#pixel artistry

[everyluxoziatonce]

what they don’t tell you about starting a project is that you have to either finish it or give up, and finishing it sometimes always ends up needing you to do some weird shit you didn’t think you’d have to do going in

[constellationofanimals]

TO ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT THIS BLOG

Hi! I may reblog a lot but I'm NOT a bot. This is a sideblog of Scales In Sweaters! I use this to organize neat posts I see without clogging up my main blog, which I want to be largely for my art and original posts. I'll update this post with any new organization tags I make.

(I'm also a bit paranoid about accounts getting deleted so it's nice to have a permanent copy of a post instead of just bookmarking it)

That's all, hope you have a lovely day! drink some fluids, pet an animals, look at starlight, i love you <3

[zzzoup]

oopsies, just dropped a sketch

bonus

[westeal-photo]

[razette]

Art runs deep in my family, so of course as I am learning a new medium I am talking to my mother about my frustrations. We were discussing how it can be discouraging going from a medium I am comfortable (pencils and charcoal) to a medium I am not (pixel art on an art pad.)

Her solution? To send me a pack of oil pastels.

She's so funny!

There's nothing wrong with oil pastels, except that they are my personal ach-nemesis of art!

My...

art-nemesis

...if you will

I'm never gonna live down that one time in high school, and now she's sending me my own person elf on the shelf about it.

[latisha-taylor-art]

A Cozy Morning

Enchanting Whimsy: Bringing Magic to Life Through Art Hello, dear readers! As the sun rises on yet another wondrous day, I find myself eager to share a new artistic journey with all of you. It’s moments like these, when creativity flows effortlessly, that remind me of the magic that resides within the realm of art. Today, I’m thrilled to unveil a piece that holds a special place in my heart – a…

[randomchloedoodles]

One of those lazy days 😪📱

Check me out on Insta @Chloe_Random_doodles

[maryellencarter]

ACNH creator showcase #8, Mia from Reverie! Creator code is MA-0190-3505-4239. Mia has a solidly incredible eye for fashion and design. The Moon Magic series up there clearly has every single piece designed separately, none of the copypasting to different shapes without adjusting waistlines that you see from some prolific designers. Fortunes Foretold is one of the most accurate Victorian pieces of its type I've ever seen -- I can practically hear the fringe of jet beads jingling when it moves, and feel the texture of the sheer lace apron on Sunset Maiden. The hints of pintucked yoke texture on the bodice of Garden Walk... seriously, I can't. The kind of precision it takes to do this sort of art with joycons.

Do you see the hem stripes on Autumn Cheer? The way they follow the wiggles of the skirt edge? That doesn't happen. The game cuts a curve into the lowest pixel line of your skirt on that design. Mia had to draw those stripes *curved*, following the lines of the curve the game was going to cut, in order to make them look like they were appliqued parallel to the hem. I don't think I can possibly express how much I haven't seen that done anywhere else.

October Dreams is on a kimono pattern, but when you walk, the way the skirt moves around your legs gives the illusion that it's a jumpsuit, with the costume bones placed exactly where your legs are under the fabric. Custom jumpsuits don't exist in this game. Mia faked a jumpsuit with the power of design.

People who know Breath of the Wild have probably already gotten the utter genius that's the Revali's Gale design, but for the rest of y'all -- Revali is an anthropomorphic bird. Mia's using the flappy sleeves of the kimono design to create his wings, and the same visual trick as on October Dreams for his fluffy gray-feathered legs. The colors and textures are a perfect match. Just, the sheer artistry on display here!

(Seriously. Using the kimono sleeves for his wings. I'm not gonna be over that one for A While. It's one of those strokes of genius that seems like it should have been perfectly obvious, and yet there it is and you didn't think of it first. They're the right shape and everything!)

