Thanks for all the very interesting posts and views on this. I realised something in the conversation about the legality of this situation between @Lee-White, @JerrySketchyArt and @davidhohn.
As a non professional artist, I think about the image as an image alone, based on some form of inspiration or not, because Iām just drawing for the challenge and as Lee said, the experience. I have only participated in one DTIYS and all the other work I create is my own original content, and I donāt do anything with it after Iāve created it, (meaning I donāt sell it - yetš). Because of this I think I havenāt ever been in a situation where I have needed to consider the circumstances from an IP perspective. Thatās the key that was missing for my morale compass I think. Itās odd that I didnāt realise that because Iām also a writer and the IP and plagiarism factor is always very firmly in mind when Iām writing and Iām so paranoid about the possibility of having my ideas stolen that I will never discuss them with people in public.
(Sidebar-this isnāt arrogance because I think Iām the next Neil Gaiman or something, itās just that these days, everyone is a writer with the ability to publish their work, and ears are everywhereeeeeeee, so itās a matter of caution.)
The point that was being made about blowing kisses and lassoing the moon, falls under the umbrella in the written world as āgeneral knowledgeā I think. You can use general knowledge āideasā in your writing, things like Shakespeare was the worlds best writer, or Australia has many dangerous animals, or the sky is blue, etc, fact or opinion I think but not sure on that one, without having to reference the idea because itās generally known. I think that is kind of the same idea that @Lee-White was getting at.
Anyway, this has been a very interesting discussion and Iām really grateful for all the views and thoughts you have all shared.
