Pixelation
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Corinthian Baby on November 14, 2013, 07:22:03 pm
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Yo! Last night I went to art/entrepreneurial lecture from the dudes who made artaic, who make custom mosaics for you with machines, they're cool, check them out (http://www.artaic.com/) [Remember that dude who installed that octopus pixel piece in his shower?] They are partnering up with a local nonprofit that teaches/pays highschool kids for art.
Anyway I was networking there, and one of the main people in charge of the nonprofit was telling me how they want to start doing night classes for adults, suggesting that I could be a teacher at one of them. My initial thought was to do a pixel art class because I feel it's an under celebrated and niche artform. They are on board and want me to make a proposal outlining the deets, highlighting that the way to get people in the door is to market it as a fun thing to do and meet dates.
Here's where I'd like some input from the community. How/can pixel art be taught in such a casual environment? When I first entered the scene, I felt a bit of a wall due to perceived pretentiousness and elitism. This of course was dispelled the more I learned about technique and pixel decorum.
Can it be framed in a fun way for beginners, how would you go about teaching pixel art in class? Have you ever been formally taught pixel art by someone or through institution? Does the artform have a place in the classroom? Any ideas/suggestions welcomed! If this is a terrible idea, let me know.
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You'll only get gamers, just so you know. But pixel art takes so long I'm not sure how effective it will be. Pixel art is something you'd collab on over IRC IMO. Also consider that there are very few pixel artists, and they are scattered literally all over the globe. People are so lazy... and they will only do pixel art for the purpose of making a game, even if they never get around to making it. I've got lots of pixel art I've never put into a game... just no motivation to.
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I'd make them look at 8-bit art blown up and I'd discuss cluster theory. I'd change a few pixels in iconic sprites to show the results. If they can understand banding and how to solve the problems it creates, they'll see the 'puzzle game' aspect of pixel artistry, that is style-neutral and of use to any pixel artist.
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@Tcaud:
I guess Ptoing banned you so I'm not sure if you can see this, but part of the reasoning of the pixel art class would not be to unite people who are already pixel artists, but to educate people who don't know what it is, to introduce them to a new fun/challenging and rewarding artform. If that demographic is mostly gamers, so be it, as long as they learn and get something out of the experience, that's what matters.
@Helm:
Yeah, that seems like a good place to start in terms of a layman's approach. Readability/clean clusters are prevailing aspects to pixel art, and Miyamoto's original design of the Mario sprite is certainly testament to that.
Regarding the idea in total I admit I am having doubts in terms of how accessible/attractive pixel art can be for a casual audience. I'll admit that I'm starting to think that maybe I should do digital painting instead, or perhaps some sort of discourse about 2D games and how they translate visually to 3D and some of the cross pollination of design that can come out of that. Still very much in the brainstorming stage and stalling on the proposal.
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Write a rough syllabus and post it.
How much time do you have to prepare?
How many classes are in the course?
Will you get paid, meaning you can focus more time to this, or is it volunteer work?
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These are all the same questions that I'm thinking about. Still figuring it out, will post a draft of the syllabus when I make it. I think I would be paid, the money being from people opting into the classes. That's why I'm kind of caught up, I don't want to make people pay for the same info that's all across free pixel tuts on the net. Or is there no shame in exploiting that?
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I don't want to make people pay for the same info that's all across free pixel tuts on the net. Or is there no shame in exploiting that?
I wouldn't call it exploiting.
Unless you are intentionally doing so.
Lots of education is free on the internet.
Libraries are free as well.
Yet going to a school can be a very positive experience.
It's your job in the position of an instructor to make it worth their time to hear info from you that they could potentially get elsewhere.
You must bring not only the education to the classroom, you must bring yourself.
And get paid for your time, as it has value.
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That's a cool idea. And it's not exploitative at all, universities and almost all education works that way, taking and grouping academic theories from researchers and adapting it to the audience.
I general I think pixel art is a bit of a hard sell because there's a lot of tedium involved. Obviously I think you'd need to focus on hooking them in the first couple classes. I think people are drawn to pixel art because they want to make games or make edits/pixels that fit in within a game world, and are gradually drawn in by seeing more potential with the medium, sharing their art, or wanting to improve their general art skills. These are just what I think I see, so take it with a grain of salt.
Adults probably will have a bit less patience in doing pixel art for its own sake unless they have high motivation coming in. Maybe I'm being nostalgic a bit, but I had WAY more time to do things that I found interesting for their own sake a few years ago. Actually this is just a generalization and may or may not actually be the case.
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Thanks for the encouragement, guys.
I finally sent my email detailing a rough outline of the class:
Pixel art is one of the oldest computer based art forms, and it often goes unrecognized and under-celebrated in modern times due to obsolescence. However advanced technology gets, pixel art is kept alive by hobbyists and enthusiasts, but is seldom taught in any classroom. This idea seeks to change that.
I'm thinking the classes could be on Monday or Tuesday nights, sometime in the middle of the week to help people unwind after a long day at work. They could start maybe around 7 and run for 1-2 hours. It would take place in the computer lab primarily using Photoshop. For people unfamiliar with the program I would help guide them through each step.
