![Featured image of user Ash](https://res.cloudinary.com/dq3jymbly/image/upload/c_fill,w_128,h_128,g_auto/f_auto/q_auto/v1/media/hszpan56y7acll6poivs.png?_a=BAVFAaAO0)
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Ash
I am a pixel artist of over 5 years. I have worked on a diverse range of projects: from creating tile sets and sprites for games, animated shots for film, album covers and twitch screens and assets.
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What is your experience as a pixel artist?
How many years of experience do you have in pixel art, and how has your approach evolved over time?
![Ash
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Ash
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I have five years of professional experience as a full time pixel artist, but I have been a hobbyist for nearly a decade! When I first started, a lot of my artwork was built off of existing styles and copying references. My main sources of inspiration were the Monkey Island games I used to play as a child, which put me on the path to exploring this artform. Over time, my confidence has grown, and with that, my approach has changed to be less about copying existing styles, but about analysing the project in front of me, and pulling inspiration from whatever style best suits the current needs. I think it's very easy to get in your head as a beginner artist, and overthink what you're style is, or what your approach to a project should be. Truthfully, these things develop naturally over time as you gain more experience.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
What's your pixel art style specialty?
Are there particular styles or genres within pixel art that you consider your specialty or signature?
![Ash
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Ash
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My specialty is unique cover work, usually for albums, screens or banners. I enjoy creating detailed environments, and playing with colour and lighting. I like my colour palettes to be bold and exciting. Often times, pixel art is more about a limited palette, than it is about resolution! Having said that, I have worked on a diverse range of projects. I have worked on character sprites and environment assets for games, assets for streaming, and even animated shots for film! I am always surprised by the diversity of media pixel art is used for, and whilst I do have a specialty, I do try not to pass up on opportunities outside of this, to avoid limiting myself.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
Can you adapt to various pixel art styles?
How versatile are you in adapting to different artistic styles, and have you replicated existing game or brand styles before?
![Ash
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Ash
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I am quite versatile in adapting to different styles within pixel art. It all comes down to analysing the reference images, and figuring out what makes a style a style. Is it flat or shaded? Does it have outlines? Does it have aliasing or smooth gradients? Positing these questions can help narrow down the requirements for a style, as well as analysing how things are abstracted, and figuring out the way in which a style plays with shape and proportion. A lot of the time, this will come with experience and practice, and nothing helps develop your versatility than actually doing!
5 months ago 1 upvotes
Can you share examples of your pixel art work?
Can you provide a portfolio or samples showcasing a range of your pixel art projects, including both static and animated pieces?
![Ash
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Ash
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You can find some of my pixel art work here on my portfolio website:
https://www.ashemritte.co.uk/pixel-art-portfolio-1
Or here, on my Fiverr:
https://www.fiverr.com/ae1996/create-pixel-art-for-you?source=order_page_summary_gig_link_title&funnel=ffced49bb4cf47a989bb55e9561696b6
https://www.ashemritte.co.uk/pixel-art-portfolio-1
Or here, on my Fiverr:
https://www.fiverr.com/ae1996/create-pixel-art-for-you?source=order_page_summary_gig_link_title&funnel=ffced49bb4cf47a989bb55e9561696b6
5 months ago 1 upvotes
What tools do you use for pixel art?
What digital tools or software do you typically employ when creating your pixel art pieces, and why?
![Ash
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Ash
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I mainly use Aseprite for creating pixel art pieces. I use it primarily because unlike other software such as Photoshop or Illustrator, it has been built primarily for pixel art, so it saves a lot of setting up in other software. On top of this, it's "pixel-perfect" freehand tracing algorithm is really useful in creating clean lines, especially when working on shapes with a lot of curvature and organic outlines. It is also very simple and intuitive to use, and comes with all the tools necessary to create great artwork! There are also scripts available that allow you to export as a Photoshop document, to allow for easy sharing. For vectors, I usually export from Aseprite as a .svg and clean up in Illustrator.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
In which formats and resolutions do you deliver pixel art?
What file formats and resolutions do you typically provide your completed pixel art in, and are there options for scaling?
