"In pixel art everything is hand drawn. Hand placed. And the only tools really allowed are the pencil, the paint bucket and the eraser.
You are not allowed to apply automatic techniques such as gradients, brushes, spray can and transparent layers among others."
I didn't use any of the automatic techniques.. I just placed the pixels one by one. Alright, I may have used the noise filter one or two times, but take in mind I started pixel art only a month ago.
Also, I am only here to get advice and to improve pixel art. Without advice and suggestions, there would be no specialty, everyone would have to teach themselves things, and etc.
Hope this clears some things up.
Regards,
Steve.