Pixel art has given us a way to relieve those early days of video games. With that enormous hit of nostalgia, there’s no doubt that many people want to learn how to recreate that style that shaped their childhood.
Learning how to do simple pixel art takes practice, but it’s not impossible. Whether you want to recreate an iconic scene from “The Legend of Zelda” or “Sonic the Hedgehog,” rest assured that you’ll become a master artist with enough time.
What Makes Learning Pixel Art so Unique?
When you want to learn how to do pixel art, you’ll quickly notice that it’s not like other drawing styles. As you may have guessed by now, a pixel has constraints, including a limited resolution and colour palette.
What makes pixel art unique is the fact that it encourages artists to push their creative boundaries. It’s not just about placing tiny squares together to form an image; you must actively look for ways to make the design shine through simplicity.
Pixel art is everywhere. You can see it in digital illustrations and animated GIFs. It has a distinct charm that no one can deny. As you learn how to create unique designs, you’ll likely get inspired and explore new ways to make them even more special.
Technology has given us plenty of tools to do pixel art. Photoshop is an excellent place to get you started and take those first steps into this world. It may seem discouraging when you see the designs that some expert people make, but remember that no one is born with knowledge.
Can You Learn How to Do Pixel Art for Free?
Yes! If you’re eager to evoke the look of early video game imagery, you don’t need to spend all your savings on classes. When you already have the tools, all that’s left is to be patient with yourself and practice.
The beauty of doing art is that there’s no rush to learn it. Go at your own pace, and have fun discovering your style. Although there are “limitations” to what you can do with pixel art, creativity has allowed artists to go above and beyond them.
One of the best parts of pixel art is that it’s easy to pick up. A few tutorials are essential to help you get the hang of the basics. Once that’s done, you’re one step closer to becoming the artist you’ve always wanted to be.
Of course, if you ever want to take your learning one step further or make the process slightly faster, you could consider taking classes from the pros. This could help you get some insights into what they do to make their designs much better.
However, pixel art is hugely popular today. There are many people willing to help you for free, especially if you’re a beginner. Don’t hesitate to ask for tips; more than one person will gladly assist you.
What’s a Good Strategy to Practice Pixel Art?
Practice makes perfect, but how do you approach this with pixel art? It’s not very different from other art forms. You should do it every time you get the chance. The more you practice, the faster you’ll discover better ways to approach your art and improve it.
Consider looking at different styles and trying them out to see which one fits your goals the best. Some prefer 8-bit designs, whereas others like 16-bit imagery better. There’s no right or wrong option here. As long as you’re happy with what you’re doing, you’re good to go.
Don’t be afraid to try out different things and think outside the box. Most beginners will start drawing their favourite video game characters, and that’s perfectly fine. However, if you have an idea, try to get it done to see how it looks.
You can also try different tools to do pixel art and create the perfect set. Some people use crayons or pens to sketch an idea whenever they need to, and they use that as the foundation when creating the design in Photoshop.
The best strategy is to get the ball rolling and never stop trying out new things. Pixel art is based on older imagery, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t still evolve.