Pixel art is a specific style of art that is usually associated with a retro video game project. It is characterized by a low number of colours, which is why it's often referred to as "low-res". Pixel art has a very distinctive style that's recognizable by the untrained eye.
When it comes to the quality of pixel art, there are two main schools of thought. Some people think that it's possible to learn how to make pixel art by themselves, while others think that it's not possible to learn and you're either born with the talent, or you're not.
Therefore, in this article, we'll discuss the pros and cons of hiring a tutor to help you improve your pixel art.
How to Learn Pixel Art
If you want to learn how to make pixel art, there are a few things that you should know. First of all, pixel art is not a single skill. It's a combination of multiple skills that are combined to make the final product.
You need to consider the following things:
Designing
The first thing that you need to learn is how to design your artwork. Designing is the basis of creating pixel art, and the results of your project will depend on the design.
Sketching
After you've designed your artwork, you need to start sketching it. Sketching is the process of transferring your design onto paper or a digital canvas.
You can use tools like a pencil tool, and paper, but you can use a computer program to save time.
Computer program offers many advanced tools such as paint bucket tool, image size customization, and many more.
Colouring
After you've sketched your artwork, you need to colour it. This is the most fun part of making pixel art. If you're a beginner, you should stick to colouring with a single colour first. You can add more colours later on.
Spriting
The next thing that you need to learn is how to sprite. Spriting in the process of taking an image and turning it into a sprite. This is usually done by using the image as a base and adding pixels to it.
Exporting
Finally, it would be best if you learned how to export your artwork. Exporting is the process of taking your artwork and making it usable in a game. There are many different types of art formats, but the most popular ones are GIF and PNG.
Learning Pixel Art Through Online Tutorials
If you already know the basics of pixel art, you can use online tutorials to improve your skills. Online tutorials are a great way to learn how to make pixel art, but they have a few downsides.
The first downside is that most online tutorials focus on a specific style of pixel art. This means that you'll need to look for multiple tutorials if you want to learn multiple styles.
The second downside is that some online tutorials are outdated. If you want to learn how to make pixel art, you need to learn the current standards. Otherwise, your artwork will look out of place, and it won't be popular.
Another downside is that beginners usually make online tutorials who don't know how to make pixel art. This means that they'll teach you bad habits that will be hard to get rid of later on.
So, whether you are a beginner or you have been working in this artistic world for a while, it can be better to hire a tutor instead of relying on online tutorials alone.
How do You Hire a Tutor?
If you want to hire a tutor, you need to know where to look. There are many different places where you can find a tutor, but the most popular ones are:
Art Schools
If you live in a big city, there's a good chance that a school nearby offers courses on pixel art. However, pixel art is not a very popular subject, so you might have to look around a bit.
Classifieds
Another popular place to find a tutor is through classifieds. You can use Craigslist or other similar websites to find a tutor.
This is usually the cheapest option because you can put your own price range, but it's also the most time-consuming since you have to wait for a good tutor to come up and see your ad.
Professional Pixel Artists
Professional pixel artists usually offer pixel art lessons on their websites. However, this is usually the most expensive option since pixel artists are professionals, so it's only suitable for serious people to learn how to make pixel art.
When you hire a tutor, you need to decide whether you want to hire a teacher or an artist. There are pros and cons to both options, so it's up to you which one you choose.
The main advantage of hiring an artist is that they'll show you how they work and tips on improving your artwork. The main disadvantage of hiring an artist is that they'll only teach you their style.
With that in mind, it is possible to hire a pixel art tutor to improve your skills, but it's not always easy. Pixel art is a complex skill, and there are currently not many online tutors available.
However, it is worth mentioning that some pixel artists offer tutorials on their websites. You can also find a tutor by looking for someone willing to give you private lessons through blog posts, art schools, and classifieds.
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