[tumbler-polls]

Hi there! I hope I'm doing this right with the poll idea submission. Here is my idea: Of the following, which is a visual art form you currently most want to learn? -A type of PAINTING (Watercolor, acrylic, gouache, oil, etc) -A type of FIBER ARTS (Crochet, sewing, embroidery, basketry, felting, etc) -A type of PRINT MAKING (woodcut, intaglio, etching, linocut, etc) -A type of DRAWING (architectural, photorealism, illustration, anamorphic, Zentangle, etc) -A type of CERAMIC/pottery-making (wheel throwing, hand building, raku, soda firing, etc) -A type of PHOTOGRAPHY (black & white, astrophotography, landscape, portrait, macro, etc) -A type of DIGITAL ART (pixel, photobashing, fractal, animation, vector, etc) -Another type of CRAFT/ARTISTRY (glass making, metal working, paper making, tie-dye, jewelry making, leather working, origami, etc) -The art form I want to learn does not fall into these categories -I don't create visual art / Show results

[pixeloniousmonk]

Exciting news! My project 'Pixelated Justice League' is now finished! Visit my profile to explore each meticulously crafted portrait in stunning 1080x1350 resolution.

This series is a celebration of nostalgia and modernity, where every dot tells a story and every hero receives a pixelated yet fresh look. Join me as I distill the essence of these legendary figures into digital mosaics, capturing not just their likeness but their spirit with the distinct charm of pixel artistry.

[read-watch-sleep]

what are some of your favorite wammy boy headcanons?

Oh, Hello! This is a very exciting ask, so thank you! I have many of these so I’ll try to work off of ones I haven’t seen as much of before rather than just ones I like (this is also because I like them all.) 

Near: This is the most important and self-indulgent ‘headcanon’ I have but I’m a firm believer in citing the films/drama, and so: Near is Thai. He was born in Thailand and speaks/reads Thai as his first language. He was an orphan that was adopted after assisting in an international case in Bangnum, probably at a younger age than most of the Wammy’s kids, per L: Change the WorLd. 

The incidence rate for albinism rises to 1 in 500 in some areas in South Pacific (as opposed to closer to 1 in 10,000 elsewhere),  so it’s not even that much of a stretch to keep his original Manga appearance. This adds significantly to how much he stands out to everyone, because he’s too pale to looks like most other Southeast Asians, but has distinct facial features, and a generally smaller stature, which make him stand out amongst most of the European Wammy’s students.

Mello: Despite taking the most drastic measures out of most of the successors, I think Mello actually has the strongest moral compass out of the Wammy’s kids (including L). His attachment to catholic imagery, emphasis on how hard he works, and the circumstances leading up to his death suggest to me that he has a strong ethical viewpoint, probably established by organised religion, that Wammy’s was never able to teach out of him. Note how he allows Takada modesty, and does not mistreat the people he kidnaps, whereas L… did not grant Misa the same mercy in his custody. 

This doesn't make him a good person, however. Mello is more than willing to kill to get what he wants. It just means he has a stronger sense of righteous ‘good’ than most of his peers. 

Matt: I mention this in one of my fics, but Matt’s first crush was 100% Riku from Kingdom Hearts. I have never played a KH game in my life, but I’m absolutely certain of this. The highly competitive rival who pushes himself too far in order to stay relevant, only to recover to the ‘good’ side with the power of his heart? Cool and collected but with a jealous streak? Plus, have you seen what he looks like? That’s just Near and Mello wrapped into one pixelated Gameboy package. Matt’s first wet dream.

Beyond: I think Beyond, despite not really being able to attach to anyone, harbours a protective fondness over the other successors, especially those close to the top. I imagine he was able to figure out they were next early on, if they ever met, as Near was barely 10 years old when Beyond was arrested. He probably has their lifespans memorized. Wammy’s staff probably saw a lot of Beyond’s behaviour in Mello, as well– I think he was brash, impulsive, manipulative, and violently insecure. 

Unlike Mello, however, he wouldn’t care much about the opinions of other children, not even his rival for first place. 

A: I don’t have a lot of concrete thoughts about them, although I’ve seen many headcannons that I like. Generally, since A is largely a ‘fridged’ character, I change them to suit what would best work for a fic they might be mentioned in. 

I do think, however, that they were the most like Light, rather than L, than any of the other successors. Popular, handsome, talented, and with a complete disdain for the human race. 

