Some attempt at pixel work

[Yanazake]

Hello there. I joined this community seeking some help... It seems I'll need to seek other kind of help.. |< Oh, well...

I was looking for people to help me with my game project, but most pixel artists are looking for a job, so I'd better start doing pixel art together with the other works...

My main problem here is that I'm good at editing, but extremely lame at creating when it comes to pixels.


See this load of junk? Well, here are lined an edited character from the pokemon D/P versions, My creation with a small size [rpg maker xp standard], my creation again with a taller version [somewhat as tall as I'm trying to make] and Arngrim [from Valkyrie Profile].
The size I want for my game is somewhat between the first and last characters.
The problem - I think the character face looks extremely wide... I can't make it look better than that.

Aside from creation, editing seems very easy~
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/673194/
I did this using a template extracted from other pixel dolls.

Anyone could give me some advice on how I can make this better? here's a sheet of the character, btw. [warning, he got few clothing xD]
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/251397/

[Helm]

Yes, welcome, here's my critique:

Stop editing.

It's bad for you to disregard the whole bottom half of artistic creation (structure, design, so on) just to add a head on top and shortcut-like feel good about your art. It hurts your ability and understanding of how art works. Here's a therapeutic thing to try: remove all that clutter of not-yours sprites around the piece you're trying to make. Just keep your own art, nothing referenced, nothing ripped, nothing edited. Work from the beginning on your own. Then post your steps here and be critiqued for your faults as they are, unmasked by borrowed strength, there for all to see and there for you to fix.

[Yanazake]

As I said, I'm not good at doing it from the ery start, because:
1: it's too small
2: I don't have a tablet to help drawing the basics directly
3: I got bad eyesight, so hours picking dot-by-dot aren't a wise idea

But yeah, I need to do this... Maybe to start off, I'm not good with that front pose even when drawing by hand...

Whatever, I'll give another try once I get a new cooler.

And btw, all edits I did were to get a reference on size, and that doll in there had a template, so, I didn't do that 'apply head here', 'cause I think it's not good work at all. :<


Ah, a question about drawing sprites: Does drawing over a millimetric-graded sheet of paper helps the production?

[missingno]

1: it's too small
2: I don't have a tablet to help drawing the basics directly
3: I got bad eyesight, so hours picking dot-by-dot aren't a wise idea

1 and 3 can both be solved just by zooming in enough. MS Paint can go ten times, and most more advanced programs can go further. Number two doesn't make much sense either. Tablets are very useful but it's not impossible with a mouse. I personally use my mouse more than my tablet anyway.

It seems like you're making excuses, man. Don't be afraid to just dive into it. Nobody ever improved by holding back.

[Yanazake]

Seriously. I can't do pixel work directly... It's strange... But anyway, I did something with the help of a milimetric grid.

I drew it over the grid and sharpened where the limitations of the body parts should be. Still, he got too tall, and the shading drove me nuts - I couldn' finish it yet.

But anyway, this isn't the final version yet. I need to take out some pixels from his height

1 and 3 can both be solved just by zooming in enough. MS Paint can go ten times, and most more advanced programs can go further. Number two doesn't make much sense either. Tablets are very useful but it's not impossible with a mouse. I personally use my mouse more than my tablet anyway.

Zooming won't help. the size limits the detailing - that's the problem.

and the tablet would help me to directly draw the bases on the pc, with the right size. I can't draw with a mouse, it's not precise @_@ At least, I prefer anything that I can see an edge that actually writes.

[Helm]

That's actually pretty good. Finish it! FINISH IT!

About the detail ratio, I know the feeling of having to reduce fine detail to BIG CHUNKS OF PIXELS. It becomes second nature if you keep trying and you'll also begin to love the abstraction. If you need a tablet, then you need a tablet, no problem there. More detailed critique to follow, you have extra time to tend to it more.

Do not give up, don't despair, you're well on your way. You CAN draw directly.

About subject matter though, I have to say this: dangerously furry!

[Yanazake]

That's actually pretty good. Finish it! FINISH IT!

About the detail ratio, I know the feeling of having to reduce fine detail to BIG CHUNKS OF PIXELS. It becomes second nature if you keep trying and you'll also begin to love the abstraction. If you need a tablet, then you need a tablet, no problem there. More detailed critique to follow, you have extra time to tend to it more.

Do not give up, don't despair, you're well on your way. You CAN draw directly.

About subject matter though, I have to say this: dangerously furry!

Well, thanks. I just found some tutorial that consists in drawing and scanning a very basic sketch - It sounded very easy, and the problem of making the picture directly with sprite appearance is somewhat solvet with it. So, as soon as I can finish other things [I have to do LOTS of things on the project, since there's just 5 people helping x_x] I'll do some more.

Oh, and yeah, I forgot some aren't very fond of anthropomorphic characters O_o'' But if you think this is dangerously furry, you need to see when the first demo is finished... XD