# Art in Makecode **URL:** \ **Category:** Game Design\ **Tags:** game, make, art\ **Created:** [January 5, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971 "2025-01-05T20:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skittlesaersuper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/skittlesaersuper/32/17209_2.png) [@Skittlesaersuper](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Skittlesaersuper)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/1 "2025-01-05T20:32:25Z")
So chances are you’ve probably seen a game on the forums that has crazy pixel art (@luke ahem ahem…) so I got questions. What are some tips for pixel art in games? (not just for me, I bet a lot of people are wanting to improve!) > **Unimportant :)** > > I mean like, I’m only good at drawing art. I thought I’d share this cuz im very proud 🙂 : > > ![IMG_20250102_170418](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/8/f/8f7fb4a3d736186e35293d7ccbae3233f69ba606.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Luke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luke/32/32519_2.png) [@Luke](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Luke)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/2 "2025-01-06T04:20:15Z")
> [@Skittlesaersuper](#): > > I’m only good at drawing art well, pixel art is .. art? anyways, I would think abt pixel art as a kind of **spectrum from low res → higher resolutions** , where more high res art uses more “normal” methods of drawing, and lower resolutions have more methods distinct to pixel art. In games, art tends to be around ~16 ish pixels scale, but I have made large scale stuff like Vortex in MKF3, and the character sprites from Card Delver so learning how to make pixel art on both ends of the spectrum is quite useful. Much of the same ideas apply to both small and larger scale pixel art, and even just art in general (like colour theory and shading!) > ## #1: Use REFERENCES When unusure what something looks like, or just drawing something complicated, google around and collect some images to work off. It is important to look at and choose your references carefully (don’t take the first dodgy AI generated pixel slop that shows up lol). Remember that you’re trying to find bits and pieces that you want to include and influence your artwork, this could be an object, a colour, a colour palette, a texture, a pattern, anatomy etc… * * * ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/5/5/55e9eb79cdd75117467dda5495056ac9071facfb.jpeg) ![Vortex](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/0/f/0f297dca8d381ac8cd4f1d8e9b859dad9f90895d.gif) For Vortex I collected a style reference for the lighting and colours (and just kinda the mood imo), a reference for the high collar, and 3 for the suit as I wasn’t sure what I wanted vortex’s outfit to look like. * * * ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/f/3/f38f62b047edd0bd95af83ccdb632e31a6cd32f7.png) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/6/c/6c904a55d0f4ca2c3c036ba74c4667757f2ab08b.png) here is a super common img that i use when animating walk cycles (i’ve prolly referenced this for like 5 seperate sprites lol). I’ve used this in for Red Line for the player (16x16) and also for larger enemy sprites (32x32) * * * ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/8/4/840d87d37b557a0f7200fb0b68fbba02f1e606ef.png) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/4/8/489940321453382fdfc715e0bfaa5389246ea10a.png) When drawing smol scale pixel art, it’s useful to search for the object + “pixel art” to see how other artists have done it as getting an object recognisable at low resolutions can be very challenging. for this lil frog I referenced this adorable froggo in a car Keep in mind that you can use both pixelly and non pixelly references! If you want to go further you could also try to understand how and why, learning how to draw things more generally. For example, i wasn’t sure how to proportion vortex’s arm correctly, so i went and looked at this website. [https://gvaat.com/blog/learn-to-draw-arms-once-and-for-all/](https://gvaat.com/blog/learn-to-draw-arms-once-and-for-all/) . Recently, I was struggling to draw fabric so i went here [https://sketchaday.app/tutorials/6prtGOPaKV69MPN7jJHB](https://sketchaday.app/tutorials/6prtGOPaKV69MPN7jJHB) to understand how to do it properly. On hindsight, I should have done this when drawing vortex because the lack of folds is quite apparent now that i look at it again lol. Also I HIGHLY HIGHLY reccomend this website, it’s got amazing tutorials for like everything pixelly. > **[Saint11 Pixel Art Tutorials](https://saint11.art/blog/pixel-art-tutorials/)** > > Pixel art techniques by saint11 with lots of 512x512 tutorials > **[Pixel art blog — SLYNYRD](https://www.slynyrd.com/blog)** > > Pixel art tutorials, insights, and original designs This blog also has some excellent pixel art for inspo. * * * I would expand on these next points more but this post is alr way too long lol im sure you don’t want me to ramble on more. > ## #2: Look at Artists! some of my favourites (specifically pixelly ones else we’d be here forever) **[angry\_snail](https://x.com/angry__snail?lang=en)** **[ventiique](https://lospec.com/ventiique)** **[gawrone](https://lospec.com/gawrone)** 🚨WARNING GORE​:police\_car\_light:(and beautiful art) **[brandon james greer](https://www.youtube.com/@BJGpixel)** **[pixel overload](https://www.youtube.com/@PixelOverloadChannel/videos)** **[slynyard](https://www.slynyrd.com/blog)** **[saint 11](https://saint11.art/)** **[polyducks](https://polyducks.co.uk/gallery/)** > ## #3: Colour palettes (please DO NOT use default palette 😭) > **[Palette List](https://lospec.com/palette-list)** > > Download over 2500 pixel art palettes for free in 6 different formats which you can then import into any pixel art program and use for you art. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/6/c/6c673c325c38afea80098e47acbb73f0d48a4162.png) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/6/0/608df6a8707df06f2761e992cf89bf1c5e3f39b2.png) here’s my bookmarks of my favs! > ## #4 Deconstruct into shapes (or volumes!) > ## #5 Sketch! (work iteratively) > ---
**Author:** ![Luke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luke/32/32519_2.png) [@Luke](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Luke)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/3 "2025-01-06T04:20:23Z")
oh and also tip for pencil shading, don’t smudge, use a 6 or 5B pencil to lay down a consistent tone and/or do hatching with it. ---
