by Aaron Zenz
Kids are an amazing source of inspiration. They haven’t yet learned the conventions and “rules” that so often inhibit our own grown-up imaginations. My kiddos constantly astound me with the creativity that pours forth from their pencils.
My kids have a couple of blogs where I showcase their art and ideas. Two years ago I set up a challenge for professional illustrators to use a drawing from the kids’ blog to fuel a piece of “Fan Art.”
For example, this is a drawing my daughter Lily made:
Here’s a drawing from my son Isaac:
I expected that perhaps a handful of people would join me in participating. Instead, over 70 pieces of amazing art poured in from people all over the world. You can see the full results of the celebration HERE.
It was so much fun, we just had to do all over again two years later. One of the illustrators who contributed both years is J.C. Phillipps of “Wink the Ninja” fame. This year she chose to recreate an image by my daughter Gracie:
And here’s J.C. Phillipps’ version:
But then, something else happened… Here’s what Mrs. Phillipps had to say:
“I decided to give the rabbit a girl. As I was making the girl, she started to speak to me. Turns out, her name is Esmerelda and she loves it when things go wrong. As I was putting this collage together, all these little story ideas started weaving their way into my mind and I now think I have a new idea to write up. Time can only tell where it all leads—but I think little Esmerelda and I are going to have a lot of fun together.”
Awesome! And that gets me to thinking of a particular picture book idea that I’ve had rattling around in my brain for years, sparked by one of the kid’s pictures. I’ve yet to work it up. Perhaps PiBoIdMo 2011 is just the time to do it!
So here’s your challenge for the day. Write up a story idea based on the random wonderfulness of a kid drawing. If you don’t have a kid close at hand, here are a few drawings for inspiration:
by Isaac:
Happy writing to you all!
Aaron Zenz is giving away a copy of his latest book “Chuckling Ducklings” PLUS an original sketch of a baby critter of YOUR choosing! (see examples) Just leave a comment here to be entered! A winner will be randomly selected in one week.
Aaron Zenz has illustrated 14 books for children. He is also the author of “The Hiccupotamus” and “Chuckling Ducklings.” His kids review their favorite books at their blog Bookie Woogie and share artwork at their other blog Chicken Nugget Lemon Tooty.
127 comments
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November 28, 2011 at 12:45 am
Kayleen West - Children's Book Illustration
I have to say I love the post best of all as it speaks into my life. I have a new family of small step-children and this sort of activity has been a real connector for us. I love to do collage and drawing with the kids as well as in my studio in solitary. The kids are really inspirational and I tend to beg for drawings to hang in my studio. Like Julie Phillipps I have my eye on a couple of my kids drawing for stories too. It will be fun to do this more fun than “Just a Tad”
November 28, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Aaron Zenz
Everyone is so kind – thanks for all the nice comments — I’ll be sure to pass all the good words on to the kids as well!
November 28, 2011 at 12:48 am
Gary Masskin
Some amazing artwork and interesting how it all works together to spark creativity.
November 28, 2011 at 12:51 am
tinamcho
I love this idea! I have tons of artwork from my children that I’ll go take a look at today. I enjoyed hearing about your illustration challenge! My kids and I also own your Hiccupotamus book. Thanks for sharing these ideas and your own kids’ drawings.
November 28, 2011 at 12:59 am
Debbie Meyer
First off, those kids of yours have TALENT! I love all their art. So much fun. What a great idea to look deeper into children’s art. I work in the 3yr old class at a preschool and they are so imaginative. What stories they tell!!! Thanks for the inspiration, Aaron! (Lily, Gracie & Isaac, you ROCK!)
November 28, 2011 at 1:01 am
sue crites
what a fun post! thank you for the ideas and your kids for sharing their artwork!
November 28, 2011 at 1:06 am
Maria Gianferrari
What wonderful artwork–and that’s what art is all about–it is random, and whimsical and inspiring!-Thank you for sharing these images!
November 28, 2011 at 1:10 am
Janet O'Neil
Aaron, what a great way to inspire others as well as your own children! Thank you for sharing yourself (and your children) with us!
November 28, 2011 at 1:15 am
Romelle
Your kids’ artwork is amazing. They definitely got your creative genes. Thanks so much for the inspiration. I’ve already got 2 PiBoIdMo ideas from your post.
