[Art] Cool illustration ideas for sports days and athletic festivals

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Especially if you’re good at drawing, with sports day season approaching, your school might have asked you to design the cover for the sports festival pamphlet, right?

Designing illustrations that many people will see is tough!

You accepted the request but have no ideas… it happens all the time.

In this article, we’ve put together some cool illustration ideas related to school sports days!

Use the ideas here as inspiration and create your own original piece!

[Art] Cool Illustration Ideas for Sports Day and Athletic Festivals (41–50)

Jujutsu Kaisen style

https://www.tiktok.com/@rappi__angel/video/7047054255533853953

How about using a design styled like the cover of the hugely popular manga “Jujutsu Kaisen” for your sports festival pamphlets and posters? Manga covers often have really cool designs, including character poses and compositions! These illustrations are packed with ideas that would be useful for a sports festival pamphlet, such as the angle of the head and arm positioning.

Emphasizing the muscles in the hands and arms creates a powerful vibe, and simply changing the facial expression to one brimming with intensity can instantly make it feel perfect for a sports festival!

Raise the rankinglower

miyabi

Report a problem

Gakuran-clad boys cheer squad

Why not try drawing the familiar high school baseball-style male cheering squad in gakuran uniforms for your sports day or athletic festival designs? The black gakuran with a white sash, headband, and gloves is a uniquely Japanese outfit that conveys strength and youthful spirit! In the image, the boldly rendered gakuran boy and the marbled background create a distinctive look.

Background colors are like magic—they can completely change the impression of the artwork—so it might be fun to experiment based on the mood or atmosphere at the time.

The pose of the gakuran boy is also important, so explore your own posing and give it a try.

Raise the rankinglower

miyabi

Report a problem

Flying Sports Festival

If you’re looking for a unique design for your sports festival pamphlet or poster, how about “Flying Sports Festival,” which captures the fun feeling of floating in the sky? The dynamic composition and movement of the figures do a great job of conveying the lively atmosphere of a sports festival! By deliberately avoiding color and expressing everything in shades of gray, it sparks the viewer’s imagination.

Of course, you can also add color to create a pop, playful vibe! Be sure to carefully render the clouds and sky to enhance the sense of flying.

Feel free to use this as inspiration.

Raise the rankinglower

miyabi

Report a problem

Back and Light

http://www.kyushu-h.jp

Backs and Light, which depicts a relay race scene, is a design that uses light and shadow effectively.

It’s a design that would be great as a reference for sports day pamphlets and posters, too! The softly tinted, watercolor-like coloring is another highlight, evoking the sparkle of youth and the fleeting, once-in-a-lifetime nature of sports day.

The perspective-based composition creates a sense of depth and gives you the vivid feeling of being a relay runner yourself.

By emphasizing the contrast between lit areas and shadowed areas, the design achieves a crisp, dynamic finish!

Raise the rankinglower

miyabi

Report a problem

A running boy

opticalvoir.blog86.fc2.com

We’re introducing a perfect idea for a sports festival: a design featuring a running boy and a cheering girl! The boy and girl, both wearing headbands, are depicted with a fresh, uplifting feel, creating a vivid, immersive design that conveys the energy of the event to viewers.

Another key point is the composition: the running boy, the main character, is placed toward the upper center, while the cheering girl is positioned at the lower right.

Adding the sports festival slogan in the empty space helps communicate the purpose and spirit of the event.

Be sure to use this as inspiration!

Raise the rankinglower

miyabi

Report a problem