Pixel Art Character Design w/ Commentary!

Heya Pals, we're back with some more pixel art content for you. This time we're taking it easy with a live design session / timelapse with some commentary. This one took quite a while to get right, probably needed a bit more reference work to avoid all the pixel pushing in the middle of the process, but I'm happy with where the character ended up, for now!

Hope you find the process enjoyable and informative.
Thanks!

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Design
9:36 - Analysis
12:20 - Thoughts for followup work
13:09 - Outro

Music: DJ Cutman / Coffee Date - Stardew & Chill

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This video features clips from my stream. Catch it live: Weekdays 1-6pm AEST.

Later, pals!

[sebastiandendulk]

this is like magic to me as someone just learning pixel art with a pure development background. You are very talented 😊

[mr_ekshun]

I love the way you captured exactly the sort of build you were describing: big and burly but with a bit of softness padding the immense strength, reflective of his "gentle giant" personality.

[capellozapellini]

It's like watching magic... You are so talented. Bob Ross of pixel art!

[BossSkittles]

these videos are so helpful !!! I really want to get good with the shade tool, you make it look so useful !

[SnowPeaGames]

I really like him. Was a fan of the tiny hammer to give some contrast with how huge he was, but if this is the context we meet him it's the right call - he's definitely more conductor than jeweller.

Also can we talk about the steam-mane on the train horse?! Outstanding.

[Thyflooder]

Dude the speed it took yoy too make it was amazing 🤩 honestly its fun watching your process, usually when i draw i dont try things out becuase im scared im gonna make it worse somehow but just watching this has kinda inspired me tok try out allittle more 😂

[sticky-soup]

Thanks for the explanation at the end! I was really struggling with sprites for a while, and mostly focused on making portraits, but I will definitely try to branch out into sprites more with some of your techniques :)

[gorkamorka]

The bright red hair is something so specific I'd keep that for the main character only. The red highlight on the conductor's hair makes it look like he's the main character's dad or they could be related. It's always fun to watch you do pixel art. Great video.

[thatboxlion]

I think this is going to be the best game ever made. I can’t wait!

[Neuromindart]

If you don't mind, what size is the canvas at 12:20? Just trying to get a better perspective of the size of the character in relation to the environment.

[br]

Working on a new character currently and just saw this posted!

[Niam_Human]

** Just wanna thank you, for something off topic. I noted this wasn't the video I was searching for, " I " was searching.
instead of a bad Comment. I went to specify what I wanted. Why harm a guy's, nuclei? Right? Bless ur work!
I was just dreaming of a Pixel art Bob Ross, but Black and here u tag along.
Y not! I'll Subscribe. Bless all around you

[aemdesigns]

I’m just starting out in pixel art myself. Can you tell me what canvas size you prefer using?

[Mckinziekaleb]

The stardew music almost put me to sleep ngl

[ragnarokgaming]

Hey i was wondering if you would be willing to help me make all the animations i need for a sprite i made. Ill gladly pay you i just am not the best artist and i honestly would love some help as im trying to make a game to sell. And need this character to function

[Selrisitai]

Yeah, I think making him a bit taller would be helpful. While his bulk is obvious, his height actually comes off as short. Even though he's taller than the main character, if they're not side-by-side (like in the horse-head train example image) one could get the impression that he's actually shorter.

I know it really sucks to be compared to someone else. "Hey, you know Brandon James Greer? Do videos like him!" I've had people say stuff like that to me and it makes me want to put my head (or theirs) through a wall.
Good advice is good advice, right?

I think you have a great personality, great soft-spoken voice, and you're enthusiastic and engaging; however, you might allow yourself to be TOO rambly. It lengthens the videos with fluff, and if I weren't just completely fascinated by what you do, and how well you do it, I don't know that I would keep watching. Maybe Youtube isn't that big of a deal for you, or you have other revenue, or maybe you just really like how you do things now, and that'd all be good, but assuming you want to push your channel and viewership?

Perhaps coming in with a voiceover, even a non-scriped, but EDITED voice-over, could enhance not only the pacing, but it would allow you to apply music or otherwise play with the video editing in a way that presents your particularly stylistic flair in a more freeing way. Right now you obviously have your overlay and your intro. You have a kind of brand and it works really well, but because your videos are so off-the-cuff, well, I wonder if you're not even conveying the information you have in a way that really allows you to spread your creative and didactic ("teacherly") wings.

In closing, I believe you have a lot to offer, not just in the way of entertainment, but in skills and tips to help others improve, and if making your videos more entertaining, with better pacing and a strong style would do that, then what's the downside? Well, we know the downside: Time. Editing videos takes time. It might just not be feasible for you to make more refined (not an insult!) videos, but I think it would be a boon to you and your viewers as well.

If nothing else, perhaps it's something to consider?

Love your work as always, pal.