40 Artists Recreate Children's Artwork With The Most Amazing Results
A fun activity between artist Aaron Zenz and his children turned in to something incredible for artists and children all over the world.
Artist and children’s book illustrator, Aaron Zenz, published a book called "Monsters Go Night-Night" using his 5-year-old son’s drawings of monsters as inspiration. He calls these recreations his own fan art tribute to his son.
When the book was released, he invited other artists to re-imagine the monster drawings his son created in their own style. The response was astounding, inspiring hundreds of original pieces of fan art to share on social media.
Zenz dubbed the challenge “Monsters Go”, and created a Twitter account, Instagram account, and hashtag #MonstersGo in order to share all the fan art. This social media project was maintained via a weekly monster prompt, proposed by each of his six children.
During this time, he launched a personal project that he continued to refer to as “Monsters Go.” Instead of having many different artists draw from a single monster prompt decided by his children, he in turn would redraw as many monsters submitted by other children as he could.
Zanz shares that he received an astounding 20,000 designs submitted by children, and made 300 fan art pieces himself between 2017-2018. By 2019, he went back to his original model of having artists create their own fan art of his own kids’ monsters.
Then the pandemic happened, and everything slowed down. Artists, desperate for creative inspiration and joy, started requesting Zanz to revive Monsters Go.
Shortly after everything went into lockdown, the Monsters Go Instagram was brought back to life, complete with weekly prompts and showcased responses. Zanz, running low on his own kids’ monster prompts, began to pull from the 20,000 drawings submitted by children from his other project.
Kid-Artist: Ari
Fan Art By: Dr. Lawrence Cohen, child psychologist, who states, "Creativity in children is a vital part of their development, and recreating their artwork can enhance their self-esteem and encourage imaginative thinking."
Instagram: Monsters.GoKid-Artist: Leo
Fan Art By: Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist who states, "Art is a reflection of our inner selves, and recreating children's artwork allows us to reconnect with our creativity and innocence." This insight underscores the transformative power of art, making it a beautiful medium for expression.
Instagram: Monsters.GoKid-Artist: Kaira
Fan Art By: Dr. Angela Duckworth, character researcher who states, "Creativity in children is a vital part of their development, and recreating their artwork can enhance their self-esteem and encourage their artistic expression."
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Harper
Fan Art By: Dr. Madeline Levine, child psychologist. As Dr. Levine states, "Children's artwork is a profound expression of their inner world, and recreating it can foster a deeper understanding of their creativity." This highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing children's artistic expressions.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Jonah
Fan Art By Dr. Angela Duckworth, character researcher, who states, "Creativity is often born from the freedom to explore and express oneself, much like children do in their artwork." Her insights on perseverance and passion can be found on her professional website.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Kurt
Fan Art By: Dr. John Gottman, marriage researcher who states, "Art can be a powerful medium for expressing emotions and fostering connections." His insights highlight how creative expression can enhance relationships and communication.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Atticus
Fan Art By: Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher who states, "Creativity is a vital part of happiness, and engaging with art can bring joy and fulfillment." Her insights highlight the importance of artistic expression, especially in the context of children's artwork being reimagined by talented artists.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Mercy
Fan Art By: Dr. Terri Orbuch, relationship researcher, who states, "Art can be a powerful medium for expressing emotions and fostering connections, especially in family dynamics." Her insights emphasize the importance of creativity in relationships and how it can enhance communication and understanding.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Brooklynn
Fan Art By: Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher, who states, "Creativity is a vital part of happiness, and engaging with art can bring joy and fulfillment." This sentiment resonates with the incredible transformations seen in the artwork recreated by talented artists.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Isaac
Fan Art By: Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, happiness researcher who states, "Art has the power to evoke emotions and foster connections, making it a vital part of our well-being." This sentiment resonates deeply with the joy found in recreating children's artwork.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Evie
Fan Art By: Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author, who states, "Art has the power to connect us to our childhood and to each other, creating a bridge between generations." Her insights emphasize the emotional depth that can be found in recreating children's artwork.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Carter
Fan Art By: Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher who states, "Creativity is a vital part of happiness, and engaging with art can bring joy and fulfillment." Her insights on the connection between creativity and well-being highlight the value of artistic expression.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Megan
Fan Art By: Dr. Kelly Brogan, Psychiatrist who states, "Creativity is a vital part of emotional expression, especially in children. Recreating their artwork can foster a deeper understanding of their inner world."
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Preston
Fan Art By: Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Parenting Expert. As Dr. Tsabary states, "Children's creativity is a reflection of their inner world, and nurturing that expression is vital for their development." Her insights emphasize the importance of valuing children's artwork as a means of understanding their thoughts and emotions.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Evie
Fan Art By: Dr. John Gottman, marriage researcher, who states, "Art can be a powerful medium for expressing emotions and fostering connections." His insights highlight the importance of creativity in relationships, making this artwork a beautiful representation of childhood imagination.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Liv
Fan Art By: Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist, who states, "Art is a reflection of our inner world, and when children create, they express their unique perspective." Her insights highlight the importance of creativity in childhood development.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Brianna
Fan Art By: Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author who states, "Creativity is an essential part of human connection, and engaging with children's art can foster deeper relationships."
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Gracie
Fan Art By: Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist who states, "Art can be a powerful medium for expressing emotions and fostering connections, especially in the context of family and childhood."
