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I am a full-time professional illustrator who has created 45 picture books for children. In 2016, I wrote a book called "Monsters Go Night-Night" in which all the character designs were based on monster drawings my 5-year-old son Elijah had made. To celebrate the book's release, I invited artists to redraw those same 7 original kid drawings in their own styles and post to social media. The response was so astounding that I dubbed the challenge "Monsters Go" and for the next three years continued to share a new monster prompt each week, now provided by all six of my children. During these years, I launched another personal project, which I continued to refer to as "Monsters Go." In this iteration, rather than many artists drawing from a single monster prompt, instead I as a single artist would redraw many monsters submitted by many kids.

More info: Instagram

I received an overwhelming 20,000 designs submitted by kids, and redrew 300 of them from 2017-2018. In 2019, I wound down the online challenge for artists to redraw my own kids' monsters. But when the pandemic hit, I began receiving regular requests from artists asking for its return, folks who were looking for both joy and creative inspiration in difficult times.

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    #2

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Raelynn, Fan Art By @purperoni

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    Kiddo
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Awwwww:) where can I get one? It’s adorable! Also, can we all agree it needs a name?

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    I received an overwhelming 20,000 designs submitted by kids, and redrew 300 of them from 2017-2018. In 2019, I wound down the online challenge for artists to redraw my own kids' monsters. But when the pandemic hit, I began receiving regular requests from artists asking for its return, folks who were looking for both joy and creative inspiration in difficult times.

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    #3

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Arie, Fan Art By @mikebaldridge.design

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    Gerard Neaux
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, this Sid the Sloth owl is so good

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    So in late 2020, the Monsters Go Instagram account jumped back to life with weekly prompts and highlighted responses. I was running low on my own kids' monster drawings to use as prompts, so I began pulling from the 20,000 drawings that I had received from my other project. Since 2016, over 1,000 artists have played along, and around 4,000 pieces of artwork have been created from these prompts.

    #4

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Liv, Fan Art By @cozacana_

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    #5

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Brooklynn, Fan Art By @volatilconcept

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    ima cat
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like Madame Hagfish from an episode of Spongebob Squarepants.

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    #6

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Atticus, Fan Art By @revcruz

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    #8

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Mason, Fan Art By @barbara.knappe

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    Tom Bolton
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poor guy, you can tell he hasn't studied for the exam.

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    #10

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Alan, Fan Art By @aaronzenz

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    #12

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Josiah, Fan Art By @chibyversity

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    Gerard Neaux
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The T-Rex/megalodon combo we all knew in our heart of hearts must exist if there's any justice in this world

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    #14

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Evie, Fan Art By @ohalloren

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    #16

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Jae, Fan Art By @dave.pasciuto

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    #19

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Jonas, Fan Art By @streetfiedler

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    #21

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Mercy, Fan Art By @austinmills2664

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    Ozymandias73
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He's seen some battles. Imagine the stories he's got to tell

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    #22

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Leo, Fan Art By @traeshaesthetics

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    Gerard Neaux
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Fire Langur is the twice removed cousin of the Golden Langur, except he's a telepath. He also accidentally sat in a fire.

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    #28

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Elyse, Fan Art By @illustration_nerd

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    Raven Hart
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that's one of the cutest things I've seen all year

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    #29

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Mason, Fan Art By @reinvanwykillustrate

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    Kara Amundson
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Again, SO diggin' both of these severely. Just glad they're not under my bed.

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    #31

    Prompt By Kid-Artist Kaira, Fan Art By @hichiha_0031

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    Raven Hart
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that's the kind of person I'd like to hang out with

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    #34

    Aa

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    Hooman
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I actually prefer the kids drawing on this one.

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    #35

    Aa

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    Raven Hart
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I want to read this story, what would be the characters name?

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