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Tokyo, August 20, 2026 – Today Celsys announced the winners of the 48th International Illustration Contest “Moon & Stars.” The Grand Prize this time goes to Mexican illustrator Liz Merino for her detailed illustration that creatively represents the moon and stars through nature motifs. Of the winning artwork, Liz said “A white heron in flight has always resembled a glowing crescent moon to me. Add that to the fireflies at night and blooming flowers, and you simply cannot miss that Earth is just like a space landscape of some sort: a living representation of nature's own starry night.”
See all award-winning entries here:
https://www.clipstudio.net/en/cspcontest48/
Winning artist Liz Merino is based in Veracruz, Mexico, and represented by illustration agency IllustrationX. Inspired by her coastal hometown, Liz says “botanical and animal illustration has always played a massive role in my work”. She specializes in editorial artwork, book covers, packaging, and brand campaigns.
Celsys’ 48th International Illustration Contest was held from June 23 to July 15, 2026, on the theme of “Moon & Stars”, receiving 6,538 entries from all over the world. After careful judging, 18 entrants were selected as prize winners, while 15 entrants were randomly selected to receive license gifts. The winner of the Illustration Grand Prize receives US$2,000. Winners of the Timelapse Award, where contestants can submit a timelapse video of their process, were selected by lottery and received an activation code for Clip Studio Paint PRO. Meanwhile, five illustration category entrants were selected at random for the Challenger Award, and five entries drawn with a smartphone were selected for the Smartphone Award.
Celsys, the developer and distributor of the illustration, comic, webtoon, and animation app Clip Studio Paint, regularly holds illustration contests open worldwide, and will continue to offer more opportunities for creators to showcase their talents.
Grand Prize
Artist name: Liz Merino (@lizz_mc_art)
Judges' Comments
We could gaze at this piece forever and explore every detail drawn with such precision. We loved the creative and wonderful idea of depicting the spread of a heron’s wings as the moon, rather than drawing the moon itself.
2nd Place
Artist name: Qénus (@qenusart)
Judges' Comments
We were thrilled by the world depicted here and can’t help but wonder what awaits behind the door. This piece feels like it came straight out of a scene from an epic sci-fi fantasy. The opening door that resembles a crescent moon is striking.
Prizes
Grand Prize (1 winner)
US$2,000 cash prize + Clip Studio Paint EX Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 3 years) or 10,000 GOLD + Social media profile picture frame (image file)
2nd Place (1 winner)
US$500 cash prize + Clip Studio Paint EX Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 3 years) or 10,000 GOLD + Social media profile picture frame (image file)
3rd - 5th Place (3 winners)
US$200 cash prize + Clip Studio Paint EX Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 5,000 GOLD + Social media profile picture frame (image file)
6th - 10th Place (5 winners)
US$100 cash prize + Clip Studio Paint PRO Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 3,000 GOLD + Social media profile picture frame (image file)
Honorable Mentions (5-10 winners)
Clip Studio Paint PRO Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 3,000 GOLD
Challenger Award (5 winners at random)
Clip Studio Paint PRO Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 3,000 GOLD
Smartphone Award (5 winners at random)
Clip Studio Paint PRO Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 3,000 GOLD
Timelapse Prize (5 winners at random)
Clip Studio Paint PRO Activation Code (Dual-device plan, 1 year) or 3,000 GOLD
About CELSYS, Inc.
In the expanding creator economy surrounding digital content, Celsys provides tools including Clip Studio Paint that empower creators, alongside service platforms that will act as a new avenue for artistic pursuits. We strive for a more vibrant world where everyone’s passions are connected, offering total support to creators around the world through each part of their “creator journey”.
https://www.celsys.com/en/
For media inquiries
Celsys Media Relations: press@celsys.com