I especially enjoyed seeing the other artists’ rendition of your children’s artwork. I’m now a FAN of you and your family!
BTW: If I win your sketch, I’d love to get the piglet drawings. That’s what I call my two young boys.
November 28, 2011 at 1:18 am
Terri DeGezelle
All I can say is it looks like the old saying is true, the gift of artist skills run in families!
November 28, 2011 at 2:25 am
Juliet Clare Bell
I love this idea. Loads of my ideas are stolen directly from my children. They’re amazing. My seven year old’s reading over my shoulder and she’s asked if she can draw me a picture for me to be inspired by. Yes, please…
Thanks again -great post.
November 28, 2011 at 3:51 am
Linda Lodding
What a fun twist on the idea of getting story ideas from kids! One of my books was inspired by something funny my daughter said to me when she was little — but I never thought about using childrens’ drawings to do the same thing. It’s also a wonderful way to remind us adult writers to (try to) view the world from a child’s POV.
November 28, 2011 at 4:07 am
sabrina
Wow, amazing art of your kids ! I loved the story of Esmeralda. Me too, I steal ideas from my 3 year old’s drawings. I let her explain her drawings to me and boom, new inspiration 🙂 Thank you for sharing !!
November 28, 2011 at 4:43 am
Dana Carey
Excellent idea. I also enjoyed checking out the Critters and the kids’ drawing blog. Lots of creativity going on. Thanks!
November 28, 2011 at 5:11 am
Mona Pease
Love the kids’ artwork. Much more interpretive than my own!!! Great places to find story starters. Thanks for such your colorful post!
November 28, 2011 at 5:21 am
Lynda Shoup
This post was a feast for the eyes and for ideas. I am amazed every time I ask my students to do something that requires drawing….they give me more than I expect.
Thanks for a wonderful new way of looking at the inspiration that is close at hand.
November 28, 2011 at 5:53 am
Linda Andersen
Aaron, this is powerful. What a great challenge for writers and illustrators. The old expression “A picture is worth a thousand words” has a new spin on it. Of course I know picture book publishers prefer 500 or even less. 🙂
November 28, 2011 at 6:05 am
Sophie
I love your kids’ drawings–very creative! there is something so fresh and authentic about kids’ work. I even notice it in some of my youthful art.
November 28, 2011 at 6:12 am
M. G. King
My boys like to draw stories (usually in the margins of their homework) — if I ask them about their art, they use verbs. It’s all about what’s happening. Time to mine some new plot ideas! (Love Isaac’s dragon, BTW — the expression on his face in the last frame is hilarious.)
November 28, 2011 at 6:27 am
Catherine Johnson
What a great idea! The kid’s drawings are super and the illos amazing. My son is just starting to take an interest in drawing, I’m going to pay more attention now, thanks!
November 28, 2011 at 6:28 am
Lori Mozdzierz
Amazing interpretations of your kids’ artwork and that of Gracie’s rabbit by J.C. Phillips! Loved hearing how the story spoke to J.C. from that illustration!!
November 28, 2011 at 7:38 am
Kim Pfennigwerth (@kpfenni)
Aaron,
Thanks for another great post. This month has been so full of inspiration. Your blog for your children is amazing. And the illustrators who joined in are an incredibly gifted and giving group. Thank you for your inspiration and for your childrens’ and fellow illustrators.
November 28, 2011 at 7:39 am
Laura
You have a family of artists! What a blessing it is, I find, to have young kids. With them around, there’s really no excuse for not having ideas to fly with.
November 28, 2011 at 7:56 am
Sheri Larsen
I love this challenge! My 8yr old just gave me one of his drawings last night and I was thinking what a great PB it would make! You’ve convinced me to have at it. Thx!!
November 28, 2011 at 8:04 am
cravevsworld
Superb way to integrate illustration to inspire the writer. What came first the picture or the writing?
Cheers,
Crave
http://www.cravewriting.com
November 28, 2011 at 8:08 am
Lori
love it! and am inspired, Aaron. Thanks for sharing.
November 28, 2011 at 8:10 am
Susan Harrison
Beautiful artwork! Thanks for sharing your post.
