Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.’s Instagram illustration posting campaign “Let’s All Set Off Fireworks” ran for one month starting July 26th and attracted 331 submissions.
A special movie was created for the song “Kingyo Hanabi/Goldfish Fireworks” by Ai Otsuka, a special guest for this project, using all the submitted works. Limited release from September 29, 2023 to December 28, 2023.
YouTube:　https://youtu.be/zt4ha3YYnCU
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/p/CxxI8grLJyY/

The submitted works include gorgeous and vivid fireworks, fireworks that twinkle high in the night sky, and elegant and beautiful fireworks. Ai Otsuka and all the judging staff were excited and moved by each submission.
Ai Otsuka commented, “I learned a lot from looking at everyone’s works, not only about their drawing skills but also their ideas and methods. I would like to continue devoting myself to exploring the freedom of art and its appeal. Thank you for your participation!”.
From among the submitted works, three were selected for the “Fireworks Art Award”, two for the “Vivid Color Award”, two for the “Great Power Award”, and two for “Emotional Award”.
The award-winning works can be viewed on the FUNART STUDIO website.

■“Fireworks Art Award” (3 works)

@with_a_sketchbook

@dakkoneko7

@miki.k.r.i

■“Vivid Color Award” (2 works)

■“Great Power Award” (2 works)

■“Emotional Award” (2 works)

Ai Otsuka’s work “Thunder Flower”

“I tried to create it using only Tombow Pencil’s colored pencils. The delicate curves of the goldfish swimming gracefully and the fireworks were created using colored pencils sharpened with a cutter knife and then attaching to paper with spray glue. I created it to express the good Japanese style of wabi-sabi.”

From Ai Otsuka

Ai Otsuka
Born September 9, 1982 in Osaka Prefecture. Blood type O.
She started writing lyrics and composing from the age of 15, and made her major debut on September 10, 2003 with the single ” Momo no Hanabira (Peach Blossom Petals)”.
The 2nd single “Sakurambo (Cherry)” released in December of the same year was a big hit.
In 2004, she won the Best New Artist Award at the Japan Record Awards, and made her first appearance at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen (NHK Red and White Year-end Song Festival).
In addition to her activities as a singer-songwriter, she is active as an illustrator, a picture book author, providing music, contributing to novels, etc.
In recent years she has begun oil painting in earnest and has been exhibiting her works.
In September 2023 she will celebrate the 20th anniversary of her debut, and on September 9th of the same year, she will hold her annual anniversary and birthday live performance.　https://avex.jp/ai/

< About FUN ART STUDIO >

“FUN ART STUDIO” operated by Tombow Pencil is a platform that transmits various content based on the concept of “making art more accessible”. Established in 2018, the Instagram site currently has 75,000 followers. A website was launched in 2019. A wealth of hand-drawn works such as hand-lettering and illustrations using water-based graphic markers such as ABT are posted, and information on hand-drawn art in general, such as the process and points of how to draw, recommended tools, etc. In addition regularly carry out collaboration with artists to increase interest in art from various angles.
web　：　https://tombow-funart.com
Instagram：@tombow_art_official