Pixel Art Avatar Design: From Basics to Customization
A course by Jude Buffum , Pixel artist
Create your pixel art avatar in Photoshop and make your profile picture unique.
Dive into the nostalgic world of pixel art and unlock your creative potential by crafting your own digital avatar. Learn techniques to merge traditional drawing with digital art, creating vibrant, customizable 8-bit characters reminiscent of classic video games. Begin with developing a character concept using brainstorming methods, sketching your ideas, and then transferring them into Photoshop for pixel-perfect precision. Experience the joy of designing interchangeable traits, from outfits to accessories, allowing endless variations to reflect your unique personality.
Discover the art of shading, color selection, and layering to bring your avatar to life. Explore the compatibility of different traits and experiment with combinations that enhance your character's personality. Create captivating backgrounds that complement your avatar and provide a striking visual impact. By the end of the journey, you'll have a versatile set of digital avatars to use across social media, showcasing your artistic flair and nostalgic touch. Embrace the opportunity to share your creations, receive feedback, and join a community of like-minded enthusiasts eager to explore the limitless possibilities of pixel art.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 23 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (5)
- 135 students
- 14 lessons (1h 48m)
- 23 additional resources (10 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software for this course
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
Students will create a customizable, multi-layered digital avatar in an 8-bit pixel style. They will conceptualize their character, sketch it, digitize it in Photoshop, and develop interchangeable traits, resulting in endless variations perfect for profile pictures.
Who is this online course for?
Aspiring digital artists, retro gaming enthusiasts, and creative minds eager to explore pixel art will find this course ideal. Learn to craft unique avatars with interchangeable traits, perfect for social media, by blending traditional drawing techniques with digital tools.
Requirements and materials
No extensive prior knowledge needed, just basic Adobe Photoshop familiarity. Gather traditional pen/pencil, paper for sketches, a computer with internet, and a mobile phone camera to digitize drawings. Adobe Photoshop's free trial is available for use.
Reviews
Jude Buffum
A course by Jude Buffum
Jude Buffum is a seasoned professional illustrator with over two decades of experience, having collaborated with renowned brands such as BMW, Taco Bell, Sony, and UPS. His expertise lies in the vibrant world of 8-bit pixel art, a style deeply inspired by the classic video games he cherished during his childhood in the 80s. Jude's formal education in Graphic Arts and Design, obtained from Tyler School of Art at Temple University, has been foundational in his journey. He has also enriched the academic realm by teaching Illustration and Design courses at universities like Temple and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Passionate about merging traditional and digital techniques, Jude brings a unique perspective to his creative process. His work, often infused with nostalgia and humor, reflects his lifelong fascination with vintage gaming. Beyond the studio, Jude's interests in travel and mixology add layers to his artistic endeavors, providing a well-rounded approach to his craft. His accolades include awards from prestigious organizations such as American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators, underscoring his impact and dedication to the art world. Jude's work not only celebrates the past but also paves the way for future artistic exploration.
Content
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U1
Meet Your Pixel Guide
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Preparation for Your Pixel Journey
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Introduction to Pixel Art and Trait-Based PFPs
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Introduction to Photoshop - Part 1
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Introduction to Photoshop - Part 2
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Concept Development
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Sketching Your Character
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U3
Welcome to the Pixel Realm
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Converting Your Drawings to Pixels
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Separating the Traits into Layers
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Adding Color, Shading, and Other Details
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Dressing Up Your Character
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Testing Layer Compatibility
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U4
Beyond the Pixel
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Completing Your Final Project
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Bringing Your Art to Market: Exploring Digital Frontiers
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FP
Final project
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Creating Pixel Art Avatars
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
Adobe Photoshop
daad1995
Um curso que tenho a certeza de que vai ser ótimo. Adoro Pixels.
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fabio_34
PlusMe interessei pelo curso por conhecer Jude através de seus incríveis trabalhos na web3 e saber que suas aulas seriam de alto nível. Um ótimo curso tanto para iniciantes quanto para pessoas experientes em pixel art, sem contar a inspiração que dá ao ver seu processo criativo nos impulsionando para criar uma coleção própria de avatares.
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45xsy54xdf
I took to class to improve my pixel art skills, but ended up learning so much more and feel like I've improved in so many more ways than I thought. easy to understand and step by step guides make totally sense, I have some knowledge around photoshop, but I complete newbie to illustrator.
Excited to continue and improve my skills.
bash134
Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to improve your pixel design skills, this course is truly a gem! I already had some familiarity with Photoshop and Illustrator, and I have to say, the way he used it and techniques were excellent. I'm excited to start creating my own avatar collection very soon!
melinadga182
muy buen curso lo recomiendo
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