Pixel Art Details

Title:	Female Robot Dreams of Being Human
Pixel Artist:	fantabulastic (Level 1 Rookie :: 152 points)
Posted:	4/24/2006 20:46
Statistics:	27 comments 3 faves 0 avatars
I drew this piece using MS Paint. It shows the dream of a female robot. She wants to be human but her true nature is always close behind.

Discussion

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Iscalio (Level 5 Killer Klown) @ 8/16/2015 03:11

1 of 3

I apologize in advance for the fact I'm pretty frustrated at this. Tried to be as civil as possible...

The definition of what is considered pixel art for the purposes of posting to these galleries is posted here:

http://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11299

"If you can create the image without zooming in, chances are it isn't pixel art. If you're using the line tool and flood-fill most of the time, you're not paying attention to the individual pixels, just the lines and shapes that the pixels make up. The same goes for rough sketches made with the pencil or brush tools. These methods ignore the importance of careful, deliberate placement of the individual pixels."

Good or bad, this piece is digital art not pixel art.

Please stop arguing with people about what is pixel art who simply are doing their job of filtering pieces for the site or trying to help you understand those moderators. Instead go figure out why people are saying this by going to the forum stickied resource threads on the topic.

I have lots of 3d models made in ZBrush that I've spent weeks on or digital paintings or collages or life drawings or reverse process work, etc etc. But none of that belongs in these galleries no matter how much time I spent working on it or how good I think it is. It goes on my website or deviant art or a host of other possible places.

" From what I have seen of the art on this site most of the artists run around copying each other, afraid of not being "pixel" enough. I think that's sad. It fosters an environment where creativity is scorned while the status quo is praised. Your comments contribute to this."

This is not an all art site. This is not an MS Paint users site. This is a pixel specific art site with rules that they post and clearly sticky in the forum for you to follow if you want to put pixel art here. With people who will answer any questions you have and spend their time critiquing your work to help you figure out how to make pixel art and how to improve.

I can't even begin to fathom how you think basic standards equate to a squashing of your creative freedom. Calling the people here "sad", and without any creativity beyond the skills it takes to copy one another.

" I figured if you had taken the time to master a pain in the ass program like MS Paint, you'd be in. Clearly that is not the case. "

No it isn't the case you have to make pixel art for the pixel art site. Resources are up there for you, people will help you figure out how and why if you don't call them "sad" instead.

"Whatever, I busted out a robot head which was accepted and am now working on a piece of epic pixelness that, when finished, should put to rest any doubt as to the authenticity of my work. "

Nobody is doubting the authenticity of your work. They are doubting it follow the rules outlined in the forum for pixel art.

Iscalio (Level 5 Killer Klown) @ 8/16/2015 03:09

2 of 3

"but it CAN be much more than that, it can be big now, and use loads of colours, and yet people keep it small and count colours like madmen for reasons I just don't get. YES back in the day colour counting was important, but it's not today, so why do it? Why?"

Sure. I'll tell you why.

1. Because more and bigger doesn't make it better art.

2. More and bigger looks unpolished without equally more and bigger effort to polish a larger area. And since we have 2 dimensions that means double your size = 4x the work load. In most cases we want the best art we can make in the shortest time. Larger is a waste of that time. If one wanted to spend that time one could instead spend it polishing smaller to make it more awesome.

3. Pixel art that isn't pixel art is now digital art. Feel free to make digital art. Digital art is large and uses colors freely. Just don't put it in a pixel art gallery.

4. Large and more colors usually means lack of disciplined use of color. This is pretty much the definition of pixel art.

5. Large and more colors is more easily done with brushes that can make amazing digital art. If you want to make larger and more colors as pixel art you'll just be doing VASTLY more work than the digital artists to make something that probably won't look as good. But if you do want to do so then it needs to follow the rules for the site, which nowhere say "don't make large or colorful pieces."

6. Small and limited is still hugely important in an era where we play games on tiny phones that are also doing 10 other things in the background. It's important if making games for portals that aim to reach a variety of people with even weak computers. It's important when making games on low budgets with a single artist needing to do everything in the game because we aren't backed by huge company money and have to very carefully choose how to use our time and still pay rent. Do you need to also do small? Nope. But pixel art is based on these games that do and that's why it is still very relevent.

As a person who has almost 8 years studying and working in the games industry I can tell you that just because something is big and colorful does not mean that people are throwing around colors like it's a color bananza now that we have better CPU power. The best companies are making strong art because they develop a strong style and through knowledge of things like...how does light and shadow work? how does the human body move? what animal anatomy could be combined how to make incredible but believable creature designs?

Iscalio (Level 5 Killer Klown) @ 8/16/2015 03:07

3 of 3
" provided it is drawn pixel by pixel then it is pixel art..."

