1. All pages must be a consistent 8.5 by 11 inch size. Use the whole page.

2. Pick a subject that you love, preferably something in nature including an animal. If you want to do an abstract drawing talk to the teacher first to talk about your idea. All your subject matter MUST BE ORIGINAL. You can create a cartoon but it must be an original character that does not exist or is similar to anyone else's published work. Please stay away from religious iconography and politics as this is for a wide audience.

3. Consider composition and how to guide the eye across the page with the elements.

4. Remember variety in size, spacing, and elements

5. This is a black and white line only drawing, leaving wide spaces in your elements for people to color. For example, in the video above your wolf will have line detail, but not be solid black, (see the bird in the illustration at top for an example.) You want your lines to be consistent. If you sketch it in pencil first, make sure your pencil lines are light enough to be erased.

6. You can create this by hand with a ultra fine tip pen or on the computer using Photoshop but you must NOT USE AI! If you use AI, you will get an automatic grade of an F. And yes, the teacher will clearly know the difference. If you are using the computer, you must give it to me as a printed black and white page. 

7. I take photos of plants and study them and then I cartoon by simplifying the plants and animals.

8. Create lots of different elements that will invite the person who colors your work to get lost in your drawing.

COLORING BOOK PAGE RUBRIC  5 Criterion (each worth 4 points; total = 20).

1. Originality & Subject Choice (0–4)

• 4: Subject and any characters are wholly original, clearly personal/creative, and not derivative.

• 3: Mostly original with minor common influences.

• 2: Some elements feel borrowed or similar to existing work.

• 0–1: Not original or copies existing published characters.

2. Composition & Visual Flow (0–4)

• 4: Strong composition; viewer’s eye is guided across the page with clear focal points and balance.

• 3: Good composition with a few weaker areas.

• 2: Composition is unclear or awkward; eye not guided well.

• 0–1: No effective composition; elements feel random.

3. Invitation to Color & Element Variety (0–4)

• 4: Many varied, engaging elements and wide areas that invite prolonged coloring/exploration.

• 3: Good variety and colorable areas, though some parts less engaging.

• 2: Limited variety; areas too small or crowded for satisfying coloring.

• 0–1: Little to no invitation to color; elements poorly designed for coloring.

4. Line Quality & Black-and-White Clarity (0–4)

• 4: Clean, confident lines; clear edges and values suitable for black-and-white reproduction.

• 3: Mostly clean lines with minor inconsistencies.

• 2: Noticeable shaky/inconsistent lines affecting readability.

• 0–1: Poor line control; drawing is messy or illegible in B&W.

5. Directions Followed & Presentation (0–4)

• 4: All directions followed (B&W, original, no AI, consulted teacher if abstract), neat and on-time submission.

• 3: One minor direction or presentation lapse.

• 2: Multiple direction lapses or sloppy presentation.

• 0–1: Major failure to follow directions (e.g., used AI, colored work, plagiarized).

Mandatory: Any confirmed use of AI = automatic F for this assignment (recorded as zero regardless of rubric scores).