Having learned to be creative in drawing pictures at home, young Tommy is dismayed when he goes to school and finds the art lesson there much more regimented. Tommy wants to be an artist when he grows up, and can't wait to meet his art teacher when he gets to first grade. Then he finds out that she expects him to copy her pictures. Tommy knows real artists don't copy! But after some discussion, they find a solution that allows the artist in Tommy to shine.