What is #DrawThisInYourStyle?
#DrawThisInYourStyle (DTIYS) is an art challenge where one artist creates a character or illustration and invites others to redraw it in their own unique artistic style.
Origins
DTIYS emerged on Instagram around mid-2018 as artists sought engagement and community-building. Brazilian artist @velinxi is often credited with popularizing the format, though many artists independently ran similar challenges.
The challenge exploded as Instagram’s algorithm favored collaborative content and artists discovered it boosted followers and engagement.
How It Works
For the Host Artist:
- Create original character/illustration
- Post with #DrawThisInYourStyle and unique tag (e.g., #velinxi10k for 10K follower milestone)
- Set optional rules (color palette, theme, deadline)
- Feature favorite entries in stories/feed
For Participants:
- Redraw the character in your personal art style
- Tag the original artist and use their unique hashtag
- Credit the original creator
- Share process videos/timelapses (optional)
Cultural Impact
Community Building:
- Helps small artists gain visibility
- Encourages experimentation and style exploration
- Creates connections between artists globally
- Milestone celebrations (10K, 50K, 100K followers)
Artistic Benefits:
- Practice interpreting references in different styles
- Study anatomy, poses, color theory
- Learn from seeing how others approach the same subject
- Portfolio diversification
Platform Dynamics:
- Instagram algorithm favors collaborative content
- TikTok adopted DTIYS with speedpaint videos
- Twitter artists host monthly DTIYS events
Variations
Related Challenges:
- #RedrawChallenge: Redraw your own old art
- #SixFanarts: Draw six character requests
- #StyleSwap: Two artists swap characters to draw
- #OCTober: Draw original characters all October
Themed DTIYS:
- Pride month LGBTQ+ characters
- Holiday-themed challenges
- Fandom crossovers
- Mental health awareness art
Controversies
Credit Issues:
- Some participants fail to credit original artists
- Reposting without permission
- Using DTIYS art commercially without consent
Algorithm Gaming:
- Accusations of artists using DTIYS solely for follower growth
- “Follow for follow” culture
Art Theft:
- Bad actors claim DTIYS entries as original work
- Confusion over copyright (DTIYS is derivative, not original IP)
Legacy
DTIYS became one of the most popular artist engagement tools on Instagram. It fostered genuine community in an algorithm-driven platform and helped countless small artists build audiences. The format proved collaboration beats competition in creative communities.
Related: #Inktober, #ArtChallenge, #Redraw, #ArtistSupport
Sources:
- Velinxi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/velinxi/
- r/DrawThisInYourStyle subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/DrawThisInYourStyle/
- Artist Alley article: https://www.artistalley.com/