Video games haven't always been in high-definition. Longtime gamers remember the days when characters and their environments were blocky just like these easy pixel art drawing tutorials.
A pixel is a tiny square of color. When you put many pixels together, you can form a picture of just about anything. Zoom in on any image on your phone or computer, and you will eventually see it pixelated, or break down into pixels.
When video games were first released in the 1970s, computer and television screens still had a long way to go. Back then, you didn't have to zoom in to see the pixels.
Today, pixel art is a nostalgic way to remember and celebrate the video games of times past. Pixel art often features classic video game characters like Super Mario, Donkey Kong, or Pacman. You will find them below.
Pixel art can also include new combinations or ideas. You can combine sketches on the list below to make your own scenes. Learn how to draw pixel art people, pets, and outdoor scenery.
Don't forget to top off your health or life meter with the pixel art heart. You can even make a lovely card for your favorite gamer featuring a video-game-style heart and flowers.
10 Easy Pixel Art Drawing Ideas
Dog Pixel Art
Whether you’re into pet care games or just need the perfect sidekick for your hero, this cute canine is for you. The pixelated outline will determine the shape of the body, head, eyes, and nose. Then, you can color the inner pixels to customize the breed of your dog.
Rose Pixel Art
Do you grow flowers in your video game garden? Now you can! Outline the petals and leaves by shading the appropriate blocks.
Heart Pixel Art
This easy shape is a great way to get into pixel heart. You can use your drawing to express your love for video games or for someone who loves video games. Hearts also indicate life and health in many games.
Mario Pixel Art
Mario is one of the most famous video game characters ever, and he started his career as a pixelated character. The dark outline will define his hat, eyes, nose, mustache, ears, and the basic shape of his body. When you color the picture, the details of his clothing will become clear.
Mountain Pixel Art
Stunning scenery is a major draw for many video games. This tutorial will show you how to draw majestic mountains, a river, and trees on a sunny day. As a challenge, what could you change to make this a nighttime scene?
Face Pixel Art
This outline indicates a simple male face. Even without adding color and shading, you will be able to discern the hair, ears, eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth.
Girl Pixel Art
A dark outline makes up the basic features of this portrait - the hair, face, eyes, and clothing. As you draw, you will use narrow lines to indicate changes in color that will fill in the rest of the details.
Pacman Pixel Art
Pacman is one of the simplest pixel art characters to draw. First, you will outline his shape - a circle with a triangular slice taken out of it. Then, you will shade the eye - three-quarters of a circle, also missing a slice.
Donkey Kong Pixel Art
Donkey Kong’s basic features - his body, limbs, and facial features - are outlined in black. Tan colors help distinguish his face, hands, feet, and belly. He also wears a colorful tie or scarf.
Sonic the Hedgehog Pixel Art
Sonic has a thick black outline, but his features are made up of different colored blocks - his blue fur, tan ears, mouth, chest, and arms, white gloves, white eye with a rectangular black pupil, and red running shoes with a white stripe.
