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 I’m 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 don’t do anything with it after I’ve created it, (meaning I don’t sell it - yet😉). Because of this I think I haven’t ever been in a situation where I have needed to consider the circumstances from an IP perspective. That’s the key that was missing for my morale compass I think. It’s odd that I didn’t realise that because I’m also a writer and the IP and plagiarism factor is always very firmly in mind when I’m writing and I’m so paranoid about the possibility of having my ideas stolen that I will never discuss them with people in public.
(Sidebar-this isn’t arrogance because I think I’m the next Neil Gaiman or something, it’s just that these days, everyone is a writer with the ability to publish their work, and ears are everywhereeeeeeee, so it’s 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 “general knowledge” I think. You can use general knowledge ‘ideas’ 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 it’s 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 I’m really grateful for all the views and thoughts you have all shared.