Lines in All Directions: A Collective Drawing Workshop for Children at Monarca Book Fair

2025

Context:
I was invited to lead a creative workshop during the Monarca Book Fair, a week-long celebration of reading and imagination held at Centro Educativo Monarca in Zamora, Michoacan. This event had a special emotional value for me, as I had experienced it as a child. Returning years later, now as a facilitator, allowed me to reconnect with that same magic—this time from the other side of the creative table.

Objective:
To design and facilitate a collective drawing workshop that encouraged children to explore creativity, collaboration, and imagination through playful, intuitive, and judgment-free artistic expression.

Role:
I designed and led the entire workshop experience, including its structure, dynamics, materials, and the exhibition setup. I also documented the process and curated a virtual gallery to make the results accessible to a wider audience.

Concept:
Líneas en todas direcciones (“Lines in All Directions”) was a collaborative art experience where groups of 20 children imagined and created never-before-seen creatures. The activity was structured in three drawing rounds, with each child starting a creature and passing it to another to continue.
There were no rules—just paper, crayons, markers, colored sheets, scissors, and infinite creative freedom. Wings, mermaid tails, giraffe necks, and cat eyes blended joyfully on the page. At the end, each child titled their creation and signed it, giving a name and identity to their imagined being.
Through this playful process, they explored the power of shared imagination and discovered the joy of co-creation.

Process:
The workshop lasted 25 minutes per group and took place across multiple sessions. I guided the children through prompts and creative rounds, emphasizing teamwork, openness, and celebration of the unexpected. After finishing their creatures, we mounted an exhibition in the school: a mini gallery where all 48 drawings were displayed with the artist’s name and title.
To extend the experience, I created a virtual gallery within the accompanying article, allowing the broader community to engage with the children’s creations and celebrate their imaginative power.

Highlights:
– 48 unique collaborative artworks created by children aged 6 to 10.
– Collective drawing dynamics that nurtured creative confidence and teamwork.
– A physical and virtual exhibition celebrating young voices and artistic expression.
– Reconnection with a meaningful childhood memory through creative facilitation.

Outcome:
The workshop became a joyful exploration of creativity, identity, and collaboration. For the children, it was a chance to express without fear of judgment and to see their work recognized and exhibited. For me, it was a heartfelt return to a formative space—this time as an artist and mentor. The project reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of art, especially when shared and celebrated in community.