November 28, 2011 at 8:16 am
Penny Klostermann
Great post. I went over and had a look at Bookie Woogie. Great inspiration there. Thank you for sharing your and your kids drawings. The interview with the Z-Kids for Chuckling Ducklings was precious.
November 28, 2011 at 8:20 am
Megan K. Bickel
Love this!! What a fabulous idea! I’m off to raid my son’s art drawer!
November 28, 2011 at 8:30 am
Wendy
I love the illustration inspiration challenges. I wish I had a child around here who drew stuff. Thank you so much for sharing your kids’ masterpieces.
November 28, 2011 at 8:44 am
Courtney
What a great idea! Love your kiddos artwork, wonderfully imaginative and creative.
November 28, 2011 at 8:44 am
Diandra Mae
What a great post, Aaron! I say it over and over again that the level of inspiration & quality in your kids’ art is mind-blowing. 🙂 Thanks for sharing their work. *Fingers crossed* I get that book. My kiddos would love another picture book to add to our collection.
November 28, 2011 at 8:49 am
Valarie Giogas
My son & I used to make up stories to some of his pictures. I miss that. Now I’ll have to do it with my littlest munchkin. Love your work (and your kids’)!
November 28, 2011 at 8:52 am
Jeannie Brett
thanks for the inspiration!
November 28, 2011 at 8:52 am
Cathy Mealey
Thank you for sharing your inspirational artworks and the blog links – such fun! My daughter loves to draw, but I’ve been buried under a mountain of her papers. I’ve just started archiving them with digital photographs. Do you scan or photograph the artwork that your kids produce? Thanks!
November 28, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Aaron Zenz
Thanks to everyone for the incredibly kind comments! I’ll be sure to share them with the kids as well.
Cathy, it’s a super way to archive, yes? And for us, once the pictures are on the blog, it’s so easy to visit them again. Much easier than thumbing through a pile of papers in the closet (which we do have as well). And in answer to your question, for our blogs I scan the artwork rather than photograph it.
November 28, 2011 at 8:53 am
Marina A
Thanks for sharing, Aaron. enjoyed the artwork!
November 28, 2011 at 8:54 am
angelapenadahle
I love this! I ♥ my kids drawings but have never tried to get a picture book idea out of them. Time to try it out! ♥
November 28, 2011 at 8:56 am
Laura Lowman Murray
I love this idea! I am going to start looking at my children’s art as a source for ideas too! Thanks!
November 28, 2011 at 9:08 am
Diane Kress Hower
Awesome idea. Thanks Aaron!
November 28, 2011 at 9:20 am
Jennifer Kirkeby
I love this post, Aaron! What great inspiration! Your artwork is fantastic (and your kids as well!)
November 28, 2011 at 9:22 am
Katy Duffield
This is fantastic! And I loved seeing your children’s artwork. They are very talented!
November 28, 2011 at 9:28 am
Donna Koppelman
LOVE this message. My house is covered in the framed artwork of my four children. Children’s artwork can be so detailed and interesting–a great source of ideas. Thanks for sending me back to art I love!
November 28, 2011 at 9:30 am
Jenn DesAutels
Tell your son that the expressions on the octopus and the fish are hilarious. Is he planning to go into graphic novel writing? =)
November 28, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Aaron Zenz
Thanks! I will!
Isaac has experimented with crafting comic books and graphic novels, yes. He’s had several good starts. He’s like me though… he gets the most pleasure out of starting new ideas rather than finishing them up. He’s got lots of time ahead of him though!
November 28, 2011 at 9:43 am
Tracy Warren (@socialTracyW)
Great post. Thanks for sharing the artwork, they are fun sources of inspiratons.
November 28, 2011 at 9:54 am
aneducationinbooks
This is a great inspiring idea. Thanks!
November 28, 2011 at 10:07 am
Pat Haapaniemi
Wow! What a great post, Aaron! I found myself staring at the pictures and just smiling, thinking about the possible stories behind them. Thanks to you and your children!
November 28, 2011 at 10:10 am
Cathy C. Hall
What an idea starter! I don’t know why I always figured the words came first–now I’m on a mission to find my kids’ drawings!
November 28, 2011 at 10:12 am
katiemillsgiorgio
Love, love, love this! Thanks for sharing!
