Introduction to Pixel Art

Pixel art produces fascinating images that are visually distinct from other contemporary art. This digital art style creates images by connecting tiny coloured dots (pixels). Most classic video games were created in pixelated forms, creating a strong nostalgic link between pixel art and retro games. This digital art and graphic design course is designed for beginners but is also helpful for more advanced artists who want to brush up on their basics and update their technical skills.

We begin with a brief introduction to pixel art and lay out its origins and history before comparing it to other artworks with similar features. We then explain how to draw pixelated lines and shapes before converting them to actual pictures. We also explore the colour system and show you how to shade pixelated images and add depth, tones, highlights and texture to them. The course examines three image editors (Procreate, Aseprite and Piskel) that are ideal for creating pixel art and animation.

The course goes over the various sizes of pixel art typically chosen by digital artists. We begin with 8x8-pixel images and work our way up to 100x100-pixel images. Our final section focuses on drawing pixelated swords, shields, a magic staff, guns and a knight to provide you with case studies and examples with which to practise your creative abilities. This course provides the techniques and skills required to create some outstanding pixel artwork and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and we guide you through the process step by step from start to finish. Travel back to the lost ‘golden age of arcade games’ and learn how to create digital pixel art that captures the magic of retro gaming with your newfound graphic design skills.