Hello! I wanna create some games and i need graphics for that. I think pixel art is pretty. So i'm gonna learn to draw it. Where i can start from? Are there any lessons or tutorials for begginers i can go through?
Pixel Art From Beggining
You will learn with small projects, by choosing a subject, collecting reference on that subject and producing the pixel-art graphic of it using whatever software you prefer.
"Choosing a subject"
This is up to you. It could be a zombie, a human, a crystal, something you need for your game etc.
"Collecting reference on that subject"
This is mostly covered by Googling for images of the subject you chose and saving the best ones in a folder in your hard-disk for you to view while producing. You can also use books.
After this, you need to take the time to sketch on paper what you want the subject to look like; you need to be confident about where the lighting will come from and all the details involved. If you try producing the graphic without first conceptualizing how it should look like, it is unlikely that you will get anything of use.
"Producing the pixel-art graphic"
For this you need tutorials on pixel art. Here are a few:
http://www.pixelprospector.com/the-big-list-of-pixel-art-tutorials/
http://gas13.ru/v3/tutorials/
http://pixel.oceansdream.net/
http://www.dinofarmgames.com/category/art-barn/
http://www.deviantart.com/?q=pixel+art+tutorial
http://opengameart.org/content/les-forges-pixel-art-course
http://2dwillneverdie.com/intro/
http://www.pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11299
"Whatever software you prefer"
You need a program to help you make your pixel art graphics. You can use anything that plots individual pixels on a canvas, but there are some programs that are specialized in that they have tools and shortcuts to make pixel art production easier.
http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/5027-software-for-making-pixel-art/
http://www.eglug.org/gimpixel
Note 1: If you do something that looks bad, don't worry. A Disney animator once said that any artist has 30 000 bad drawings in them. When you happen to make a bad drawing, you are just getting it out of you.
Note 2: You will find that the skill of producing good pixel-art goes hand in hand with the general understanding of visual arts and aesthetics, and with the skills of drawing and painting. With a mathematical certainty, you won't be able to do good pixel-art if you don't have artistic training.
"Choosing a subject"
This is up to you. It could be a zombie, a human, a crystal, something you need for your game etc.
"Collecting reference on that subject"
This is mostly covered by Googling for images of the subject you chose and saving the best ones in a folder in your hard-disk for you to view while producing. You can also use books.
After this, you need to take the time to sketch on paper what you want the subject to look like; you need to be confident about where the lighting will come from and all the details involved. If you try producing the graphic without first conceptualizing how it should look like, it is unlikely that you will get anything of use.
"Producing the pixel-art graphic"
For this you need tutorials on pixel art. Here are a few:
http://www.pixelprospector.com/the-big-list-of-pixel-art-tutorials/
http://gas13.ru/v3/tutorials/
http://pixel.oceansdream.net/
http://www.dinofarmgames.com/category/art-barn/
http://www.deviantart.com/?q=pixel+art+tutorial
http://opengameart.org/content/les-forges-pixel-art-course
http://2dwillneverdie.com/intro/
http://www.pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11299
"Whatever software you prefer"
You need a program to help you make your pixel art graphics. You can use anything that plots individual pixels on a canvas, but there are some programs that are specialized in that they have tools and shortcuts to make pixel art production easier.
http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/5027-software-for-making-pixel-art/
http://www.eglug.org/gimpixel
Note 1: If you do something that looks bad, don't worry. A Disney animator once said that any artist has 30 000 bad drawings in them. When you happen to make a bad drawing, you are just getting it out of you.
Note 2: You will find that the skill of producing good pixel-art goes hand in hand with the general understanding of visual arts and aesthetics, and with the skills of drawing and painting. With a mathematical certainty, you won't be able to do good pixel-art if you don't have artistic training.
I recommend http://petesqbsite.com/sections/tutorials/tuts/tsugumo/
It's a really simple site and isn't incredibly long but full of good lessons. It covers a lot of important pixel-art specific topics and it analyzes some of the legends such as Final Fantasy and Street fighter. You'll get the most out of it if you practice along with each lesson.
i recommend GIMP as far as software goes, its free and easy to use.
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