We all love beating bosses in video games. We shoot, stab, smash, bludgeon them and make them explode.

This week I want you to pixel a sprite of an already beaten boss character. From humanoids over monsters to machines, everything goes!

Canvas Size - Max. 100x100
Colors - Max. 16
Transparency - Optional
Animation - Optional.

I just love a rainy night...
- Eddie Rabbitt

There's something  wonderful and relaxing about rain, especially when it's already dark outside.

For this week's challenge I want you to depict rain. You are free to do whatever you want, Portraits, scenes or even sprites. Just make sure that there's some sort of rain in your pixel.
 

Canvas Size - Max. 350x350
Colors - Max. 32
Transparency - Optional
Animation - Optional.

Eleven artists took part in the teamwork competition, for which the participants had to submit line art, and then had to finish someone elses line art to which they were randomly assigned!

This competition was judged by PJ members and moderators: Cyangmou, Jinn, Dawnbringer, slym, skeddles, skamocore, pyrometal, Mandrill and myself (Hapiel)

The winners:

First place goes to Jeremy (lines) and Arkan85 (colors)

Second place goes to Nevercreature (lines) and Jeremy (colors)

Third place goes to jackhummer (lines) and JerryPie (colors)

All of the other particicpants receive a participation trophy, check them out here!

Thank you everyone for taking part, and congratulations to the winners! I hope we can organise more interesting collaboration events in the future, feel free to suggest some!

They sting, are green and don't need much water to stay alive. Something that is that resilient must have a lot to talk about.

This week I want you to pixel a cactus that has come alive. You can do a sprite, portrait or basically anything you want, it's up to you.

Canvas Size - Max. 100x100.
Colors - Max. 16.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Picture youself in a white room without any objects in it. You begin to look at the walls around you not being able to see any significant details. Suddenly you feel like you and everything starts moving! Weird colours begin to flash brightly und the ground is shaking more and more with every second that passes.

Then.... boom! A loud noise and the room looks exactly like when you first stepped into it; white walls, clean and silent. However, you notice a weird object in the center of the room. Pixel that object!

Canvas Size - Unrestricted
Colors - Max. 32
Transparency - No
Animation - Optional.

Ob's stürmt oder schneit...

There's certainly some kind of fascination for these huge machines that move across the battlefield striking fear and terror into the enemy's hearts.

This week I want you to pixel a tiny tank that is more than capable of ruling the battlefield. You can pixel any tank or self-propelled gun you want, just make sure it has tracks and looks cool!

Canvas Size - Exactly. 32x32.
Colors - Max. 12.
Transparency - Required.
Animation - Optional.

The I'm A Machine pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:

Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the I'm A Machine forum thread for more information.

Insects! They are everywhere.

They bite, sting, scratch or simply run over a surface letting you know that you should really dust off your living room.

This week I want you to pixel some sort of insect, but It doesn't have to be an existing species. You can go crazy and create your very own critter.

Canvas Size - Max. 120x120
Colors - Max. 12.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

In the year 2525.....

Evolution is fine, but wouldn't it be the ultimate goal to become a perfect organism that does not age and die? However, as we are trapped in out meaty bodies there's just no way this is ever going to happen.

But what if we just could plant our consciousness into a machine?

This week I want you to pixel a portrait of yourself or any other human being as a robot! The shinier the better.

Canvas Size - Max. 120x120.
Colors - Max. 8.
Transparency - No.
Animation - Optional.

There is a countless number of species on this planet. In fact, science manages to discover new species every day.

Of all the creatures on this planet almost none is as loved and hated by so many people as felines!

This week I want you to pixel some sort of cat. Pets, tigers, lions or even things that are named after cats; everything goes.

Canvas Size - Exactly 64x64
Colors - Max. 17.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

This week is a little different! I don't want you to pixel a sprite or portrait, no. I want you to put your calligraphy skills to the test.

Pixel your PJ handle with the coolest and freakiest font you can imagine. Letters made out of bone and flesh, liquid or metal parts, everything goes.

Canvas Size - 100 pixels (hight) x unrestricted (width)
Colors - Max. 12.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Not only since the hit series "The Deuce" the 1970s have had some sort of revival.

Excellent music, politics, weird cloths and fantastic movies. There's a lot to relate to when going back almost 50 years.

This week I want you to take something from that time that sticks out to you and pixel it. Just make sure that there's a connection to the 70s.

Canvas Size - Max. 170x170
Colors - Max. 17.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

Unsatisfied with your face? Don't worry! Just put on a mask.

The practice of putting on an artificial face is not new. Nearly every major ethnic group has created some kind of visage.

This week, I want you to pixel a mask of some sort. You can go as crazy as you want!

