Presenting the May pixiv Monthly International Illustration Awards Winners - Masters of Shadow and Light!
Can you believe this is already the fourth pixiv Monthly Illustration Awards (aka pixivMILA)? pixivMILA is our monthly awards event designed to showcase outstanding original creations from pixiv’s international community! Winning creators get the chance to be featured on our official social media platforms, and we’ve even got cash prizes for these talented winners!
We are incredibly thankful to all the creators worldwide who support our platform, and we are making it our mission to give back to the community by highlighting their artistic talents and increasing their visibility.
Now, let’s jump right into the April pixivMILA winners! Selecting the winners was no easy task, given the embarrassment of riches available to us in terms of quality, originality, and individuality, but we persisted nonetheless!
Keep scrolling to see the works that stole our hearts this month!
First Prize
From the pixiv PR team: If we had to describe this piece in one word, it would be: exquisite. The accessory components, flower hair decorations, and the detailing on the outfit all serve to accentuate the character’s beauty, each element complementing each other without any one piece overshadowing another. Normally, our eyes would be drawn to the areas that are lit up, but by aiming the light at the character’s veil and chest area so the shadows obscure their face ever so slightly, the creator was able to draw our focus back to them. The way the artist manipulates light and shadow in this illustration is truly masterful.
Awards of Excellence
From the pixiv PR team: This illustration is an excellent lesson in storytelling. Since each person in the crowd is drawn in full detail, it’s easy to tell from their expressions and gestures what this young girl means to them. Additionally, because the rest of the characters are all dressed in similar robes, the girl and the man carrying her stand out even more, highlighting the abnormality of the situation. The cool-toned shadows also seem to hint at the girl’s fate, adding a solemnity to the drawing.
From the pixiv PR team: The clear blocks containing various specimens comprising this rectangular world are all arranged in neat order, and we were very impressed by the creator’s unique decision to cut out parts of the drawing. The use of numerous straight lines, including the ones at the character’s feet, creates an inorganic feel that contrasts beautifully with the drawing’s organic components. We take our hat off to the creator for successfully marrying elements that would, under normal circumstances, be incompatible with each other.
From the pixiv PR team: There’s something striking about a character simply “being there in the moment,” and their presence is amplified through the stillness of the drawing. From afar, the character's silhouette appears to cut a straight line through the painting with minimal curves, which blends in with their surroundings perfectly. Upon closer inspection, however, we can see that the lines are much softer, which matches the muted color palette. We were also impressed by the artist’s ability to pack in a substantial amount of detail without making the piece feel cluttered. We highly recommend the viewer zoom in on this drawing to appreciate all the finer details!
From the pixiv PR team: A young girl holding flowers in a box filled with water is an intriguing choice of composition, and there’s a sense of languidness about the piece despite the vibrant color palette. The lighting outside and inside the room is also manipulated artistically; the former is overexposed, but not to the extent that you can’t see the light bouncing off the flowers. It’s a piece that utilizes space effectively to produce a depth that is fascinating to observe.
From the pixiv PR team: This piece is simply stunning! When depicting harsh light, it can be tempting to shine it on the entire illustration; in this case, however, the light is diffused through the plants in the lower right corner, creating a stark contrast between the shadows obscuring the character in the background. Despite a significant portion of the piece being veiled in shadows, the illustration still feels brightly lit, a testament to the creator’s eye for detail and their ability to depict a highly specific moment. We can almost smell the dampness of the earth wafting through the gentle breeze.
符文
by Seelean-西冷
From the pixiv PR team: This illustration is simple yet elegant, thanks to the soft, thin strokes and gorgeous red color palette. This piece also has a dynamic component due to the low-angle composition highlighting the expression on the character’s face. The simpler a piece, the more each element—such as the character’s hands—stands out, so it becomes necessary for the creator to outline effectively, which they have done here. Simple works are deceptively tricky to pull off, as they require whittling things down to the bare minimum, which makes expressing what you want to convey to the viewer as challenging as trying to tell a whole story with just one or two words.
From the pixiv PR team: Choosing a locker was an incredible composition choice, and the more we look at it, the more intriguing the illustration becomes. Did the girl choose to hide inside this locker of her own volition? What is the story behind this piece? In addition, her clothing contains many twisted lines resembling shadows, which adds some distortion to the drawing. This is an excellent example of how an illustration can be both cute and pack a punch at the same time.
From the pixiv PR team: The cold, harsh reality of this piece stunned us. The noise filter added to the girl and the red string extending from her hand to the branches above her create a quiet, unsettling atmosphere that seems to creep up upon us. We also found the creator’s use of black ink incredibly masterful. While the shadows are a rich, almost true black, they do not detract from the rest of the illustration or flatten any lines and coexist harmoniously with the rest of the piece.
From the pixiv PR team: One challenge many artists face when drawing muscles is preserving the balance between the character’s face and their body, which becomes more difficult the more detailed the depiction of muscles is. In this case, however, the characters’ faces and muscles complement each other perfectly, achieving a balance that is pleasing to the eye. The creator has also paid close attention to the background and clothing, and we highly recommend this series of illustrations to viewers interested in works with a focus on detailed and well-sculpted bodies and mesmerizing colors.
