Contest Info
Some everyday objects may not be as ordinary as they seem.
Look a little closer, and you might discover personalities, emotions, and stories hidden inside them.
In this challenge, you'll create artwork inspired by 10 strange and lovable little characters. Official sketches are provided as inspiration only—what they ultimately become is entirely up to you.
Now it's your turn to bring them to life with your imagination.
Timeline
June 29
/
August 7, 2026 (PST)
August 8
/
August 17, 2026 (PST)
August 18, 2026
(PST)
Awards
Advanced Track
For creators with drawing experience who want to challenge themselves with more polished and ambitious work.
Complete ≥8 characters
Artist 16 3rd
Complete all 10 characters
Magic Drawing Pad
Complete ≥6 characters
Deco Pro (Gen 2)
Beginner Track
For beginners, hobby artists, and creators exploring their personal style. Create freely and enjoy the challenge.
Complete ≥8 characters
Deco 01 V3
Complete all 10 characters
Artist 12 3rd
Complete ≥6 characters
Deco 640
Awarded to creators who complete all 10 characters and
demonstrate strong participation throughout the challenge.
Free Software validation code
*Eligibility Criteria: You must complete the required number of character creations to qualify for consideration for the award.
Review Criteria
Character Interpretation
How effectively the artwork brings the character's personality, emotions, and traits to life.
Creativity & Originality
The uniqueness of the idea, artistic approach, and personal expression.
Artistic
Quality
Overall execution, craftsmanship, and visual quality.
Overall Presentation
The overall cohesion and presentation of the complete submission.
Meet the 10 Strange Little Things
Discussion
Have questions about the rules for this contest? Feel free to leave a comment on the official discussion thread! Or let us know what theme you'd like to see for the next drawing contest.
Creation Rules
Creation Content: Create artwork based on 10 characters. The official character line art is for inspiration only. You can freely decide whether to change the object's structure, but must retain the object's core features and corresponding character settings to ensure the character is recognizable.
Submission:
- Each artwork should only be created and submitted for one character. Multiple versions of the same character are allowed, but only one completion progress will be counted.
- Please include the character number and name in the artwork title, for example: 【01】Sleepy Chandelier - Artwork Description.
- Please add a brief creation description in the artwork description for easy display and judging.
- Characters can be completed in any order; you can add them at any time. For a more complete challenge experience, we recommend leaving "Mystery Thing" for last.
Track Selection: When submitting your artwork, please select the theme of this event in Event Selection and select the corresponding track in Add 1-6 Tags: Beginner Track or Advanced Track. Completing both of these steps is required for a valid entry; failure to complete either will result in disqualification.
Creative Format: There are no restrictions on the format of the work, including but not limited to doodles, sketches, character designs, illustrations, comics, GIFs, animations, and other art forms. Digital painting, traditional painting, and mixed media creation are all permitted. Both simple exercises and complete works are welcome, but during the judging stage, works with higher completion levels, more fully developed characters, and a more complete overall presentation are generally more competitive.
AI and Originality Requirements: This competition prohibits the use of AI-generated works or image creation using AI. Entries must be original works. If there are any doubts about the originality of a work during the judging process, XPPen reserves the right to request the entrant to provide the source files or creation process records for review.
Other Requirements: Entries should have a resolution of 300 dpi or higher; the content of the work must not contain sensitive content, including but not limited to gore, pornography, violence, religious, and political content; there is no limit to the number of submissions.
Authorization Statement: If the work is a collaborative effort, the consent of all creators must be obtained and relevant information must be acknowledged; if the work contains non-original elements, the entrant must obtain authorization from the original author and confirm that it can be used for the competition and related promotional purposes.
*For any questions, please contact: community@xp-pen.com
Entries Gallery