November 28, 2011 at 10:16 am
Jan Milusich
My son inspired a story that I wrote when he was busy playing. Later that day he saw me writing and when I told him where I came up with the story he created numerous illustrations which in turn fueled more creative ideas. What can be better? Jan
November 28, 2011 at 10:38 am
Dawn
Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
November 28, 2011 at 10:54 am
Rebecca
Great challenge. I’ll get right to it!
November 28, 2011 at 10:57 am
LadyInRead
My kids do constantly inspire me. What they say, do and also draw definitely are truly beautiful and lots of fun. Thank you for the post.
November 28, 2011 at 11:02 am
Jarm Del Boccio
Great perspective, Aaron…I’m going to dig through my kids artwork that I’ve saved (they are teens now) and look for golden ideas!
November 28, 2011 at 11:02 am
Jarm Del Boccio
Great perspective, Aaron…I’m going to dig through my kids artwork that I’ve saved (they are teens now) and look for golden ideas!
November 28, 2011 at 11:03 am
Lynn
Aaron, I think this is the first post to bring a tear to my eye.
I absolutely love your interpretation of Lily’s wonderful drawing of the birds, sure would love to have a copy – if only it were possible.
It touched me – the whole feeling around J.C. Phillipps giving Gracie’s rabbit a girl. It is amazing what can come from one idea, and it really is that way in all of life. We just have to learn to connect the dots.
Isaac’s octopus drawing inspired a story idea for me, and I also got one from one of your drawings, so that puts my total up to 39.
I think that what you are doing with your children is the most precious and amazing thing, drawing, reading reviewing books together, and introducing their young minds to the arts in such a memorable way. Bless you all.
Thank you, Aaron for sharing this with us.
November 28, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Aaron Zenz
Thanks much Lynn!
And I like that idea of learning to connect dots… That’s one thing I try to do through our Bookie Woogie blog — expose the kids to as many ideas and stories and paintings and people as I can. Give them lots of dots. Hopefully as they go through life, those dots start connecting in fun and surprising ways for them.
November 28, 2011 at 11:04 am
Tamara Smith
This is just amazing! As a not-artist (!) I have been especially humbled and impressed by the illustrator/writer folks here. Aaron, your idea is so so cool. And your illustrations are incredible. So are your kids’!
Thank you for this. My three kids are big draw-ers too. I look to them for ideas all the time, but it never occurred to me to look at their artwork. I will now!
November 28, 2011 at 11:08 am
Rebecca C
Looks like your children are going to follow in your footsteps. This is such a great idea. I had just started exploring illustrator’s websites for inspiration but I love your idea. I’m going to borrow my children’s illustrations in the future as well.
November 28, 2011 at 11:09 am
Cindy
Aaron I am inspired by the output and quality of your family’s art (love Chicken Nugget… blog BTW). I hope to get my kids involved, as they’re budding artists too. One question: where do you find the time to do all these activities/write blog etc. with four kids and a thriving illustration career?
November 28, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Aaron Zenz
Time? Ha ha ha ha hah! If only I had time…
But thank-you! The only way I can pull this off is to eliminate personal time. Actually, that’s not quite accurate… I don’t really *eliminate* personal time. I just make conscious effort to cultivate personal interests that benefit the family as well.
So for example, that book I’ve been wanting to read for years? I set it aside for a different book, also one that I’ve always wanted to read, but one that we can all read together. Things like that.
Another thing I do: I work a self-imposed 3rd shift. I get “career” stuff done while everyone’s asleep, I go to bed in the morning, then at noon I’m up to do things with the family until the end of the day. It works out great for everyone.
(p.s. Actually we have 6 kids! And we love it 🙂 )
November 28, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Kayleen West - Children's Book Illustration
Wow 6 at home! I have 6 kids but 3 at home and have been working on my work schedule for over a year! I worked out that working to the early hours was quiet but I was too tired so I moved to starting very early (around 4am) was the only solution to getting enough done.
Like you Aaron I found you can tie what you do into quality time with the family. We are blessed to have a occupation that can be shared with the ones we love. Kids especially love anything creative. I am encouraging the kids to journal creatively now they are chewing through sketchbooks like breakfast cereal.