From the pixiv PR team: It’s easily noticeable when a character’s gaze is off even in the slightest, but in this piece, you can tell that the monster girls are looking straight at us. Moreover, it can be tricky to create a scenario where the subjects in the drawing turn their attention to the viewer in the first place, but the creator succeeded in doing that with not just one but both subjects in the drawing. Thanks to our gazes meeting, we felt immediately drawn into the scene depicted in this illustration.
From the pixiv PR team: Normally, artists prefer to avoid placing something as constricting as a wall horizontally to a scene, as it limits their ability to create depth in the drawing. This is why we were impressed by this unconventional piece, as it avoids feeling one-dimensional despite its risky composition. The monochromatic color palette is also a beautiful touch.
From the pixiv PR team: This illustration radiates the warmth of spring and feels incredibly romantic. Drawing two characters in the same frame is already challenging enough, and even more so when those two are in close proximity. The creator has positioned the pair effectively to demonstrate their intimate bond, and we can also observe the characters’ height differences through things such as the size of their hands. Overall, it’s a work that illustrates the couple’s love for each other beautifully.
From the pixiv PR team: What a colorful, energetic, and captivating piece! In addition to the mesmerizing use of colors, the viewer is also able to get a sense of what the world this piece is set in is like through the slightly unusual food the characters are eating. Using the line of the table to create depth is also an excellent touch, and the cityscape reflected against the windows adds a dreamlike quality to the piece.
From the pixiv PR team: At first glance, this looks like an ordinary low-angle drawing. However, as we take in more of the piece, we suddenly realize that there are ripples on the surface and that we’ve been staring at a character’s reflection in the water this whole time, which gives a wonderful reason for why the creator chose to draw from this angle. The element of surprise is delightful, and we admire the creator’s skill and playfulness!
From the pixiv PR team: If we were to simply focus on the color scheme of this piece, the scene may appear nostalgic and sentimental. However, as we pay closer attention to the candle on the table and the fairy lights by the window, we can tell that the mouse and rabbit are having a pleasant and cozy time. The salt and pepper shakers and tiny food crumbs on the table also add a realistic and homey touch to the illustration.
From the pixiv PR team: This piece beautifully depicts a moment’s loneliness as night approaches. The gradually disappearing light shining atop the telephone poles and the girl’s head signals to the viewer that the sun is setting far off in the distance. Judging from the umbrella the girl is holding and the puddles on the ground, it appears to have just stopped raining. The artist’s ability to resist the urge to fill the empty space with something else is remarkable and makes the piece all the more impactful.
🦊🔥
by BreadThree
From the pixiv PR team: The girl in the center and the foxes surrounding her feel full of life, and one can easily imagine them prancing around happily. The smooth texture of the girl’s skin is also pleasing to behold, which contrasts nicely with the flat patterned effect beneath her feet, further creating a sense of her moving to the beat of an unknown song. The background also complements the characters, making them easily recognizable from a distance.
From the pixiv PR team: While the intense blueness feels almost chilly, the viewer can also feel the summer heat from this piece due to the contrast between the highly saturated sky and the slightly dark interior of the gondola lift. The light outside the window also makes us think of the stark temperature difference between sweltering heat and cold air-conditioned rooms. Although red is used as an accent color, the illustration is otherwise monochromatic and absolutely stunning!
From the pixiv PR team: The first thing we notice is the character’s cute facial expression and the sensual curves of her legs. In contrast to the flowery background, the floor is kept simple but not one-dimensional, thanks to the use of texture, light, and shadow. Each element is arranged in a way that balances out one another, and despite the amount of detail in the illustration, it manages to feel uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing.
From the pixiv PR team: The uniform tones and similar color schemes are combined masterfully to create a cute and dreamy illustration. However, this piece is more than just pretty, as the detailing and textures of the motifs add a certain edginess and tone down the sweetness a little. The two characters’ outfits also do an excellent job of depicting their contrasting personalities, and the giant ribbons add a hint of glamor to the background.
From the pixiv PR team: The illustration feels incredibly expressive, and the viewer can almost feel the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the window. The figures’ gestures are depicted in delicate detail, giving the viewer the sense that they are actually moving about in the room. The blonde character standing over the black-haired girl is combing her fingers through the other girl's hair, one leg in motion. The drawing is meticulously designed to accurately depict both characters’ actions, from the objects or body parts they are touching to the movement of their feet.
From the pixiv PR team: The facial expressions of the two characters vividly express the nature of their relationship. The bittersweetness the creator hopes to convey is also evident to us as viewers, making us contemplate how their story might continue. Furthermore, their outfits are adored with various types of lace, embroidery, and accessories, making for exquisite detailing. The magnificence of the bride’s wedding dress and the happiness radiating from the couple are incredibly telling of the illustration’s theme.
From the pixiv PR team: The colors of the shadows blend beautifully with the building in the background, conveying the coolness of the wall the character is leaning against. The creator also does an excellent job depicting the finer details of the character's watch and the guns she is holding. Each of the various textures is drawn with a distinct attention to detail, and it’s lovely to note the differences in the way the characters and guns look when illuminated by light.
Congratulations to all the pixivMILA creators featured this month!
pixiv is working hard to give the spotlight to creators all around the world!
We hope to see more of your amazing works on pixiv soon!
