The Monster Project was founded by graphic designer and illustrator Katie Johnson in 2010.
She did the first round of the project on her own.
She asked local second grade students to draw monsters.
Then she illustrated them herself.
She brought both versions back to the classroom and talked about the importance of creativity.
Now, there are more monsters than ever.
Over 120 artists from around the world participated in the project this year.
Elementary school students in Austin and Dallas were paired with professional artists.
The artists didn't stop at illustrations — some of them made 3D printed figurines and sculptures.
The kids' names aren't listed for privacy reasons.
But their artwork speaks for itself.
Their imagined creatures range from lovable...
Johnson hopes to help the kids explore their perceptions of the world and get excited about using their imaginations.
They're good lessons to learn at any age.