Canvas Size - Exactly. 32x32
Colors - Max. 12.
Transparency - Required
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

It's once again time for our ever popular yearly April Fools Gallery challenge!

For those who do not know the rules yet, the idea is to study the PJ gallery of another pixel artist. Look at the techniques they use, the colours they pick, the subject matters they gravitate towards, etc... Then once you feel like you have a grasp of that person's style, create an image that will fool us into thinking that it's theirs.

Don't forget to mention the name of your chosen pixel artist in your description!

Previous April Fools Gallery challenges can be found here: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Canvas Size - Unrestricted.
Colours - Unrestricted.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

N64, NES, Neo Geo, Playstation....

There a almost as many video game consoles as insultingly bad movies about love.

This week, I want you to pixel a sprite of your favourite stationary video game console or handheld.
 

You can be as creative as you want and depict a imaginary special edition/mod with an unique design for instance! Just make sure that you can still recognise what system it is.

Canvas Size - Exactly. 64x64
Colors - Max. 16.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Enough talk!

- Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan the Barbarian

Sometimes there are situations where words alone are not enough to settle a dispute and all that's left is combat.

This week I want you to depict two beings figthting. You don't have to pixel humans, everything that moves is ok with me.

Canvas Size - Unrestricted
Colors - Max. 32.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

It's quite hard at the moment to find a place in the northern hemisphere where people are not sneezing and coughing.

Why is that you may ask? Some of us have simply succumb to one of the most interesting and tiniest things that roam our planet; bacteria and viruses.

For this week I want you to display a bacterium or virus. Keep in mind that you don't have to pixel a realistic depiction!

Canvas Size - Max. 200x200
Colors - Max. 8.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

Almost every culture on this planet has developed their own distinctive mythology. From Norse warriors over Greek mythical creatures to Egyptian gods. There are enough fantastical entities to fill libraries with stories about them.

This week, I want you to depict one of these beings. You can even go for folklore creatures from your own region.

Canvas Size - Max. 150x150
Colors - Max. 16.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

This week, we have a cross-challenge with the Pixel Art Official Discord server, a community originating at the r/pixelart subreddit. Both communities are to re-imagine each other's mascots. For us, that means we are tasked produce high quality version of their mascot character named Carter:

They have come up with many variations of him over the years (for inspiration)


They will be the first to admit that Carter leaves a lot to be desired from a pixel art perspective. This is our chance to help them out and fix that!

Next week, once the challenge is over, expect a news post to showcase their versions of the PJ Nerd for everyone to see

Canvas Size - Min 50x50. Max unrestricted.
Colours - Max 16.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

As an additional note, did you know PJ has its own discord server?

I'm pretty sure that each and everyone of you has a favourite animal; I certainly have. There's something about the strength of a lioness or the majesty of an eagle that we all can relate to.

For this week I want you to pick your favourite animal and pixel a tiny sprite.

Canvas Size - Exactly 64x64
Colors - Max. 10.
Transparency - Required.
Animation - Optional.

This is week's challenge is not only about creating a top-notch piece of pixel art. No, no, I also want you to craft a monochromatic palette.

You can choose from the following colours which have to be the base of your palette. However, choose wisely! Each of the hues has a theme attached to it that doesn't quite fit with what you would normaly connect with it.



Yellow (jungle, forest, fields)

Green (drought, desert, barrens)

Blue (fire, lava, heat)

Red (ice, cold, snow)

Canvas Size - Max. 300x300
Colors - Max. 7.
Transparency - No.
Animation - Optional.

The News Icon Competition has finished.

13 Participants submitted a total of 40 icons!
We've already been able to use many of them for news posts like this one, and the others will definitely be used in the future.

Judging was done by your PJ moderators and a few PJ members: Adarias, doctorcello, eishiya, Mr_Hk_ and Theoden

See the results below.

Don't worry. You don't have to be good at math for this.

For this week I want you to pixel a piece that solely consists of 0°, 45° and 90° lines which basically means that you can only pixel straight lines. Heaven for all you AA haters out there.

There is no overall theme given. You can go crazy and pixel whatever you want.

Canvas Size - Max. 250x250
Colors - Max. 16.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

Bring me 2 of my favourite for me and my friend!

For those of us who drink alcohol there's always this one beer, liquor or cocktail which we favour over every other hard drink on this planet. For me that has always been the pilsner brewed in my hometown. That reminds me, I really should get another crate soon...

It's really simple this week. Sit down, become sober and pixel your favourite alcoholic drink.

Canvas Size - Exactly. 100x200 (can be rotated)
Colors - Max. 16.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - No.

What looks like glass, is freezing cold and sank the Titanic? Ice!