So by your very definition this clearly isn't pixel art. I mean look at any part of the clouds.

I agree with you, the artist can decide if they made art. Yes anything can be art. No not everything can be pixel art that fits the definition of pixel art that people have painstakingly developed for this website so they can actually filter content and posted clearly for people.

"so yes this is pixel art, and for you who say nay then clearly seek proffesional help beyond this site..."

You just defined pixel art and we can clearly see it isn't. Telling people to seek professional help who say that this isn't pixel art is just mean and uncalled for.

People stop trying to make out people who disagree with you to be "bad" or "mentally challenged." It's not classy. It's not professional.

macula (Level 6 Hitman) @ 11/2/2007 12:28

Really nice design. Love the clouds.

cerealkiller54 (Level 6 Made) @ 3/6/2007 18:28

Ohmygoshitsobig! Interesting concept.

benitora (Level 1 Rookie) @ 9/14/2006 12:50

fr0st is very wise and when you think about it any art done or uploaded on a coputer is made up of pixels so there anythig on this site is true pixel art...

Ensellitis (Level 11 Sensei) @ 6/3/2006 12:21

fr0st is wise. In my opinion, pixel art is art that is made with no computer assistance for AA, shading or any thing like that. As far as I can tell, this piece is not., so I consider it pixel art

fr0st (Level 4 Killer Klown) @ 5/14/2006 20:18

as far as my understanding goes, pixel art in its raw form, is art made up of pixels, or not necesarily art, but just a simple pixel graphic, provided it is drawn pixel by pixel then it is pixel art... and even if you disagree it is up to the artist to say whether the piece is art or not, its not up to you to decide what images are art and what images are not, that is souly left to the artist, so either go take up Art at your school before criticising the very foundations of what art is or think before you crit :) so yes this is pixel art, and for you who say nay then clearly seek proffesional help beyond this site...

Saiklor (Level 1 Depressed) @ 5/7/2006 19:02

The obedience to the status-quo on this site is a little terrifying at times, but if you search there are a few artists doing original stuff and actually creating pixel *art* as one person put it.

fantabulastic (Level 1 Rookie) @ 5/6/2006 16:10

Thanks for the clarification. And now, an explanation: This is a design I made for the cover of a literary review at my college. I started with the clouds (which I assure you were meticulously hand-drawn in MS Paint) then drew the characters seperatately and pasted them in. If you look at the front of the beetle there is the beginnings of reflection-type stuff being added but I ran out of time. The deadline came and I called it good enough. I realize it could stand for some integration, at the same time I like how the characters pop, almost like a cartoon where the background was done in oil with cell overlay. The looseness of the clouds is the same as the looseness of the figures, it obviously works better for you in the clouds. One of the reasons the characters have places that are finished and others which aren't is a painting technique I learned from one of my professors. His thing is that every work needs areas of dominance, support, and places where the composition fades away. If you look at the clouds their outlines get less contrasty and then disappear. The masters used the same technique. Look at Rembrandt's paintings. There is always a dominant eye. Unfortunately I didn't know about the size restraints on this site so my piece got horribly cropped. Maybe if you saw the whole piece you would understand what I was going for. From what I have seen of the art on this site most of the artists run around copying each other, afraid of not being "pixel" enough. I think that's sad. It fosters an environment where creativity is scorned while the status quo is praised. Your comments contribute to this. After I had done this piece I started looking online for other people who liked drawing in MS Paint. I found this site and submitted it not knowing that there were all sorts of rules. I figured if you had taken the time to master a pain in the ass program like MS Paint, you'd be in. Clearly that is not the case. Whatever, I busted out a robot head which was accepted and am now working on a piece of epic pixelness that, when finished, should put to rest any doubt as to the authenticity of my work. Also, just so you know, I think your work is amazing. I think you should definately switch majors or leave college altogether and pursue a career in art.>*** Message has been truncated ***

The B.O.B. (Level 11 Master Assassin) @ 5/5/2006 21:55

I hope you didn't misunderstand my crit as hating the piece. By no means, did I mean it that way. I do like the beautiful colors of the sky. However, I'm just wondering how one could have such intelectual color selection for clouds, yet display some very plain(almost beginner-level) hues for the beetle. The clouds have a very cartoony coloring and outline, something I've never really seen before. I'm still trying to figure that one out. I just think it would be better for you to start out small for right now, as in try drawing 400x400 pieces or less, to practice detail. As of right now, you have a good concept, and some thought of color selection( if it wasn't copied and changed in some graphics program), it's just that the large pieces seem messy and un-coordinated. Give it time and patience, and you'll soon develop what great skills you have now, into much better, professional skillz...with a z...

