Draw This in Your Style #DTIYS
Recreate a provided character or scene in your own art style using pencils, markers, or crayons, experimenting with colors, shapes, and expressive details.
About this tutorial
Recreate a provided character or scene in your own art style using pencils, markers, or crayons, experimenting with colors, shapes, and expressive details.
What you need
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Gather all your materials and find a comfy place to draw.
- 2
Step 2
Place the provided reference where you can see it clearly while you work.
- 3
Step 3
Decide one big change to make for your style like rounder shapes bolder colors or extra details.
- 4
Step 4
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the character or scene with your pencil.
- 5
Step 5
Draw the main features like the face hands and clothing on top of the basic shapes.
- 6
Step 6
Use your eraser to fix any shapes so the proportions look right.
- 7
Step 7
Add style details such as patterns textures or exaggerated parts that show your style.
- 8
Step 8
Darken the final outlines with your black pen or a darker pencil.
- 9
Step 9
Erase any leftover faint pencil sketch lines so your drawing looks clean.
- 10
Step 10
Pick the colors you want to use for each part of your drawing.
- 11
Step 11
Color your drawing using your chosen colors and try blending or layering for fun effects.
- 12
Step 12
Add final touches like small highlights shadows or extra texture to make it pop.
- 13
Step 13
Sign your name or initials on your artwork.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I do a Draw This In Your Style (DTIYS) activity with my child?
Choose the provided character or scene and study its main shapes, colors, and expression. Have your child make a light pencil sketch, keeping proportions simple, then adapt features to their own style—exaggerate eyes, change clothing, or alter poses. Add color with markers, crayons, or colored pencils and refine lines with a darker pen. Encourage experimentation, praise effort, sign the artwork, and optionally photograph it to share with permission.
What materials are needed for a DTIYS art activity?
You’ll need drawing paper or a sketchbook, pencils and an eraser for planning, black fineliner or marker for outlines, and coloring tools like crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Optional helpful items: a pencil sharpener, ruler for straight edges, a printed reference image, tracing paper or lightbox, and a scrap paper for testing colors. Choose washable, non-toxic supplies for younger kids and use a fixative spray for finished marker work if desired.
What ages is the DTIYS activity suitable for?
DTIYS works for a broad range: preschoolers (4–6) enjoy simplified copying and color play with supervision; elementary kids (7–10) can follow form, experiment with style choices, and practice shading; tweens and teens (11+) refine technique, composition, and personal style. Adjust complexity—offer tracing or stencils for younger children and creative challenges, like new color palettes, for older kids. Always supervise small children with sharp tools or small parts.
What are the benefits of doing DTIYS with a child?
DTIYS boosts observation, creativity, and fine motor skills as children analyze a reference and translate it into their own style. It builds confidence through creative choices and sharing work, encourages experimentation with color and form, and helps kids develop visual problem-solving. When done together, it strengthens parent-child bonding and communication. If sharing online, teach safe sharing rules and get permission before posting images of a child’s artwork.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of a black pen or darker pencil if I don't have them?
Use a fine-tip permanent marker, a dark colored pencil, or a sharpened charcoal stick to darken the final outlines as an alternative to a black pen or darker pencil (step 8).
My character looks out of proportion after the light sketch—how can I fix it?
Compare measurements to the provided reference (step 2), lightly mark key distances with your pencil, then use your eraser to fix any shapes so the proportions look right (steps 4 and 6).
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger kids, simplify the basic shapes (step 4) and use chunky crayons for coloring (step 10), while older kids can add extra patterns, textures, and try blending or layering for effects (steps 7 and 11).
How can we extend or personalize the finished drawing to make it more special?
Add a custom background or extra story details during the style-details step (step 7), enhance with final highlights or textures (step 12), then sign it (step 13) and share a time-lapse or series on DIY.org (step 14).