Hey Draw a Day community and friends
What a way to wrap up our second run of the contest for January. We saw everything from cozy pocket sized creatures to the beauty of the Northern Lights. Every entry brought a unique story to the community feed, and we loved seeing how your imagination turned simple prompts or inspiration into something meaningful and beautiful.
Here are the winners
1st Place: 
— Steam and Vents
This entry takes the top spot and is my favorite for its strong atmospheric impact and timely message of determination.
Creativity (40%): High. Using swirling white steam against a grey city morning creates a fantastic sense with depth. There is something about the drawing style that draws me in.
Inspiration Story (30%): Excellent. The concept of pushing through the fog on a cold morning is relatable and visually strong.
Effort (30%): Strong. The contrast between the bright yellow jacket and the hazy, textured background shows great digital technique.
Prize: 3 HIVE
2nd Place: 
— Northern Lights
This piece is a beautiful blend of personal connection and technical experimentation.
Creativity (40%): High. Successfully achieving an airy, feathery light effect to achieve the aurora look which marks a beautiful shift in the artist's usual style.
Inspiration Story (30%): Strong. Translating a family member's photos and a personal dream into art gives this piece a lot of heart.
Effort (30%): Strong. The careful blending and filling of the sky with stars create a very immersive landscape that is both beautiful and magical
Prize: 2 HIVE
3rd Place: 
— Winter Robin
A striking traditional piece that uses color to tell a story of survival and progress.
Creativity (40%): Strong. The contrast between the warm bird and the cold background effectively communicates the theme of resilience.
Inspiration Story (30%): Excellent. Using the robin as an example of adaptation to life's harsh conditions is a beautiful metaphor.
Effort (30%): Strong. Clear evidence of daily practice through the refined use of alcohol markers and anatomical focus.
Prize: 1 HIVE
Shoutout to our participants who joined and shared their beautiful entries:
Keep sketching and telling your stories.
Thank you all for your support and participation and making another round of this contest a success. I will be sending the prizes in a while
