free fun: All you need is a pencil, some imagination, and the book.
- It’s great for solo or group use: Perfect for quiet time, classroom activities, or family drawing night.
The Series
The Shape Drawing Challenge book is part of a growing family of creative drawing activity books I’ve designed for kids ages 5 and up. While some of my other series—like How to Draw, Trace Then Color, and Draw by Grid—focus on step-by-step skill-building, this one is more about wild creativity and less about perfect results.
It’s great as a warm-up before a more structured drawing session or as a fun, low-pressure way to practice drawing when you’re just getting started.
Try It Yourself
If you haven’t already watched the video, give it a look with your kids. Grab a pencil and see what kinds of characters you can create from a single shape. After you’re done, grab the book and keep the creativity going with even more shapes and surprises.
The Shape Drawing Challenge is one of the most flexible and fun drawing exercises I’ve ever made. It gets you drawing without overthinking, and every page can lead to something totally unexpected.
So sharpen your pencils, open your mind, and start sketching. The next silly monster or space dog might be hiding inside that weird little squiggle.
Get this shape drawing book for kids and more at FirstArtBooks.com
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.”