Linda (honorary Wammy’s boy): Linda was given ‘artistry’ as a talent which has always felt a little sexist to me. While I think she is an accomplished artist, she’s actually much better with applied mathematics than any of the boys– Near things largely in terms of statistics, but Linda follows more complex modelling systems as well. Given that she was able to recreate Near and Mello’s faces almost perfectly, I attribute much of her success at Wammy’s, and also talents with maths, to an eidetic memory. Because her recall is so strong, she has an incredible knack for patterns, rivalled only by Near’s autistic tendency to process things by patterned details. Their shared talents with numbers and probably made them rather close, although I don’t think Near was all that interested in her. 

L: I don’t want to say that L is textbook Manic/Depressive, but I always figured that L had intermittent episodes of manic physical energy/activity that would contrast his usual “sitting in a weird position for 17 hours straight.” Basically, I think L, especially when he was younger, got the zoomies. Wammy’s probably tried to redirect the energy with sparring and sports, which is why he’s so good with tennis (although tennis is largely an intellectual sport) and martial arts. They probably found L on rooftops and such quite a lot– I can imagine him running up 11 flights of stairs at 2 in the morning. 

I also have thoughts about K and F from the films/drama, but I figure you weren't asking about those.

[dokidokitsuna]

...I just remembered I wanted to make my own statement on the AI thing. ^^;

So you've probably heard, but in case you haven't: Tumblr just sold out everyone's data to the AI trash compactors, they probably did it long before they gave us the option to opt out, and even if you do opt out they're probably still taking and using your work anyway (telling people to opt out instead of actually asking for their permission is already scummy business practice, but when it comes to AI it's functionally meaningless. :/ It's always "well, we're telling them not to use these people's data and we're hoping they'll be nice and go along with it" with no regulations or consequences if they decide to just steal everything indiscriminately...)

Despite that, I am not leaving Tumblr anytime soon. I'm looking into other sites*, but at this moment in time, I have nowhere else to go. ^^; Besides, I still like it here. When I left DeviantArt I was already getting sick of the place, having my art stolen regularly by "fans" and paradoxically getting less and less interest in my work over time. By the time the devs turned the website into eye-blinding slop with Eclipse, I was more than ready to move on.

But I still enjoy using Tumblr. I like writing long text posts that no one would bother to read anywhere else, I like answering asks, and I like the unique sense of humor and style among the users here. ^^ It would take a lot to force me out.

Also, I can take a little solace in the fact that AI-bros do not value "low-quality" art like mine. ^^; If messy cel-shaded sketches with visible pixels ever become popular, then I'll worry, but for now I think it's highly unlikely that anyone will want to wholesale regurgitate my art. If anything, I think prioritizing it in their datasets would only make them worse...and on that note, if you do have "high quality" detailed/painterly/semi-realistic art that would be targeted, I'd recommend 'poisoning' it with Nightshade/Glaze. Although I heard a rumor a while back that AI is "building immunity" to Nightshade and already learning to work around it, but I'm really hoping that was just a wishful lie from the trash compactors themselves. I haven't heard it repeated since then, so I think it's still worth a shot. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So anyway, like the post I reblogged said, I think the best thing we can do now is to make it clear that WE DON'T WANT AI ART. We don't care how easy it'll be to instantly generate thousands of hours of mindless 'content' to look at; we don't want it. Since regulation is lagging so far behind (wanna know why Disney's copyright hounds didn't shut this down on sight? Most likely, they're hoping to profit from it down the line) the only way to fight this right now is with individual litigation and consumer demand.

Don't support projects made with AI**; don't hate-watch them or spotlight them. Focus your energy on the millions of human artists who are still here, and need your support now more than ever.

*I've heard people mention moving to Twitter and/or Artstation: fam, you're jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. ^^;;; IIRC, Arstation was one of the FIRST art sites to start flirting with AI, and Twitter has been selling off its users' data for several months already. Go there if you must, but don't go under the impression that it's "safer".