November 28, 2011 at 11:18 am
Julie D.
Adorable all around! And in the kids’ drawings you can just see there are stories there. Great post.
November 28, 2011 at 11:45 am
Tammi Sauer
Aaron, I have always loved how you celebrate children’s books and art with your kiddos.
If anyone hasn’t seen Aaron’s blog, Bookie Woogie, please check it out. So, so good. http://bookiewoogie.blogspot.com/
This is a bit of a description of what goes on at Bookie Woogie:
“Here at Bookie Woogie we pick our favorite books, review them, and create some accompanying fan art.”
November 28, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Aaron Zenz
Thanks much,Tammi 🙂 The blog archive is pretty massive, so for anyone looking for a starting place, why not check out the kids’ impressions of Tammi Sauer’s wonderful book “Mostly Monsterly”: http://bookiewoogie.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-76-mostly-monsterly.html (Spoiler warning: They loved it)
November 29, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Tammi Sauer
Does your awesomeness know no bounds??? 🙂
November 28, 2011 at 11:49 am
Meghan
I love this idea! I am a nanny and I am so excited to try writing stories inspired by a child’s drawings!
November 28, 2011 at 11:58 am
Betsy Devany
I LOVED this post. Children’s artwork always amazes me. To see how a child’s sketch led to an actual illustration inspired several new story ideas for me. Thanks for sharing all the fabulous pictures!
November 28, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Nancy Furstinger (@AnimalAuthor)
As a children’s book author and a rabbit rescuer (including one last Thanksgiving named Esmeralda), I’d love to have an illustration of a baby rabbit (called a kit)…and I hope you are busy illustrating this story!
November 28, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Tim McCanna
Very cool stuff, Aaron. Thanks for the inspiring post. Will you please adopt my kids? I’ll throw in a box of colored pencils.
November 28, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Joyce Ray
Wonderful art inspired by kids’ art, Aaron. Your post reminds me to dig out my file of our grandkids’ art to see what idea is waiting! Kids’ imagination is truly uninhibited, isn’t it? Thanks for a great idea.
November 28, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Brook Gideon
Aaron,
What a goldmine you have opened! Your drawings and interpretations are wonderful. There is nothing I love more than looking at kids’ art at school whenever I had to go for any of my kids. all the drawings on the wall were wondrous, weird and sooooooo fun!!! Thanks for sharing another way to find inspiration everyday!
November 28, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Claire Bartlett
I too think that getting inspired by children’s artwork is a great idea. I think I’ll go back through my drawings from when I was a kid and see if anything can be resurrected. Also, those baby animals are wonderful!
November 28, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Wendy Greenley
The apples didn’t fall far from the tree at the Zenz house! I love your whole family’s art. Thanks for sharing with us.
November 28, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Véronique Robigou
Aaron, Thanks for sharing your kids’ art. I am taking on the challenge with Isaac’s drawing.
November 28, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Heather Ayris Burnell
Great idea! I’m definitely going to give it a try.
November 28, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Brenda Huante
I just love the drawings…especially the purple octopus! Looks like your kids are following in your footsteps.
November 28, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Heather Jackson
Chicken Nugget Lemon Tooty is Ketchup Dippin’ Lemontastic! I love the idea to use children’s art work to inspire your writing! Your kids are lucky to have such a wonderful role model!
November 28, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Aaron Zenz
I now MUST find a way to use “Ketchup Dippin’ Lemontastic” somewhere!
November 28, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Jodelle Brohard
Wow! This was a great post. And your kids’ drawings are great! Obviously they inherited some of your artistic talent.
November 28, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Charlotte
I’ve heard about this wonderful project from various artist friends but never though of using the illustrations as inspiration for stories. Fingers crossed for the giveaway 🙂
November 28, 2011 at 4:58 pm
laurasalas
Wow–your kids are really talented artists! Sheesh. I’ve been using prof. illustrator’s pieces to inspire ideas, but how fun to get even closer to the source and use kids’ art!
November 28, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
Wow, love the pictures and the interpretations!
November 28, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Sue Heavenrich
I love this! Thanks for sharing… what a cool way to inspire our writing.
November 28, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Ellen L. Ramsey
What great fun! Definitely inspirational. And the rabbit and the little girl remind me of my granddaughter’s fondness for her special Lamby!