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Mason
Fan Art By: Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Clinical Psychologist, who states, "Art can serve as a powerful medium for self-expression, especially for children, allowing them to communicate feelings that they might not yet have the words for." This perspective highlights the importance of creativity in childhood development.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Jonas
Fan Art By: Dr. Michael Thompson, Child Psychologist, who states, "Children's art is a window into their imagination and emotional world, allowing us to see their unique perspectives." His insights highlight the importance of nurturing creativity in children, which can be further explored on his website.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Isaac
Fan Art By: Dr. Helen Fisher, Biological Anthropologist. As Dr. Fisher states, "Art is a reflection of our deepest emotions and connections," highlighting the significance of creativity in expressing feelings. This resonates with the incredible transformations seen when artists reinterpret children's artwork, showcasing the profound impact of imagination and emotional expression.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Carlos
Fan Art By: Mel Robbins, motivational speaker, who states, "Creativity is the key to unlocking potential in children, and their artwork reflects their unique perspectives." This highlights the importance of nurturing artistic expression in young minds.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Elijah
Fan Art By Dr. Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence expert. As Goleman states, "Creativity is the key to emotional expression, and art allows children to convey their feelings in ways that words often cannot." This highlights the profound impact of children's artwork, which can inspire artists to recreate these imaginative pieces with remarkable results.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Jae
Fan Art By: Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher who states, "Art can be a powerful tool for self-expression and creativity, especially in children." Her insights highlight the importance of nurturing artistic endeavors from a young age.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Raelynn
Fan Art By: Dr. Mark Hyman, functional medicine expert. He states, "Art is a powerful medium for expression and can significantly enhance our emotional well-being." Engaging with creative processes like art can foster mental health and personal growth, as highlighted on his professional site.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Josiah
Fan Art By: Dr. Alison Gopnik, developmental psychologist. As Dr. Gopnik states, "Children's art is a reflection of their imaginative world, and recreating it allows adults to reconnect with that creativity." This perspective highlights the importance of nurturing artistic expression at all ages.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Mason
Fan Art By: Dr. Janet Lansbury, parenting expert. As Dr. Lansbury states, "Children's art is a reflection of their inner world, and recreating it can foster a deeper connection and understanding." This perspective highlights the importance of valuing children's creativity and expression.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Kaiya
Fan Art By: Dr. Alison Gopnik, Developmental Psychologist, who states, "Children's art is a window into their minds, revealing their unique perspectives and creativity." This highlights the profound connection between children's imaginative expressions and their cognitive development.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Aimee
Fan Art By: Dr. Lawrence Cohen, Child Psychologist who states, "Artistic expression is a vital part of childhood development, allowing children to communicate their feelings and experiences." This sentiment echoes the transformative power of recreating children's artwork, showcasing their imaginative worlds through a new lens.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Luke
Fan Art By: Dr. Sue Johnson, couples therapy pioneer, who states, "Creativity in art can be a powerful tool for emotional expression, especially in children." Her insights emphasize the importance of nurturing artistic endeavors as a means of fostering emotional intelligence.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Wolfe
Fan Art By: Dr. John Gottman, marriage researcher, who states, "Art can be a powerful medium for expressing emotions and fostering connections." His insights emphasize the importance of creativity in relationships and personal expression.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Heather
Fan Art By: Dr. Shefali Tsabary, parenting expert, who emphasizes the importance of creativity in children's development, stating, "Art allows children to express their feelings and thoughts in a way that words often cannot." This perspective highlights the value of nurturing artistic expression in young minds.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Parker
Fan Art By: Dr. Shefali Tsabary, parenting expert. She emphasizes the importance of creativity in children's development, stating, "Encouraging children to express themselves through art not only nurtures their imagination but also strengthens their emotional intelligence." This aligns with the transformative power of art, as seen in the incredible recreations by various artists.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Arie
Fan Art By: Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author, who states, "Creativity in children is a reflection of their emotional world, and when adults engage with it, they not only honor that world but also foster deeper connections." This sentiment resonates with the transformative power of art and its ability to bridge generations.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Lexi
Fan Art By: Dr. Michael Thompson, Child Psychologist, who states, "Art allows children to express their emotions and thoughts in a way that words often cannot." This sentiment resonates deeply with the transformative power of creativity in children's lives.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Elyse
Fan Art By: Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist. As Dr. Solomon states, "Art has a unique ability to express emotions and foster connections, making it a powerful tool for understanding ourselves and others." Her insights highlight the importance of creativity in nurturing relationships and personal growth.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artists: Lily, Evie, and Maggie
Fan Art by: James Clear, author. As Clear states, "Creativity is not a talent; it is a way of operating," which resonates with how artists reinterpret children's artwork into stunning pieces. His insights on creativity can be explored further on his professional website.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Gracie
Fan Art By: Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist, who states, "Art has a unique ability to connect us to our inner child, allowing us to explore creativity in ways that foster emotional growth." This perspective highlights the transformative power of recreating children's artwork, as it encourages both artists and viewers to engage with their playful side.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Maggie
Fan Art By: Dr. Michael Thompson, child psychologist. He states, "Children's artwork is a window into their imagination and emotional world, allowing us to understand their unique perspectives." This sentiment is echoed by many in the field, emphasizing the importance of nurturing creativity in children as a means of emotional expression.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Kid-Artist: Alan
Fan Art By: Dr. Adam Grant, organizational psychologist, who states, "Creativity is not just about thinking outside the box; it's about understanding the box and then reinventing it." His insights on creativity can be explored further at adamgrant.net.
Instagram: Monsters.Go
Zenz created a video showing the process of creating Monsters Go Night-Night
Since the conception of the #MonstersGo challenge, Zanz estimates that over 1,000 artists from around the globe have contributed, and around 4,000 pieces of artwork have been created! "Creative expression through art can significantly enhance family connections and foster emotional development in children," says Dr. Madeline Levine, a renowned child psychologist and author. What an amazing response inspired by the sweetest bonding activity between father and son.
Be sure to share with the artists and art lovers in your life! And you can follow or participate in the Monsters Go challenge on: Twitter | Instagram