If you are able to solve this riddle, congrats! You are as smart as a 4th grader.
I bet, however, that no 4th grader could pixel a piece like I want from you this week.

No huge restriction, just depict ice. A material study, an ice monster or even a fine tumbler of whiskey on the rocks. It's up to you.

Canvas Size - Max. 350x350
Colors - Max. 32.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

... baby don't hurt me!

I want the most important thing you have, your heart! So pixel it for me.

Canvas Size - Exactly 69x69.
Colors - Exactly 6.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Oh, it's that time of the year again! Pantone have recently released their colour of the year 2018 and it will please you if you like purple.
 

PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet

You can do whatever you want just make sure to only use 2 colours with one of them being PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet

Canvas Size - Unrestricted
Colors - Exactly 2.
Transparency - No.
Animation - Optional.

Merry Christmas, everybody! I hope you are spending some great time with your family and loved ones.

Even though Christmas can be stressful we all experience moments of joy through great food, a few days off and, not to forget, gifts! This week's challenge is as simple as it gets!

Pixel one of the things you've found under the christmas tree. Books, socks or the high-power drill press you've finally got.

Canvas Size - Exactly 64x64
Colors - Max 4.
Transparency - No.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

This year has been full of great movies and not only the ones that got widespread releases are worth watching but also lots of great indipendent films as well as brilliant stories from the east deserve a place in every movie lover's heart.

For this week I want you to pick your favourite movie of 2017 and pixel away! Sprites, portraits, mock-ups anything goes.

Canvas Size - Max. 300x300
Colors - Max 16.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

It's time for the News Icon Competition!

Every PJ front page news post gets a small icon, for which we search the gallery for 50x50 images. More often than not we can't find something very relevant, and therefor we challenge you all to make some new ones!

You are welcome to make any icon you like.

In this competition you can win a spiffy trophy + points which are rare and will look great in your profile.
+500 Pts+300 Pts +150 Pts+100 Pts for hm.*

This competition will run until the 28th of January.

Find all the rules and details in the forums

Winter is finally here and people in the northern hemisphere have the chance to build a snowman in all shapes and sizes.

Two pieces of coal a top hat and a carrot are the things one usually needs to give the snowy fella a face and therefore personality.

This week, however, I want you to go a bit crazy and form a snowman's face from unusually objects! The more unfitting the better.

Canvas Size - Exactly 100x100
Colors - Max 6.
Transparency - No.
Animation - Optional.

It's been quite a long time since we had a "pixel what you see" challenge. The wonderful picture below shows a piece from Gecimen's 21 months old daugther Pare.

Interpret her artwork and pixel what you see. You are free to rotate or flip the image as you please.

Inspiration links Galt's World - Natalie's Drawing - Pearl's Story - Drawer Geeks!

Canvas Size - Exactly 240 x 175 (either horizontal or vertical).
Colors - Max 32.
Transparency - No.
Animation - No.

It's hairy, it's old and it comes back once in a while. No, I'm not talking about Sean Connery I'm talking about moustaches!

Movember is finally here, and Hapiel wants you to pixel some amazing moustaches. Portraits are preferable but a walking and talking patch of facial hair would work just as well.

By the way, have you ever heard of the World Moustache Championships?


Canvas Size - Unrestricted
Colors - Max 12.
Transparency - Optional
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Death, Grim Reaper, Pale Death, Angel of Death, Steve Buscemi; there are many names to describe the one that gets us all.

But have you ever wondered how he gets to you? PJer Irenaart has and she wants you to depict him on the most craziest and the most ridiculous transportation device you can imagine. From the vacuum cleaner to rubber duck it's only important that is hilarious... and scary!

Canvas Size -  Max. 666x666.
Colors - Max. 16.
Transparency -  Optional.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Mushroom.

- Mr. Mushroom

Mushroom, mushroom, mushroom mushroom mushroom. Mushroom, mushroom mushroom mushroom? Mushroom.

Mushroom, mushroom, mushroom Gene Hackman, mushroom mushroom, mushroom mushroom. Mushroom mushroom, mushroom.

Mushroom!
 

Canvas Size - Exactly. 100x100.
Colors - Max. 4.
Transparency -  No.
Animation - Optional.

Time for another anatomy challenge, but with a twist!

If there is one thing that really makes you break your pencil in half with sheer rage it's failing at drawing hands. So just lay back, relax and pixel the weirdest hand you can; 4 noodly thumbs, 2 middle fingers and no palm? Why not.

Just make sure that your hand is somewhat functional.

Canvas Size - Max. 200x200.
Colors - Max. 16.
Transparency -  Optional.
Animation - Optional.