November 28, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Carol
OK, another great idea I wouldn’t have come up with on my own. Now, I promise to go check through all of my granddaughters pictures posted on my freezer and find a story. The elementary art show in the mall would be another great place to look for stories!
November 28, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Karen Cheesman
I would love to see the blog that has more examples of “fan art”. Went looking for it on your website but couldn’t find it. Did I miss something? Please send the address.
November 28, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Aaron Zenz
Hi Karen, Thanks for asking! Sorry it wasn’t more clear…
The first Fan Art post is here: http://isaacgracelily.blogspot.com/2009/08/3-year-celebration.html
And the second Fan Art post is here: http://isaacgracelily.blogspot.com/2011/08/5-year-celebration.html
November 28, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Angela Padron
You and your kids are very talented – love this idea! Thanks for sharing
November 28, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Donna Black
These kid pictures are terrific. Thanks for the inspiration!
November 28, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Beth MacKinney
What an awesome idea! I think I’ll try it with my art class and see what they come up with! : ) Thanks!
November 28, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Loni Edwards
What a fun post! I love it!
November 28, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Mindy Alyse Weiss
Thank you for the inspiring post, Aaron. The wonderful drawings you shared helped me come up with several new ideas today, and I’m having fun adding picture books to my must-read list from looking through your blog.
November 28, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Lori Grusin Degman
Thanks for the great post, Aaron! I’m going to dig out my kids’ artwork from grade school – they’re 25 and 22 now!
November 29, 2011 at 1:52 am
Marcy P.
Okay, I LOVE that you have a blog for your kids’ art. You should SEE the walls in our Dining Room (aka Art Room). It used to be Art WALL but now it has pluralized. I am totally going to start a blog for them. LOVE it! Thanks for sharing that! I also loved seeing how you turned your children’s creativity into your own expression of art. What neat way to collaborate with them. Did they think it was cool? Or did they get depressed because “Daddy can do it better?” (know what I mean?) Do you show them your version? I think the whole thing is really great and can’t wait to get started. Thanks for that inspiration! I can’t wait to see what their pictures tell me 🙂
November 29, 2011 at 2:59 am
Aaron Zenz
Great questions! The kids loved seeing all the Fan Art come in. It was very encouraging to them to see other people taking an interest in their creations. I don’t think it was intimidating… instead I think it actually motivated them to try even more things! All the versions that I made I framed and gave to the kids. And actually a handful of the other participants sent us their work too — they are treasured pieces!
November 29, 2011 at 7:19 am
thiskidreviewsbooks
Here’s the good news: I have a kid nearby. Here’s even BETTER news: I AM a kid! If you do pick me for the animal, I’d like the kit\chinchilla because my little sister has a chinchilla (his name is Smokey) and I’d give the illustration to her. This was such a totally cool post!
November 29, 2011 at 7:30 am
shuttaCrum
-What a great idea! Loved the art by the kids (and you too, of course)!
Hugs, S.
November 29, 2011 at 9:02 am
Kathleen Cornell Berman
Thanks so much for your inspiring, creative and fun post. Such a talented family. It is absolutely wonderful to see a family “work” together. What a thrill for your children. But what about your wife? Enjoyed your blog.
November 29, 2011 at 11:56 am
Aaron Zenz
Thanks Kathleen! Mom joins in some of our activities from time to time. For example, she does Family Trading Cards with us: http://isaacgracelily.blogspot.com/search/label/TradingCards
November 29, 2011 at 11:06 am
Priscilla Mizell
What a fun idea. I LOVE your penguin drawing. 🙂
November 29, 2011 at 11:27 am
Mary Meinking
Thank you Aaron for your post. And your inspiring way of looking at children’s art. I love how you and other artist interpreted the kid’s art. Some very literal and others used it as a jumping off point to create their own worlds. Thanks again!
November 29, 2011 at 11:58 am
Julie Pitts
I have my children’s art work hanging all over our house. You have given me a whole new way of looking at it. Thank you!
November 29, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Sheila O Lindsay
What a wonderful idea, I love children’s art work. All of your’s are fabulous! Thanks for Sharing.
