Announcing the Results of pixiv’s Korean Student Illustration Contest 2025 - Celebrating the next generation of creators!

This is a wonderful piece that uses classic techniques to express an intuitive and passionate dream. Every aspect of this piece clearly depicts the artist's tastes, even their way of life. I found it particularly appealing how the artist's dreams and hopes for the future are expressed with such warmth and sensitivity. (82PIGEON)

This artist has packed a single space with their personality and interests. The harmony between the detailed composition and use of texture results in a very lively finish. The scenery outside the window and the interior of the room are in perfect balance―the realism makes this work even more interesting. The artist's powers of observation, sense of direction, and way of expressing emotions are all outstanding. I look forward to seeing more of their future work. (John Kafka)

Everyone dreams of their own studio. It almost feels like the process of painting is the journey to creating the studio we desire. Some people dream of a high-tech studio, others of one filled with toys. Among these diverse studios, this lush studio dyed green by the surrounding forest was particularly striking. The space for manual work and the environment designed to allow their favorite paintings, whether their own or created by others, to be viewed at any time were heartwarming. I personally don't often display my own paintings, so this part particularly resonated with me. This is a wonderful piece that conveys the love that the artist has for themselves, their paintings, and the process of painting in their dream studio. (SoyooNG)

The power of this piece is overwhelming from the moment you see it. It depicts the essence of a dream that is somewhat nostalgic but unfamiliar. The composition is particularly wonderful, expressing an anxiety that can only be encountered in dreams. The details are particularly impressive and must have taken much effort, making me want to see more of this artist's work. (82PIGEON)

A visually dense and imaginative piece! In keeping with the theme, I felt that it was a very beautiful visual representation of the boundary between the real and unreal. The combination of organisms and artifacts initially seems mismatched, but I think such a contradictory combination makes it feel even more like a dream. The artist also makes clever use of color balance, with strong accents but low saturation. This illustration shows very good knowledge of artistic technique. (John Kafka)

I think everyone knows how difficult it is to visually represent your dreams for others. Even if you see an impressive landscape in your dream, it’s not easy to replicate the odd way dream scenery blends together in reality. However, I felt that this work was a wonderful piece that vividly embodies how dreams would look if they actually existed, giving viewers a good sense of what the experience of a dream is actually like. It’s unnerving yet fantastical, evoking a variety of emotions. I think it's a good work that stands out, depicting dreams in a different way than most other entrants. (SoyooNG)

The high level of refinement born from solid foundational techniques is truly remarkable. While the flow of information has some areas that feel slightly lacking, the thoughtful use of the surrounding props for detail gives the work a distinct sensory quality. (82PIGEON)

This was such an interesting illustration that I found myself looking at it over and over again! The combination of humorous sensibility and imagination is really impressive. There's a real pleasure in observing each character's expressions and gestures, and your gaze naturally follows along with them on the page. I also felt the rhythm and color balance were very well executed. There’s a compelling power to this work that draws you in with its creativity and narrative quality. (John Kafka)

This piece captivated me with its beautiful use of colors! The green background, like stepping into an aquarium, and the fish's beautiful orange hue convey an indescribable warmth. Cats dislike water, yet they love aquariums—such adorable creatures. True to the title “Water and Cats,” it was nice to catch a glimpse of that contradictory yet endearing feline sentiment through the painting! (SoyooNG)

The color palette of this illustration is strikingly vibrant. It's the kind of work that makes you want to learn more about the relationships between the characters. The warm contrast of the characters against the city's cold colors also contributes to a deeper sense of immersion. (John Kafka)

This is a wonderful work that depicts dreams as a train journey. We travel toward our dreams our entire lives. And even if it’s something we've wished for our whole lives, it may not be the final destination, but rather a station we pass through. We constantly move toward our dreams, even though they or we ourselves often change. Sometimes they become more concrete. I interpreted this work as a depiction of how dreams change in that way. I believe I interpreted it this way precisely because the journey toward dreams is filled with so many worries and uncertainties. I hope those pursuing their dreams find comfort and strength in this work. (SoyooNG)

This is a warm and charming piece brimming with the spirit of spring. While some elements are not achieving their full potential, the choice of theme—the Tooth Fairy—is very appealing. The bold spatial composition and careful arrangement of every piece suggest considerable effort has been invested over time. (82PIGEON)

This fairytale-like world, filled with warm tones and soft colors, lulls viewers into a gentle state of mind. A great effort was made to deeply understand the theme and unfold it in an interesting setting that avoids becoming overly serious. The impressive use of perspective creates depth. It is a work of remarkable imagination, sensitivity, and painterly execution. Though still a student, the skill level is such that a professional debut would come as no surprise. (John Kafka)

As children, we all grow up reading fairy tales and dreaming fantastical dreams. As we gradually come to terms with reality, we begin to dream more realistic dreams. This work reminded me that it had been so very long since I'd experienced such fairytale-like dreams, which made me feel quite nostalgic. The wondrous, warm color palette contrasts beautifully with the striking composition, leaving a strong impression. (SoyooNG)

This outstanding work showcases not only a good understanding of fundamental techniques but also a unique sensibility through its striking contrasts and bold use of color. The daring approach to composition and the harmonious color palette are truly beautiful, leaving me eagerly anticipating this artist’s next piece. (82PIGEON)

This work stood out for its use of color that seemed to create a harsh boundary between dreams and reality. The fact that the dream world was all the more vibrant in contrast to the dark reality was also an excellent device to stir up the imagination. (John Kafka)

The bold contrast in composition, as if the piece were split in two, really captured my eye. I was deeply impressed by the ambitious attempt to depict the dreaming figure in a way that is shrouded in darkness but still visible as long as you look closely. Many artists, when attempting such bold experiments, often hesitate, retreat from the unfamiliar, or compromise. This kind of boldness is truly enviable and a wonderful endeavor. Equally impressive is the fantastical and beautiful depiction of the dreamscape. While the color palette is ethereal, the otherworldly objects are rendered with striking clarity, their glass-like, sparkling beauty further delighting the eye. (SoyooNG)

The skillful drawing and soft colors create a dreamlike yet fresh charm. While the composition and staging feel slightly lacking, the high level of polish means that this artist has a bright future ahead of them. (82PIGEON)

This work stood out for its skillful translation of a story into an illustration. The deer's movements are rendered with a sense of warmth, further enhancing the lyrical atmosphere. The composition also effectively conveys emotion by incorporating panel layouts and skillfully leveraging the strengths of both comics and design. (John Kafka)

The contrast between light and shadow is stark and striking, the calm black and white further enhancing the painting's dramatic effect. The clever placement of shadows, angels, and paper dolls, conveying restrained emotion, was particularly intriguing. (John Kafka)

This gentle illustration conveyed the story in a single glance. I saw a story about children who, after being read picture books, are raised on fairy-tale-like dreams. Every element of this work, from the child gazing up with loving eyes to the pink-hued landscapes and sleeping sheep, warms the viewer's heart, creating an emotionally resonant piece. Pink, if used incorrectly, can often feel suffocating or obscure the image, but here, beautiful light and soft rendering convey subtle yet detailed nuance. This beautiful work is a pleasure to view. The artist's pursuit of aesthetic sensibility and meticulous attention to detail truly shine. (SoyooNG)

The dreamcatcher motif is an intuitive, effective, and approachable way to relate to the theme of dreams. I felt a gentle kindness emanating from the piece, as if the goddess of the dreamcatcher were protecting my dreams too. The way the subtle yet effective staging draws the eye back to the surroundings was excellent. (82PIGEON)