Saiklor (Level 1 Depressed) @ 5/1/2006 19:39

I don't agree that things have to be small and meticulous to be pixel art, but you ought to know that that is the general consensus of the pixel world. If you draw big in the pixel world you'll be rejected, and yet the digital artistry world really doesn't want much to do with you either, it's a weird limbo area right now, but it's changing, slowly.
I draw with mspaint, pixel for pixel, and it's neither small nor meticulous, usually, and it's clearly pixel art, and it has been accepted here, after a few bumps in the road.
But you'll face a lot of naysayers who want to keep pixel art small and in its roots. It DOES have roots being small and meticulously done, that's true, but it CAN be much more than that, it can be big now, and use loads of colours, and yet people keep it small and count colours like madmen for reasons I just don't get. YES back in the day colour counting was important, but it's not today, so why do it? Why?
Purists/traditionalists will probably not like your use of their medium, but it doesn't mean it's not a use of the medium.

I like it, although there are a few jaggies I'd clean up and some lightsource issues that need addressing.

HMC (Level 7 General Manager) @ 4/26/2006 10:42

Drawing zoomed in =/= pixel art

BruceJuice (Level 4 Mercenary) @ 4/25/2006 20:23

Well, I think the piece is good. You really have the potential to make some great "pixel art". Although others won't coinsider this pixel art, i'm sure there are places you had to zoom in and draw on the "pixel level". Just because your piece lacks any dithering or aa doesn't mean it's not pixel art.

I'll suggest looking at some of the high rated art on here and take a few notes. You've got great skills and I think you could do a great job of impressing some of the folks here.

HMC (Level 7 General Manager) @ 4/25/2006 17:20

There's more to it than just drawing with pixels. Any digital drawing is technically drawn with pixels. Pixel art needs to be created on the pixel level.

fantabulastic (Level 1 Rookie) @ 4/25/2006 16:34

Note from the artist: I'm new to this whole thing. I like drawing in MS Paint and was looking for others who enjoy pixelated art. It seems in my ignorance I've stepped on a few toes. I thought pixel art was art drawn with pixels. Apparently this is wrong? I really like all the stuff I've seen on this site. I hope there's a place for me and my art even if I don't adhere to the strictest of your codes. I'd appreciate any tips you care to give.

leel (Level 5 Killer Klown) @ 4/25/2006 16:27

(when you click on it, the full sized picture comes up)

Nice job on the clouds, but i'd suggest cleaning up the robot. The shading is really jaggy making the surface seem bumpy - rather than smooth metal like i imagine its supposed to be. The girl could also use some work. Like someone already said, it's a great sketch, but you should go back and refine the smaller details ;-)

The B.O.B. (Level 11 Master Assassin) @ 4/25/2006 14:37

I agree. Plus, I can't see the rest of the picture. I tried zooming out and in, but it still cuts off the angel/thing to the right on the preview. I like the cloud effects, however, the bug/mech thing needs some work. It still looks like it's a work in progress, seeing as how some parts of it have lines around it, while others are free of outlines. Also, I find it strange that the sky's colors look so well chosen, yet the bugs colors are extremely plain. You could of at least tried to show some of the beatiful sky's reflection on the shiny exoskeleton of the bug. I'm hoping you at least did everything in this pic, and didn't just copy a pre-made back ground for the sky, because their details are clashing greatly. "I got's my eye on you, boy...."

DeathByChris (Level 5 Killer Klown) @ 4/25/2006 14:17

this was clearly not drawn at a pixel level of detail, clearly NOT pixel art. Pixel art is art drawn where each and every pixel is maticulously placed on the canvas. this is a sketch, now if you were to go back and clean this up at pixel level and give it a nice render feel it would then be considered pixel art.

HMC (Level 7 General Manager) @ 4/25/2006 14:07

Not pixel art. Nice picture, though.

inkspot (Level 4 Button Man) @ 4/25/2006 12:52

How this thing got an approval?

Flameruler13 (Level 6 Cannibal) @ 4/25/2006 11:53

the clouds look really good!

Alex (Level 1 Thug) @ 4/25/2006 10:54

jalonso, pixel art can be seen in any way you want, and thats where i will always stand. I choose to remove myself from such debates because honestly i dont think there is a final standing on what is what. I paint with pixels in my opinion, i use the colours and styles how i wish. I also do oekaki on occasion, but i still consider it all the same....anyways, i love the piece.

and jalonso dont expect a rebuttal from my end of things.

PixelSnader (Level 2 Peon) @ 4/25/2006 09:28

oekaki

the tiny robot just above the clouds irks me

jalonso (Level 11 Godfather) @ 4/25/2006 09:18

At the risk of starting yet another war of words, it's not pixel art.
Its very nicely composed. The story is well interpreted and the colors well chosen.

fil_razorback (Level 5 Lieutenant) @ 4/25/2006 08:54

Very artistic, and nice background too

8bitty (Level 3 Private Eye) @ 4/25/2006 08:17

whoah cool

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