![Ash
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Ash
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Mostly PNG, as it is lossless and supports alpha channels. Usually, .gifs will often suffice, especially for online content, but it is very much dependent on the clients' needs. Unfortunately, .gifs do not have alpha support and can cause colour issues due to compression, so do keep this in mind. In terms of scaling, always be aware that to get clean lines and keep a consistent pixel size, you will want to scale by factors of 100, and using the Nearest Neighbour interpolation method. I personally work on a 240x135 for projects that require a 16:9 ration, and upscale by 800% for the final 1920x1080 resolution.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
Can you handle animated pixel art?
Are you capable of creating animated pixel art sequences, and what challenges do they present compared to static pieces?
![Ash
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Ash
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Yes, I do create animated pieces. I have worked on character sprites, environment animations, and animated shots. One of the main challenges for animation is timing, and figuring out the best fps for your project. Sometimes, a client will want really smooth animation (around 12-24 fps), other times they will want something more retro (around 8-10fps). For pieces at a lower frame rate, the challenge comes in expressing a lot of movement within a single frame. Usually action lines come in handy, but as you have less frames to play with, you do have to get creative! Another challenge is shading. For still image pieces, it is easy to create intricately detailed pieces with a beautiful render. Keeping this consistent during animation is very difficult! I usually find the best way to do this is break things down into layers, so that you can easily manipulate things and have a greater degree of control.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
Do you do game-specific pixel art?
Are you experienced in creating pixel art tailored for specific game genres or platforms, such as RPGs or platformers?
![Ash
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Ash
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Yes, I have created pixel art for games. One of the important things to keep in mind is visual consistency, so familiarise yourself with the references provided by the client for the aesthetic of their game. Each asset will need to feel like they belong within the same world, so developing a style guide with the client if one isn't already provided is a useful endeavour. The other is readability. If a character sprite is placed in an environment and doesn't pop, or blends too well with the environment, or makes the whole thing look too busy, then there is a problem. Always keep comparing your assets to existing pieces, and if possible, test them!
5 months ago 1 upvotes
What type of pixel art requests do you accept?
What range of project requests do you cater to, from individual characters to full game assets or backgrounds?
![Ash
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Ash
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I accept pretty much all requests, and enjoy the versatility of working on a diverse range of projects.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
How do you price your pixel artwork?
What factors influence the pricing of your pixel art commissions, including size, complexity, and animation?
![Ash
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Ash
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The main factor in pricing my work is complexity. This depends a lot on the content of the scene, the animations required, and the shading style. I try not to price by size/resolution, as there is a lot of variety in terms of complexity even at the same resolution. I would also price animations separately, as they are usually quite time intensive. I usually provide a base price for the still image sprite/environment/asset design, and then break down the additional costs of animating these pieces. Whilst resolution is not the main factor in pricing, it is important to keep in mind that the increase of pricing based on the increase of resolution is exponential, rather than linear.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
How do you ensure pixel art client satisfaction?
How do you manage feedback and revisions to ensure your clients are fully satisfied with the final pixel art piece?
![Ash
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Ash
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If you are able to provide work in progress images, that is always helpful in keeping a client in the loop, and on board with design decisions. This may not always be possible dependent on the project, but it is useful. A lot of the time, delivering work clients are satisfied with starts with the brief. Making sure there is clarity between you and the client as to what you are expected to deliver is crucial at the initial stages of the project. Do not be afraid to query, or ask for additional information or references. Before starting a project, I will usually send a final message to the client summarising what has been discussed, to avoid any potential for miscommunication.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
What tips do you have for hiring freelance pixel artists?
What advice would you give to someone looking to hire a pixel artist for a successful collaboration?
![Ash
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Ash
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First and foremost, a clear brief is always appreciated! Having references of existing work that you like is always helpful. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Most pixel artists are experts in their field and may be able to offer suggestions if you are unsure as to what direction you want your project/artwork to go in. You may not have all the specifications at hand when first approaching the artist, but this is fine as long as you can work with the artist to iron out the details before starting. They may be able to offer you a range of options. As for choosing a pixel artist, it's all in the portfolio! If you like what you see, and you think an artist's style is a good fit, do reach out! Also consider what media the artist works in, whether they exclusively work with games, or if they do other types of pixel artwork.
5 months ago 1 upvotes
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