Pixel art IS building

[Jervan]

Depends if you say "skill" is needed for building as much as it is for pixel art, and  that really just depends on the scale you are playing at.

[Ad Bot]

[Linde]

No, it doesn't take the same amount of skill.  Bricks make your lines straight every time.  A color set makes it so that you don't have a way to blend colors.  Even drawing for, say, comic books...there's no way that you could put pixel art on the same level as that.  It's preposterous.

A skilled pixel artist would use dithering to overcome the problems of a limited color palette. Here's what I did with only four colors:

... and even the most clashing colors can look good (but strange) together:

And here's even some two-color dithering:


I'd say that it takes more skill to blend colors by dithering than actually blending them physically.

Seriously, look at this page and then tell me why you don't think that this is at the same level as comic book drawings: http://www.gas13.ru/v3/pixelart/zx-spectrum_gfx.php

Oh, and being able to draw straight lines easily doesn't count. Skillful artistry is usually not about drawing straight lines. That's what you use rulers for.

[Trader]

I don't like any of the 3 images you posted, and, while the site you linked me to has some cool stuff, there's just no need to reproduce it in game.  Pixel art is pretty much useless unless it's part of a building (e.g. a wall).

[Linde]

I was not saying there was a point to put it in the game. I was adressing the point you made, where you were basically saying that pixel art isn't "at the same level" as other art. Also, I posted the three pictures to display dithering techniques; I don't really care whether you like them or not since I find it pretty hard to respect your opinions on art after the absurd comparison between comic book illustrations and pixel drawings.

[Trader]

I never once suggested that I was referring to pixel art outside of the game.  This entire discussion has been in reference to using 1x1 bricks as pixels for pixel art.  In my opinion, this type of building is pointless and takes no skill.  I've seen loads of pixel art outside of the game that is of very high quality.  Please do not mistake my distaste for in-game pixel art for dislike of pixel art elsewhere.

Still though, trying to compare the skill required to make pixel art in any form to the skill exhibited in classic Marvel or DC comics is ridiculous.

[Linde]

I never once suggested that I was referring to pixel art outside of the game.

The points you made were pretty general and appliable to normal pixel art too. No, there's no building effort in pixel art, but there is definitely both effort and skill involved.

Still though, trying to compare the skill required to make pixel art in any form to the skill exhibited in classic Marvel or DC comics is ridiculous.

Seriously?









These drawings are almost objectively better than the crude drawings of the classic Marvel comics. Everything but the cover on comic books is streamlined and simplified to fit time constraints. Shading and coloring is very basic even in the latest comics. Not to say I don't appreciate it, though.

[Monty]

Judge Dredd!

[Trader]

I'm sorry, when I said classic I meant well-loved / famous, not old.

Here's one of my favorites:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Jokerkillingjoke.png

Btw, it's not necessary to defend actual drawings.  That's not really what this discussion is about.  The topic started as "Pixel Art is Building", referring only to building such drawings in game.

[n0cturni]

True, but you can't call a 3-year-old's finger painting picture the next Mona Lisa.

Some may have said that it wasn't building but I think the general message was that we don't care to see the pixel art.

Similarly, stacking one's pancakes can be called building, that doesn't mean that anyone should care about it or have to see it documented.

I concur. I went to an art museum and saw a bunch of colored lines at right angles.

[Linde]

I went to an art museum and saw a bunch of colored lines at right angles.

So you can't enjoy art if it isn't technically impressive?

[Reactor Worker]

I went to an art museum and saw a bunch of colored lines at right angles.

So you can't enjoy art if it isn't technically impressive?

I don't think you should be payed millions for throwing paint randomly on a wall or screwing some painted plywood together.

[Linde]

I don't think you should be payed millions for throwing paint randomly on a wall or screwing some painted plywood together.

It was not a question of being paid millions. I don't agree with that either. Can it be enjoyed even if it's simple or minimalistic? Think of it in terms of architecture -- do you necessarily prefer the detailed ornamentation of a gothic cathedral over the clean and simple geometrical style of a neoplasticist house?

[Trader]

Yes.  Each serves a purpose.  Building pixel art in Blockland serves no purpose.

[Monty]

Lies, pixel art serves the same purpose as any other form of art.

[Trader]

Sure, but building it in-game does not.  You didn't read what I said carefully.