I started making pixel art because it was a part of my vision for this website, despite my lack of fine art skills. I bought a cheap Wacom tablet and spent too much time researching technique before attempting my first practice sketch, which you can see below. I set that aside for a year and a half, until I realized that it looked not bad...
I started making more pixel sketches, stopping a piece as soon as it looks good enough to me (or around an hour) even if I know it can be better. This has become a joyful creative practice and - importantly! - an exercise in resisting my oft-debilitating perfectionism.
I started making more pixel sketches, stopping a piece as soon as it looks good enough to me (or around an hour) even if I know it can be better. This has become a joyful creative practice and - importantly! - an exercise in resisting my oft-debilitating perfectionism.
pixel art log
Images are 2x their original size.
7.16.26 - ball and chain
Made this specifically for the dungeon, a mysterious place that may not remain so for long. This is the original, and I tweaked the hue and darkness to add drama for the dungeon page but I might change it back IDK
Made this specifically for the dungeon, a mysterious place that may not remain so for long. This is the original, and I tweaked the hue and darkness to add drama for the dungeon page but I might change it back IDK
7.13.26 - Tascam 34B reel-to-reel tape machine
I haven't drawn anything in a while so I made myself draw something and it ended up being this shitty little tape machine. I just pick something I wish was pixel art and then make it pixel art until it makes me happy, but before it stops being shitty. It would be too boring to make it any better than this.
I haven't drawn anything in a while so I made myself draw something and it ended up being this shitty little tape machine. I just pick something I wish was pixel art and then make it pixel art until it makes me happy, but before it stops being shitty. It would be too boring to make it any better than this.
6.25.26 - rough-skinned newt
I first saw rough-skinned newts swimming in a murky lake this spring. I soon fell in love with them after seeing two at the local estuarium. I took a photo there and drew this from it, smiling the whole time.
I first saw rough-skinned newts swimming in a murky lake this spring. I soon fell in love with them after seeing two at the local estuarium. I took a photo there and drew this from it, smiling the whole time.
6.21.26 - banana slug
Who doesn't love a banana slug! They hang out in the forests nearby and I always love to encounter them.
Who doesn't love a banana slug! They hang out in the forests nearby and I always love to encounter them.
6.20.26 - picked wavy caps
Psilocybe cyanescens again, this time from a photo I took myself. I love how this came out. I ended up brightening up the image a tiny bit for the site, but here it is in its original moodiness.
Psilocybe cyanescens again, this time from a photo I took myself. I love how this came out. I ended up brightening up the image a tiny bit for the site, but here it is in its original moodiness.
6.19.26 - cortado in my favorite cup
I am a coffee snob and I make a cortado at home most days. I didn't think I'd succeed in capturing the look of my favorite ceramic cup (made by my artist-potter wife) but take my word for it that I did! Really happy with this.
I am a coffee snob and I make a cortado at home most days. I didn't think I'd succeed in capturing the look of my favorite ceramic cup (made by my artist-potter wife) but take my word for it that I did! Really happy with this.
6.19.26 - spelt brown rice bread with sesame
A current obsession, from Amy Chaplin's book, "At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen." I've made three loaves so far.
A current obsession, from Amy Chaplin's book, "At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen." I've made three loaves so far.
6.15.26 - bouquet garni
Something to go in a stock pot or decorate the inn. This one isn't my favorite but I knew it would be a little challenging so I'm pleased enough.
Something to go in a stock pot or decorate the inn. This one isn't my favorite but I knew it would be a little challenging so I'm pleased enough.
6.15.26 - scone and butter
I love to make and eat scones, and I love butter. I recently perfected a new scone recipe and made my own clotted cream to go with it. Look for those recipes at the inn soon!
I love to make and eat scones, and I love butter. I recently perfected a new scone recipe and made my own clotted cream to go with it. Look for those recipes at the inn soon!
6.14.26 - sulfur tuft
These were sprouting from the side of a tree covered in moss, from a photo I took in the forest in the fall.
These were sprouting from the side of a tree covered in moss, from a photo I took in the forest in the fall.
6.14.26 - dagger
Did this one quick and sloppy but it might be useful. I think the point comes across.
Did this one quick and sloppy but it might be useful. I think the point comes across.
6.14.26 - Zoom F3 field recorder
My first animation! This is my beloved field recorder. It's small and has 2 microphone inputs. I drew this on 6.13 and decided to animate it the next day.
My first animation! This is my beloved field recorder. It's small and has 2 microphone inputs. I drew this on 6.13 and decided to animate it the next day.
6.13.26 - Pacific wren
I've been into wrens lately, particularly this little one that I saw recently for the first time, hopping from twig to twig in the dense woods nearby. They are so much smaller than I would have thought! Nearly hummingbird-sized. I wish I'd have captured more of their rich warm color, but I'm still very happy with this!
I've been into wrens lately, particularly this little one that I saw recently for the first time, hopping from twig to twig in the dense woods nearby. They are so much smaller than I would have thought! Nearly hummingbird-sized. I wish I'd have captured more of their rich warm color, but I'm still very happy with this!
6.12.26 - funky skull
I cleaned up my mushrooms today and made this quick skull. It sort of looks like it's wearing sunglasses and I don't even care. I like that it's a little lumpy.
I cleaned up my mushrooms today and made this quick skull. It sort of looks like it's wearing sunglasses and I don't even care. I like that it's a little lumpy.
12.10.24 - Psilocybe cyanescens
This is my first pixel art attempt* which I scrapped and picked up over a year later. I only made a few small changes to the version on the homepage, and I don't necessarily even think it's better. I like the lavender of the highlights.
This is my first pixel art attempt* which I scrapped and picked up over a year later. I only made a few small changes to the version on the homepage, and I don't necessarily even think it's better. I like the lavender of the highlights.
*OKAY, full pedantic disclosure, I made a couple other things 15+ years ago. (Who hasn't? I've been being weird on the internet for a long time, okay??) I will dig them up and add them here soon!
pixel art resources
Aseprite - this is the program I use to draw and animate pixel art
pixel art tutorial by Derek Yu - interesting and informative
pixel art tutorial by cure - another worthy read
Pixel Logic by Michael Azzi - a $10 242-page guide that I enjoyed
pixel art tutorial by Derek Yu - interesting and informative
pixel art tutorial by cure - another worthy read
Pixel Logic by Michael Azzi - a $10 242-page guide that I enjoyed
** Remember that you don't need any of these things to get started. You can break the rules and do it your own way! **