I got into pixel art because it was a big 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 find below. I set that sketch aside for a year and a half, until I realized that it looked not bad...
So 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.
So 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
I try to draw something nearly every day. Images are 2x their original size.
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! **