November 29, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Laurie L Young
What a wonderful way to engage your kids, as well. Now I have to go back to all my old sketchbooks and see if any of the doodles are trying to tell me something . . .
November 29, 2011 at 4:29 pm
ninolesel
Awesome idea – great for everyone. Your children draw so well – have they thought about making books of their own? 🙂
November 29, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Aaron Zenz
Oh absolutely. They make little books all the time 🙂 There tends to be a lot of storytelling going on in the solo pictures they draw as well.
November 29, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Jessica Young
Great idea. And there’s no shortage of kids’ art around here. Our portfolios are busting at the seams! Thanks for the great post!
November 29, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Rachel Smoka-Richardson
A wonderful idea – and terrific artwork. Thanks for sharing!
November 30, 2011 at 10:11 am
Marcie Colleen
Such an amazing post! Thank you! And especially thank you for highlighting the talent and creativity of children. I am a nanny and although I often get ideas from the kids I work with, I have not looked to their artwork yet. Great idea! Looking forward to following Chicken Nugget Lemon Tooty. 🙂
November 30, 2011 at 12:20 pm
sketched out
Love “Chicken Nugget Lemon Tooty.” Been a fan for a while now. Also,one of my favorite exhibits at the county fair is youth art. It comes so much from the heart. What a fantastic way to be inspired for children’s stories but by their very own art. Love it!!!!
It’s a very cool thing you’re doing for you kids and kids (young and old) everywhere. Thanks for the post!
November 30, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Peggy Archer
What great illustrations! Yours, too 🙂 Seriously, I really like your artwork. And–just what WAS Humpty doing on that wall anyway?!
November 30, 2011 at 1:43 pm
melinda beavers
I was just astounded and completely fascinated when I found Aaron & the Z-Kids’ blog, it’s a such a stunningly inspirational idea – thanks so much for sharing it with us all!
November 30, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Aaron Zenz
Thanks Melinda!
And to anyone else reading, you should know that Melinda also happened to make a piece of Fan Art for the very same rabbit that JC Phillipps did (neither of them having seen the other’s interpretation yet). Melinda’s work is also AMAZING! It’s very cool to see how multiple people can be inspired by the same thing and yet come up with such very different results. Inspiration is profoundly personal.
You can see Melinda’s wonderful rabbit here: http://isaacgracelily.blogspot.com/2011/08/5-year-celebration.html
November 30, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Kerry Aradhya
Thanks for your post, your idea, and sharing so much art with us! And by the way, your children are very talented!
November 30, 2011 at 5:42 pm
shirley
What a super post, Aaron!! Thank you for your insight and it is so cool that you and your kids’ posts have inspired artists out there. REALLY awesome. Love your work (and your kids’ work too!). : )
November 30, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Julie
What a fantastic idea! I’m going to go sort through my kids’ art right away – so much good fodder there!
November 30, 2011 at 10:01 pm
A Reid
How lovely.
November 30, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Lynda Shoup
I was able to lift four great ideas out of conversations I had the day you posted this. Thanks for a great big dose of inspiration.
December 1, 2011 at 1:00 am
Lynn Anne Carol
Hi Aaron,
I loved your creativity in joining your children into your work. You are truly a gifted illustrator. I’m afraid I am on the level of the children though. If I am lucky enough to win, I would definitely chose the owl. It’s adorable.
Thanks,
Lynn Anne
December 1, 2011 at 9:59 am
Colleen Jensen
You have very talented children that must take after you. What a fabulous use of talent! Thanks for sharing an idea sparking idea.
December 1, 2011 at 11:11 am
Nicole Zoltack
Love all of the pictures! I think the last one is calling to me the most… *puts on thinking cap*
December 1, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Susan Barclay
Aaron, I enjoyed looking at the children’s art as well as your talented takes. You are a wonderful artist, and I would love to win a copy of your book and an individualized sketch. Consider me entered into the contest!
December 2, 2011 at 11:39 am
Angela De Groot
Wow, your kids come up with some amazing drawings. Guess the apples didn’t fall far from the tree. Thanks for a great (and inspiring) post.
December 4, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Sue Morris
What a great idea. I don’t have any kids but it is still a great idea. Much like listening but way better.
December 6, 2011 at 9:05 am
julesmae
Very cool!