**Please keep a cool head when discussing AI art, and keep in mind that it used to mean something other than "mass theft". Artists have and still do create AI tools that are built on limited data sets with permission/compensation, that are used to aid them in their work and encourage human artistry (Vocaloids and DAW's, for instance) rather than stamp it out. Until a specific word evolves into popular use for exploitative AI, we're kinda stuck with this confusion, so remember to get the facts before you speak out.

P.S. Praying every night that this is a dumb fad that will soon die and go to the same hell as NFTs. >_< Praying every morning that the influx of AI art into its own datasets will eventually corrupt itself and make it useless. >_< >_< Praying every afternoon for both at once! >_< >_< >_< Like to charge, reblog to cast, all that

[shikantazaart]

From Retro Roots to Modern Marvels: The Rebirth of the Pirate Menu Aesthetic

Ahoy, Nostalgia!

If you were a computer geek in the 80s or 90s, you probably remember the thrill of booting up a freshly acquired piece of software and being greeted by a "pirate menu." These were no ordinary start screens; they were vibrant, animated showcases, often accompanied by chiptune music, that hackers and crackers used to flaunt their digital prowess. These menus were as much a demonstration of skill as they were a distribution method for cracked software and games. It was a unique blend of artistry and rebellion, a way to connect with like-minded individuals in a pre-internet world.

The aesthetics of these pirate menus were distinctive and unforgettable. Neon colors, pixel art, and scrolling text formed the backbone of their visual appeal. They were DIY masterpieces, created in bedrooms and basements, meant to dazzle and entertain. Beyond their flashy exteriors, these menus communicated messages, credits, and even embedded jokes, forming a subculture that was as much about the community as it was about the content.

Shikantaza Art: Reviving the Rebel Spirit

Fast forward to today, and the digital nostalgia is real. Shikantaza Art has tapped into this rich vein of retro coolness, bringing the pirate menu vibe into the modern art world. By blending old-school aesthetics with contemporary design, Shikantaza is crafting pieces that evoke the same sense of wonder and excitement that those old pirate menus did. The work is a fusion of pixel art and modern graphics, often featuring animated elements and interactive components and linking to original works by consent and with collaboration of their creators.

We're not just creating art, and we're not just showcasing art; we're reviving a movement, a culture, and a way of connecting with audiences that feels both fresh and familiar.

THE FAEWAVE MENU Project: An Ode to the Past, A Beacon for the Future

Enter the FAEWAVE MENU project, our latest brainchild aiming to capture the spirit of the pirate menu era. This project is a digital platform that curates art, music, and independent video games, presenting them with the same visual flair and rebellious spirit of the old-school pirate menus. FAEWAVE MENUS are like stepping into a time machine that propels you forward, blending nostalgic aesthetics with cutting-edge content.

The project doesn’t just mimic the look and feel of the past; it harnesses it to create a community-driven space where creators can share their work in a visually engaging way. The menus are interactive, featuring music tracks, games, and art showcases that harken back to the days of floppy disks and CRT monitors. Yet, they are designed for the digital age, accessible from any desktop device with an internet connection.

FAEWAVE MENUS are more than a project; it’s a movement that resonates with both the old guard who lived through the original pirate scene and the new generation discovering its charm for the first time. It’s a testament to the timeless appeal of creative rebellion and the power of digital art to bring people together.

Check out THE FAEWAVE MENUS so far...

If you have work you'd like to feature on a FAEWAVE MENU, get in touch in the comments here, or on X.

[malzahran]

🌟 Unveiling the Past, One Pixel at a Time 🌟

Behold the majestic fusion of ancient Egyptian royalty and modern AI artistry! This captivating figure, with the head of a black cat and the body of a pharaoh, stands as a testament to the timeless allure of Egypt’s rich cultural heritage. Adorned in traditional royal attire and intricate hieroglyphics, this image transports us to a world of mystery and grandeur.

✨ #AncientAI #MysteryMeetsTechnology ✨

[blazehedgehog]

What fired you up more this week: Prime’s incredible pixel artistry, or Sonicman vs. Mephiles?

Sonicman vs. Mephiles, no contest.