It might be helpful if possible if there was one computer hooked up to a projector for people to follow along through demonstrations. My idea is that the classes would be weekly and run for four weeks minimum. Each class would go over a new subject or study of pixel art, followed by classmates completing in-class assignments, while I help them when needed. Topics included would be studying old video games, examining sprites, cluster theory and newer techniques, environmental tiles, and portraits.
I'm excited about this opportunity. Please let me know what the next step is moving forward.
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I'd make them look at 8-bit art blown up and I'd discuss cluster theory. I'd change a few pixels in iconic sprites to show the results. If they can understand banding and how to solve the problems it creates, they'll see the 'puzzle game' aspect of pixel artistry, that is style-neutral and of use to any pixel artist.
That's quite a nice idea and would show one of the most basic and timeless concepts behind the artstyle.
However I can imagine if there is a class filled with people who are new to pixel art all of them have a very different approach to the artstyle, even if all of them are gamers.
A lot of people however don't know in which forms pixel art can appear. Even if you just look at arcade automates there can be a huge difference
e.g.
(http://themushroomkingdom.net/images/ss/ss_dk-arcade.gif)(http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081230134540/metalslug/images/0/08/Metal_Slug_3_Ingame_02.png)
(Donkey Kong Arcade, Metal Slug 3)
nonetheless in terms of the pixelation point of view both are pixel art.
modern pixel art games which work with a lot of gradients and cool lighting stuff are also considered as pixel art, although we from Pixelation usually take distance from those concepts.
Is it pixel art? I'd say it's enhanced with a few modern concepts, but yeah it's still pixel art even if there are gradients, resolution mitchmax etc.
This definitely also should be considered, since Swords&Sworcery is a very modern approach of "pixel-art" or at least it's pixel art how a lot of indie developers see it today.
(http://cdn4.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/204060/ss_c7b2c6afa158a471bb5517506ffe81c250119419.1920x1080.jpg?t=1354530680)
So giving your people an actual understanding how vast the difference of the visual styles is might get more of them interested.
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I'd definitely not make it too theoretical (when I did, I had really bad experiences, even when people attending to the classes were college students). The best way to go is somewhat the 'easiest'. Make it simple, fun, practical and I'd also suggest to focus a lot in iconic pixel art. It's also good to show a LOT of references. Regarding practical taks, they could start with small images such as a 16x16 favicon and then go for a portrait and a small character sprite (4 frames, for example), that would be a good introduction to pixel art, to its iconicity and animation, respectively. 2 hours per classes would be pretty nice.
It would also be awesome if you could post a summary of your experiences and what called your attention most, what you would include and what you would exclude from your classes.
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I would try not to be as strict in the definition of pixel art as say, pixeljoint is. People who arent already invested in the art form probably wont take well to an 'this is what pixel art is, and everything outside of it is wrong' type of approach. Cyangmou has a good point about including things like swords&sorcery type style since theres no reason artists these days cant utilize pixel art technique for work that extends past 'pure pixel art'.
Also, a while back there was an article on pixeljoint about an old man who did pixel art in mspaint of landscapes. They didnt really fit pixeljoints definition of pixel art but they were still good and might be something good to show as well. If anyone else remembers what Im talking about maybe they have a link or something.
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I don't think for a class a prescriptive definition of pixel art matters at all, actually. Just descriptive. Look at loads of visual aids and lead a group to understand what pixel art is from looking at the common throughlines in the examples.
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Got an email back saying that they like the idea, and need to check schedules and stuff. I'm excited ;D
In terms of having one set definition of pixelart, I agree with Helm, it's not really necessary. The best professors that I had in art history offered multiple perspectives to any given subject. I can explain pixel art as it manifested as a necessity to visually aide video games, and how it evolved onward from there, how people in the modern pixel art community keep certain rules in its canon, and how new technology alters and changes what pixel art is; how it has shifted and progressed as a medium.
Though it might get a bit too theoretical and the class is meant to be a hands on creative endeavor it would also be fun to get into differing ideas of interpretation/iconography in pixel-based video games.
@r1k, I remember that video, and though yeah to us it's not pixel art with a capitol P and A, but it was still very touching and may be something cool to show students.
Certainly if this manifests, I will post my experiences here for dissection/discussion.
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Keep in mind that historically pixel art wasn't devised for videogames, but for general computing. I think a lot of people would recognise the early 1bt macintosh icons as pixel art, for example.
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Had a meeting with them recently and agreed on 2 hr sessions on monday nights for 3 or 4 weeks per run. Trying to brainstorm marketing ideas since the more students I have, the more money I'd make. Conflicted between the benefits of niche vs. how esoteric pixel art can be.
Anyway they want me to make a curriculum and test the class on one of their teen groups to see how receptive they are. The real class will probably start in the spring. Thinking of starting with icons and gradually going to characters and tiles, maybe portraits. I've never made a lesson plan or anything before so any help is appreciated. :y: