Well, I'm not actively into pixelling - I mean, I'm not a pixeller - but still it's the computer graphics form I prefer. The first time I saw a computer game (you know, Intellivision, VIC 20, C=64, etc.), seeing those pixels really fired up my imagination (which cannot happen anymore with today's hyper-realistic games). That got me into computing, where pixelling is second to just coding

The very first time I pixelled something was for some C=64 proggie I wanted to do... but it was not real pixelling, as graphics were "pushed" by means of numbers in code.
The next step was taking a cassette case + inlay and sticking to the inlay a 24x21 grid (that's the size of C=64 sprites, BTW) so that I could draw on the transparent case surface with a felt-tip pen and wipe what I did not like/want with a cloth.
And - oh, boy! - I still have that stuff!!!

Here it comes for your delight

- please excuse the low quality of the picture:


(you may notice the powers of two at the bottom: those helped me with calculating the binary values to put into the code)
After that, I wrote my own paint program... and actually managed to even draw an animation of a little man dribbling & dunking a ball to a basket (I've been a basketball addict forever). Of course, I still have the tapes... what a pity I don't have a C=64 anymore (and, anyway, I doubt those tapes are still of any use).
Then I left the C=64 for the Amiga, where I started pixelling (again for a gamey of mine) with a tool that makes MS Paint look like the perfect solution for any graphician's wildest dreams: however, back then, it looked to me as a wonderful application... I'm talking about the Object Editor that came with AMOS Professional - a few may be shivering now.
Much later I discovered real paint programs: Deluxe Paint (by Electronic Arts) and Personal Paint (by Cloanto)... and, guess what?!? I use Personal Paint still today!
Well, I went way OT, so I'll stop it here.
saimo
P.S. this post is a bit hurried... I hope it turns out to be readable.