Pixel Joint Forum: Where to begin...?

Message

     I had tried once before immersing myself into the art that is pixel, but I had failed before starting, and simply gave up.  I do not want that to happen again.    

  And so I am here, asking you wise Pixel Artists, where do I begin (aside from Tutorials), what kind of thing should I first attempt at pixeling, and how? (Do I begin by sketching, and then pixelize it?)

  I would like to thank you all for any help you can provide this extreme Novice.   

Author	Message
Ploofafa Seaman Joined: 09 February 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Topic: Where to begin...? Posted: 10 February 2010 at 6:09am
	I had tried once before immersing myself into the art that is pixel, but I had failed before starting, and simply gave up. I do not want that to happen again. And so I am here, asking you wise Pixel Artists, where do I begin (aside from Tutorials), what kind of thing should I first attempt at pixeling, and how? (Do I begin by sketching, and then pixelize it?) I would like to thank you all for any help you can provide this extreme Novice.
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Di0xygen Commander Joined: 03 July 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 401	Posted: 10 February 2010 at 10:04am
	there is no secret recipe to pixelart. The only way to learn is the same as any other form of art, practice like there is no tommorow. don't simply practice pixelart, touch painting, drawing, digital art, photography, 3d modelling, sculpture. Any medium, digital or traditionnal will help you greatly in your process of learning arts. But if you want a more direct advice on what you should do, i shall only say this. Pick your butt up and go draw some pixels.
	c==3
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skamocore Admiral Joined: 07 April 2021 Online Status: Online Posts: 3866	Posted: 10 February 2010 at 11:16am
	It's good you're willing to give it another shot. I'm not sure of your current artisitc abilities; but from a purely pixel standpoint, I would start by getting out MS Paint, Photoshop, GraphicsGale etc... Any program you feel comfortable with, and just start making some pixelz. Anything. Repeat. Try to get a feel for placing pixels, it doesn't have to be good, just experiment. Start by making different shapes and patterns, play around with colour selection etc... Also, make sure you have a good look around the gallery, especially the weekly showcase, monthly top and hall of fame and gather some inspiration. I look forward to seeing what you come up with in the WIP forum :)
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Ploofafa Seaman Joined: 09 February 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 10 February 2010 at 1:49pm
	I was practicing, if you can call it that, and this is what I came up with: I am rather disappointed in myself. (As for what 3 & 4 are, I have no clue.=P)
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NaCl Midshipman Joined: 20 December 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 69	Posted: 10 February 2010 at 4:04pm
	Start trying to make what you want to make, not random stuff you think you can make. Just spend the time making it look how you want it to, because if you get just one thing you are satisfied with, that victory will compound itself. If you make stuff that you don't think is good, then you will quickly get discouraged and stop. Once you make one thing you like, then you will see what it takes to make more of it, and you will know it is possible. Then you work hard and make another thing you like, and soon instead of having to use sheer force of will to make yourself slog through your own crap, then it will become a joyful and entertaining process, that you will follow gladly to new heights. Like I said, success compounds itself.
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Manupix Commander Joined: 30 July 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 771	Posted: 10 February 2010 at 4:21pm
	Your file is a jpeg, probably the image host's fault. I've read some convert anything to jpeg, others convert only bmps. Find one that accepts png and gif, these are the good file formats for pixel art. I've also read too not to save as gif if you use MsPaint. You might use MyFrogBag. Also, as DiO said, you'll soon find the need/advantage to practice sketching. Pencil on paper. From life. Lots. The point is not (yet) to make good drawings, it's just to practice, learn how things really look like. Train the eye. It is much, much faster than pixelling. And you might find some fun in sketching for its own sake, too. Give yourself a subject, a very simple one but something you can apply enough motivation to come back to for a while, more maybe than semi-abstract shapes. Let's say a house. Small (64x64, so you can also use it as an avatar if you like it!) and simple. Then, this piece of advice I gave in another recent post would apply too. Go!
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