Sonic Prime having a bad pixel art flashback sucks, but it's more of a "they're at it again" scenario. We've already had at least two of these just in Sonic Prime alone, in the first batch of episodes. Though it's fair to argue this one might be worse in some ways. Sloppy tile placement, mismatched art styles, weird proportions, mixed pixel resolutions, choppy framerate... somebody tried, maybe, but they didn't try hard enough.

We had the same problem with the credits for the first Sonic movie, something they corrected for the second Sonic movie by hiring very talented pixel artists straight out of the community (shoutouts to Mit and Crepe).

No such luck here. Given the show's production schedule, maybe it makes sense they wouldn't swap out for more talented pixel artists. But they needed to do a LOT better.

Sonicman vs. Mephiles, on the other hand... You wouldn't think I'd care, but even back when people were still in shock over how bad Sonic 06 was, everybody still loved the absurdity of Sonicman.

Both characters have kind of been ignored for their connection to Sonic 06, but Mephiles has been slowly gaining some traction. He's turned up in games like Sonic Runners and Sonic Forces Speed Battle, he's gotten his own plushie, and just next month he's getting his own action figure courtesy of Jakks Pacific.

Comparatively, Sonicman has gotten almost nothing. Outside of fandom memes, his main claim to fame was being referenced in the Archie comics for one panel, one time, as a Power-Rangers-style TV show airing on Breezie's entertainment network. A future issue was supposed to introduce him properly, as well as the rest of his sentai team, but the book was canceled before that happened.

So Sonicman deserved a win, in my opinion. And the race was so close, it was hard not to get really, really invested in it. The last 48 hours of the Sonic Channel poll was a lot of back and forth between Mephiles taking the lead and Sonicman taking it back. It was kind of harrowing. I was on the edge of my seat.

And, goodness. The fan art it generated. It's been said, but it almost didn't matter who won, because the outpouring of cool images this resulted in is worth the battle alone. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

[fbfh]

I'm thinkin about Christian Reed. yk from dance academy. this one.

horribly low res but beautiful nonetheless. three pixels of pure beauty. I'm thinking about you and Christian being very very reluctant pas de deux partners. you both have trust issues, you both have things you don't really want to talk about, you both have pasts. something in Miss Raine tells her to put you together, and by god is it worth it. dance, especially ballet, is the only place that you can manage to get your brain to just shut up for a little while. it's an escape from everything you don't want to think about, everything you want to run away from. when you dance, it's quiet. it's an escape. solace. and now you have to dance with Christian. Christian who has a snarky little nickname for you, who stares at you a little longer than he should. Christian who makes your heart pound even though you'd die before admitting it. it took you some time to warm up to each other, but it wasn't awkward like it was between Kat and Sean, or Abigail and Sammy, or Tara and everyone she's been paired up with. it wasn't about learning to be coordinated and in sync with each other, it felt more like meeting in the middle. your bonding exercise was 20 questions, and you both quickly found out which topics to avoid with each other, and where you have common ground. you formed an uneasy truce after that, and your already promising dancing started improving greatly. now you both secretly look forward to class a little more. Christian is warm, even when he doesn't act like it. you can always feel his body heat behind you, and his hands on your waist make you feel... small. his grip is sturdy and his movements are steadfast. you can deal with all that, deal with the feeling of him lifting you up like it's nothing, spin you around like a music box ballerina, you can even deal with the looks in the mirror and the muttered comments under his breath that only you can hear, that almost make you lose focus. it's his breath on your shoulder and eyes on your neck that make you nervous. gravity loses its grip on you when he lifts you, when he spins you around, and something about you warms him up. you get his blood pumping, you add a fluidity and artistry to his every move, in and out of class. it's early in the year, there's a long way to go and a lot of drama to get through on the way, but you've both improved drastically already, and you're quickly becoming top of your classes. it's still to early to say, but Miss Raine is sure she made the right decision in pairing you up. she's excited to watch you help each other grow, and your classmates are excited to watch the electric chemistry between you, watch the sparks fly and tension grow. you and Christian are just excited for you next pas de deux class.