#04pixel

Assignment: Pixelizing Monstrosities Tools: GameMaker Studio 2 Pixel Art Editor Description: Based on last week's sketchbook, which itself was the combination of a dog and spider (Canis Arachnis). Feedback: I definitely had trouble articulating the shape of the dog in the lower resolutions, but I found the wider canvases of the high resolutions to be really daunting and maybe a little stifling. Despite that, I think the hardest figure was definitely the 32x32 for a few reasons. Having a higher resolution to work with but only four colors was a serious challenge. In my 64x64 drawing I mixed different shades of colors to give a little bit of texture to the body of the animal and also smooth transitions between body parts, but only having four colors (and already having some shading built in to the original image) meant I couldn't really mix different body parts together. By the end, the image looked very blocky and separated. At least with the shading figures I could use black as the main body's color - but when actual colors were introduced, I felt an obligation to represent the body as that solid brown but also leave room for eye color (which I ended up ditching anyway for the 64x64 drawing). Still, as I moved up the resolutions I found myself having to think differently about how I wanted to represent the dimensions of the body, and I think having "practiced" the basic figure on the lower resolutions really helped me when it came to having some direction for the 64x64 image.

#04Pixel

I don’t usually draw pixel art, so this assignment was a bit challenging at first, but overall it was really fun. I started with the 8×8 version with 4 shades and focused on capturing the main features of the character. I tried to keep this approach in the following pixel versions as well. For the 16×16 version (4 shades), I found that keeping the original angle made the pose look flat and less dynamic, so I slightly adjusted the pose and added some perspective. For the colored versions, I think the 32×32 (4 colors) one helped me the most. The color limitation forced me to focus on the most important features instead of getting lost in small details.

Feedback: I'm definitely more comfortable with pixel art so this assignment was more in my wheelhouse. That said, when the colors were unlimited, I found I was a bit unsure how to go about shading. It would have been nice to really go all out with the last design's colors. I'm happy more or less with how I went about choosing colors and using value, though I think I could have pushed the silhouettes a bit more (all the characters are more or less squarely centered).

For the first two (8x8 and 16x16) I used the gameboy colors, which I hope counts as one color, four shades. The fiddly details like the filament, the screw at the top of the bulb, and the mouth aren't coming through well there. I think the 32x32 4-color option was my best one, since I wasn't distracted by attempting to shade or get too tricky with color. But, I do think the full-color one captures the sort of crosseyed, sleepy look that he's got.

Tools: Procreate, iPad, Apple Pencil Pro, Aseprite Desc: 8x8, 16x16, 32x32 pixel renditions of the Durecko Feedback: When approaching each rendition, I first blocked out the silhouette to that resembled the Durecko. The key was always maintaining some sort of oblong ellipse because when I messed around with more rectangular shapes (as in the 8x8 rendition), I found those to be less recognizable. Then, once I was able to recognize the monster, I went in with another color to start etching out some defining features, such as the arms, tail, and face. Here, I tried to use differing colors to differentiate body parts, such as the digits on its feet and the spikes on the body. I studied the example art of the Leondan and translated that technique onto my piece with the Durecko. I kept thinking about how Blake Reynolds said a good pixel artist looks at a display like a mosaic piece where a not-so-good artist looks at it like a rock and chisel. Unfortunately, I think my pixel art still looks more like Rambo's than Mighty Final Fight because I found myself using colors to outline more than to add depth and detail. I think I'm lacking understanding of light and shadow, and that makes using color to show depth a little harder too. Nonetheless, I find comfort in stricter requirements when making art because I often get overwhelmed when there are too much freedom. The 8x8 was maybe a little too restrictive, but 16x16 was easy to sketch over and over until it felt right. 32x32 was certainly harder but when I was limited to 4 colors, it still felt doable. When I was allowed to use an unlimited amount, I just didn't know what to do with them. I'm still happy with where these ended up, but I think after learning more about color theory, I'd like to revisit them again.

Feedback: It is fun to explore the pixel, and it takes time to consider making the pixel make sense and look like the original concept. I found limited colors or shades actually help to summarize the shape and the shadows. My full-colored one can be more organized but without limitations I actually lost track of if it looks right