Any pointers for getting better at (pixel) art?

[danzibr]

Yay, the forum is back up!

I've been wanting to get my fellow artistic playgrounders opinions (not that I'm very artistic) on how to get better at specifically pixel art. Any techniques to learn, books to read, tutorials to watch. In addition to googling a bunch of random stuff, I already found one *incredible* resource (here), and have learned from it, but am always interested in learning more.

Oh, and one on the hand practice makes perfect (or so they say), but I'm not looking for the advice of "practice." Good v. bad, pitfalls, techniques, things of that nature.

Onto what I've done

For this first one, the video starts jumpy but gets better. Link ('cause you can't have more than one embedded video).

Second one. I went for a minimalist approach, fewer frames for animations. One thing I learned is to use a palette. Link.

Third one. Not much content here. I learned it's really hard to make moving hair look good. Link.

[BisectedBrioche]

For animation, I'd recommend the YouTube channels NewFramePlus and Video Game Animation Study.

For books, I'd suggest all the classic animation books (like The Animator's Survival Guide) and Game Anim (which basically explains how to transfer the classic principles to game animation). With the caveat that a lot of them are priced like textbooks, so you might want to shop around for second hand copies.

Pixel Logic is a good book specifically on pixel art and animation, and it's pay-what-you-want on Gumroad.

[danzibr]

For animation, I'd recommend the YouTube channels NewFramePlus and Video Game Animation Study.

For books, I'd suggest all the classic animation books (like The Animator's Survival Guide) and Game Anim (which basically explains how to transfer the classic principles to game animation). With the caveat that a lot of them are priced like textbooks, so you might want to shop around for second hand copies.

Pixel Logic is a good book specifically on pixel art and animation, and it's pay-what-you-want on Gumroad.

Incredible! Thanks for all those. The YouTube channels in particular, I already watched one of the videos, looks real good. Appreciate it!

[Albert Jones]

Unfortunately nope(

[BisectedBrioche]

For programs, I'd suggest either MS Paint or an open source version thereof.

Or, if you don't mind spending a bit of money, Aseprite, which you can get for something like £10 on Steam.

There's more advanced software available, but I don't know much about it.

[Lvl 2 Expert]

I used gimp 2.8.1 and 2.8.3 Both are atrocious in terms of their selection and the way the brushes work because the program shifts more toward sbeing an popen source photoshop.

I'm very happy with the GIMP, for pixel art I just use the hard edge options and shift-ctrl for straight lines (although there being no even-amount-of-pixels standard brushes is a little annoying). I am still on version 2.2 or so though (willing to share my installation files if anyone wants to try and the old versions aren't available on their site anymore), sticking with what I know. So it might have gotten worse, or I'm plainly not pro enough to notice how bad it is. I would pick it over Paint any day though. Paint still doesn't have layers right? I need layers.

[danzibr]

For programs, I'd suggest either MS Paint or an open source version thereof.

Or, if you don't mind spending a bit of money, Aseprite, which you can get for something like £10 on Steam.

There's more advanced software available, but I don't know much about it.

Yes, Aseprite! I love it. It’s all I use (have tried others, didn’t like them).

Thanks for the suggestion :)

[danzibr]

Update: I found it!

There's this guy, MortMort, that has a YouTube channel. He has 2 series, one specifically on AsePrite, and one on pixel art in general.

I'm not through all of them, but holy smokes, what a gold mine. I've learned a lot already.