GALLERIA Illustration Contest Winner's Compilation - A popular contest for original illustrations!

I felt a sense of conviction when I completed this piece, so I couldn’t wait for the results. However, that didn’t change the fact that I was still nervous; I didn't know if it would win the top prize. That’s why, when the results were announced, I was genuinely thrilled and happy.

The work started with the distinctive design of the character’s head, deliberately incorporating distorted mechanical elements to create a post-apocalyptic world, which I really love. I paid particular attention to guiding the viewer's gaze through the buildings and how I made use of negative space in the background. I made sure that every single stroke I did was contributing to something I find cool.

I created this piece to represent the contest theme of sorrow, using styles of art that I’m personally fond of. Since I'm better at drawing backgrounds than people, I focused on the setting and atmosphere rather than facial expressions, aiming to express the theme through the background.

When I received the message about winning the award, I was more shocked than happy! I had entered several other contests besides GALLERIA's, but hadn't gotten the results I hoped for, so I was absolutely stunned. I was truly delighted by the comments from the judge, Oshioshio, and I still treasure the copy I pasted into my notebook, savoring every word.

Since the theme was Spring, I filled the entire screen with flowers, aiming to create a lively and warm illustration. I composed it from a straight-on perspective to clearly show the shapes of the flowers and the witch's face, but I paid careful attention to the placement and look of the flowers, as I didn’t want the composition to be symmetrical and monotonous.

This was my first time working on a corporate commission, so I was incredibly nervous! I’ve never felt as nervous as the moment I sent the rough draft and waited for their response. When they gave the okay on the rough, I was so relieved.

I’ve never won first prize before, so I was completely shocked! When I saw my work listed at the top of the results page, I couldn't believe it and actually reloaded the page to double-check (lol). The judges' comments were truly heartwarming. It made me feel more positive and confident about my own art.

Of the emotions that made up the contest theme, I thought anger seemed the hardest to depict, so I deliberately chose to challenge myself with it. I aimed for a powerful image reminiscent of a decisive panel in shounen manga, and through trial and error, I tried to express anger to the fullest extent possible.

The theme was Spring, so I aimed to create bright, vivid illustrations that capture the essence of the season.

It was my first time receiving a commission from a company, so it was super nerve-wracking. I managed to push forward, despite sometimes feeling uncertain about the workflow and email communication. Drawing illustrations as a job felt different from my usual approach, which was a bit disorienting, but it was a valuable experience.

I hope viewers can feel the lighthearted joy of spring through my artwork.

I remember feeling so nervous when I saw the award notification that it took me a while to actually read through it. Even after I did read it, I kept going back to the message and feeling that joy all over again.

The theme of "charming and stylish" inspired me to envision a dynamic composition. I love scenes from movies where special forces break through windows, so I incorporated that element too. This piece embodies the theme by having the character literally break through in a way that reflects my inner drive to break through my own stagnation.

I was commissioned to create an illustration depicting "my vision of summer," which was then made into a mouse pad. Using wind chimes as the main element, I used the girl’s expression to represent the vibrant energy of summer, while conveying the bittersweet melancholy and fleeting nature of summer's end through the color palette.

I always wanted to win an award like this, so it was truly an honor. While I felt pressure taking on the commission as professional work, the thoughtful guidance I received allowed me to express my unique style, making it an incredibly valuable experience.

When I received the notification that I’d won, I was surprised. But since I had been deeply contemplating what kind of work would win while creating my entry, I was genuinely happy.

I aimed for a feeling of lightness and freshness. I wanted to express how it feels to use the GALLERIA PC with my art, so I consciously worked with soft colors and compositions that avoid conveying heaviness or gravity.

The theme was summer, so I used cherries, which are harvested in early summer, as a motif. While focusing on the refreshing and sweet but tart qualities associated with cherries, I aimed to create an energetic illustration featuring two free-spirited girls enjoying summer. They’re not just cute, but bold and punchy too.

Accepting this commission made me keenly aware of the responsibility of this kind of work, but at the same time, I felt incredibly honored and motivated, seeing it as a chance for many people to see what I'm capable of.

I chose the theme of Japanese x Beautiful, so when drawing the illustration, I was determined to create something that immediately evoked a sense of translucency. Using a sun shower associated with the mythological fox wedding procession and red spider lilies as the main subjects, I aimed to create an ephemeral atmosphere by unifying the piece in white and red.

Since I worked hard on this illustration specifically for the contest, I was incredibly happy that it caught the judges' attention. I hadn't expected to win at all, so I was very surprised when I found out.

This was an incredibly valuable experience. While it was my first time receiving a commission like this, I'd always wanted to try it, so when I actually got the request, I was thrilled beyond belief. But that also made me feel a strong sense of responsibility—I couldn't let it be anything less than perfect.

Since I drew a Japanese-style illustration for the contest, I wanted to create a Western-style illustration for this commission. The theme was "winter," so I drew rabbits and cakes with a Christmas party theme and added fairy-tale elements. Also, since it was an illustration for a mouse pad, I designed it to look good as a finished product, adding borders with curtains and incorporating text.

When I found out I won the award, I was extremely surprised and deeply honored. I was delighted to be recognized among so many outstanding entries, and it made me feel truly glad that I never gave up creating.

I focused on creating imagery suggested by the keyword Western—architectural styles, costumes, motifs—and focused on how to naturally blend these with the cute element. While maintaining a distinctly Western atmosphere as the foundation, I aimed to achieve both themes by adding approachability and softness through facial expressions, color schemes, and stylization.

The opportunity to receive a work commission as a prize really stuck out to me, so I felt deeply honored when the actual offer came. I was delighted not only that my work was recognized, but that I was given an opportunity which led to my next project. This strengthened my resolve to approach it with even greater responsibility.

The theme was "winter," and I aimed for vibrant character expressions. Rather than merely incorporating seasonal elements and motifs, I focused on a composition that conveyed the characters' relationships and movement. By adding contrast to their expressions and poses, I worked to ensure warmth and joy shine through even in the cold season.

Since Halloween overlapped with the illustration contest period, I decided to create an illustration combining the contest theme of Pure White × Princess and "ghosts." I packed in all the things I like to draw while adjusting the background, poses, and color scheme to lead the viewer's gaze effectively toward the central character.

I received the award notification on Christmas Day. I’d been stuffing my face with pizza and chicken, so I felt both my heart and stomach bursting with disbelief. After entering so many illustration contests, finally achieving a favorable result this time makes me incredibly happy. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity.

I've entered contests several times before, and since I put a lot of effort into this illustration and felt confident about it, I was really looking forward to the results announcement. Then, when I opened the page, my work was at the very top of the category I submitted to! First off, I was thrilled—I started imagining all sorts of possibilities for what might happen next and couldn't sit still. More than just being happy, I felt a surge of determination to keep pushing forward.

I wanted to clearly convey that the piece was a knight illustration. So instead of starting with a knight, I thought about things that might evoke a knight through association and thought up a scenario. After that, I added more deliberate elements and items to refine the composition to solidify the theme. Then it was just about making it a self-indulgent piece where I could try out the expressions I wanted to do or liked.