**Author:** ![Skittlesaersuper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/skittlesaersuper/32/17209_2.png) [@Skittlesaersuper](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Skittlesaersuper)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/4 "2025-01-06T17:59:27Z")
> [@Luke](#): > > well, pixel art is … art? I mean I’m only good at drawing kind of art. Also wow this is really helpful! ---
**Author:** ![Luke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luke/32/32519_2.png) [@Luke](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Luke)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/5 "2025-01-06T22:24:48Z")
well pixel art can be very much like drawing digitally, it’s actually just way more precise as literally every pixel in the artwork is placed individually and purposefully lol ---
**Author:** ![ShaneyBoi09](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/shaneyboi09/32/18893_2.png) [@ShaneyBoi09](https://forum.makecode.com/u/ShaneyBoi09)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/6 "2025-01-07T17:31:11Z")
About ![Screenshot 2025-01-06 183627](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/6/0/60c7cd1e3d808e287e2acb6a47f005121de2e6c5.png), is it from a game you (or somebody else) made? It looks amazing! I’d love to play it! ---
**Author:** ![Luke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luke/32/32519_2.png) [@Luke](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Luke)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/7 "2025-01-08T19:36:29Z")
@ChimbroDaPro made the game, it’s [The MakeCode Forums 3: The Multiversal Convergence](https://forum.makecode.com/t/the-makecode-forums-3-the-multiversal-convergence/30166), the final game out of 3. I just helped out on some of the art ---
**Author:** ![ChimbroDaPro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/chimbrodapro/32/15852_2.png) [@ChimbroDaPro](https://forum.makecode.com/u/ChimbroDaPro)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/8 "2025-01-11T22:35:11Z")
It was a TEAM effort 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skittlesaersuper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/skittlesaersuper/32/17209_2.png) [@Skittlesaersuper](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Skittlesaersuper)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/9 "2025-04-09T17:08:46Z")
Hehehehehe it’s been a while… And my art level is WAY BETTER oml. > **Evidence Number One** > > ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/5/c/5cdc1a23b16ec2094797f409e16865e6dd3b8704.png) > Can you guess who it is? > **Evidence Number Two** > > ![Screenshot 2025-04-08 20.00.33](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/6/0/602192e10743e70718cfadd27a8c07fd20dd12b1.png) > This one is less likely to be guessed. And it’s also a bit…_funky_ with how big his eyes are. 😥 Anyway, tell me if you know who they are… IF YOU CAN MWAHAHAHA ---
**Author:** ![AgentBoom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/agentboom/32/16635_2.png) [@AgentBoom](https://forum.makecode.com/u/AgentBoom)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/10 "2025-04-09T23:26:59Z")
My first guess for number 1 would be Lara Croft but I honestly have no idea ---
**Author:** ![Luke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luke/32/32519_2.png) [@Luke](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Luke)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/11 "2025-04-10T14:33:17Z")
looking much better!! my biggest tip is don’t draw eyes, noses, mouths, etc, draw the 3D shape of the head and try not to focus on specific features. The nose is nothing more than a box, the eyes are spheres in a cavity in the face, the lips 2 bands curving around the rounded egg of the mouth, etc etc. you’re not drawing a face, you’re drawing a very very very complicated 3D form which we’re hard wired to recognise (pareidolia lol) ---
**Author:** ![Skittlesaersuper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/skittlesaersuper/32/17209_2.png) [@Skittlesaersuper](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Skittlesaersuper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/12 "2025-04-10T14:35:51Z")
Wait, it does look like her, what?!, it’s not her tho. It’s a real person. ---
**Author:** ![Oblivious](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/oblivious/32/30718_2.png) [@Oblivious](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Oblivious)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/13 "2025-04-10T21:34:01Z")
𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬. 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬. ---
**Author:** ![Skittlesaersuper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/skittlesaersuper/32/17209_2.png) [@Skittlesaersuper](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Skittlesaersuper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/14 "2025-04-10T21:35:18Z")
Thanks 😅 Yeah, I think the biggest problem with my art rn is the order of which I do everything (Why cant I just finsh one half of the face before starting on the hair like wth 😭) > **The before of the girl drawing of whom I am yet to announce the identity of** > > Like, thank goodness I spent another hour on rehsaping the jawline after two hours of drawing, right : D > BEFORE: > > ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/makecode/original/3X/d/9/d9db8d14f638b3e45c06941a864061ed8d066fb9.png) [/details] Anyways.. I also despise drawing that second eye sometimes… why won’t you just be like the other one 😭 I also got a charcoal set for my birthday and OH MY GOD I FEEL SO ALIVE- i draw way better with it. Maybe I’ll update with my current thing I’m drawing 😅 Enough of my art rant tho : ) ---
**Author:** ![Luke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/luke/32/32519_2.png) [@Luke](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Luke)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/15 "2025-04-11T02:30:47Z")
charcoal is great but it’s very messy lmao ---
**Author:** ![Skittlesaersuper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/skittlesaersuper/32/17209_2.png) [@Skittlesaersuper](https://forum.makecode.com/u/Skittlesaersuper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/art-in-makecode/32971/16 "2025-04-11T17:04:17Z")
Fr. I tried it for the first time and thought it was meant to be just normaly gripped like a pencil or smth (I have like, a handheld charcoal… block?) Anyways it got all over the counter tops from me setting it down and my hands were a mess 🙃