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Rene van Belzen

Art

  • Pixel art version of this reference photo. I simplified the shapes so it was easier to draw on such a small canvas and so few colors (160 x 144 pixels, 4 shades of green). I think it got the message across, though.

    pixel art drawing of a tabby cat lying in front of concrete stairs

  • I used this photo as my reference for both a 160 x 144 and 64 x 64 pixels versions of this portrait. I went for a more anime art style, which made the likeness suffer a bit.
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    pixel art portrait of a laughing young girl, both large and small versions

  • Besides changing my color palette I also bought (unlocked) a new pixel editor I hadn’t heard of before, Pixquare. There are others, but this one and Pixaki seem the most user-friendly. Some apps are just pushing too hard into in-app purchases. The harsh greens are a bit off-putting, though.
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    iPad screenshot of two pixel editors side-by-side, Pixaki and Pixquare

  • Pixel art study, WIP. I hope I got the proportions right this time for a semi-realistic style drawing, nudging towards an anime art style. At least, that’s what I’m going for. I’m taught that studying proportions is key for a successful portrait drawing. Next, I want to simplify it into 64 x 64.
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    screenshot of a pixel art drawing and a reference photo next to it, in which the drawing shows the proportions from the reference photo

  • Portrait study in a more realistic style, based on this photo and in Game Boy format (160 by 144 pixels, 4 shades of green).
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    pixel art portrait of a middleaged man in realistic art style

  • A very rough work-in-progress of a Game Boy compatible pixel art portrait study. I’m struggling to get the proportions right without tracing. As with any realistic portrait, it takes time and patience, measuring, a lot of zooming, and breaks for a fresh look, as well as accepting I’m not perfect.
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    screenshot of work in progress pixel art portrait and a reference photo

  • When I made yet another Simpsons character from a reference, I thought it would be boring and predictable. It turned out quite challenging. I started with the bust pose, enlarged it to full body pose quadrupling the canvas, then shrank it back to Game Boy size (160 x 144 pixels). Not easy at all.
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    Game Boy pixel art, a bearded man in both full body and head shot

  • Taking breaks from something that will take a long time to complete feels certainly wholesome. Of course, now it will take even longer, but my experience is that if I try to use brute force to complete, I will simply cast the project on a pile of things I’ll once complete (probably never).
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    pixel art with merchant houses on a blue background

  • I used this Flickr photo as my reference to draw a Game Boy compatible pixel art portrait in the Simpsons art style. She will travel in space when she grows up.
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    Game Boy pixel art with smiling girl in Simpsons art style

  • I used this reference from Flickr to draw in an art style of The Simpsons animated sitcom. It’s compatible with the Nintendo Game Boy handheld game console (160 by 144 pixels, 4 colors).
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    pixel art drawing of a man in Simpsons art style standing in a backyard

  • I waited until I was exited enough to continue my Amsterdam cityscape (2 days). I suppose this happens when doing projects that aren’t commissioned. Still only 2 whole and 2 half house to go for the layer with the merchant houses. It’s taking a lot longer than I expected.
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    pixel art of merchant townhouses on a blue background

  • Drawing from a reference on Flickr in Game Boy pixel art (160 by 144 pixels, 4 colors), with process animated GIF. Drawn in ibis Paint X, pixeled in Pixaki.
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    Game Boy pixel art of a boy looking up animated GIF of drawing process in ibis Paint X

  • Pixel art for the Game Boy.
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    pixel art of a cat sitting besides a ball of whool

  • This could be cover art for a Viking war game.
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    pixel art of Raging Viking crying Hrafnagud

  • I notice within myself a slight reluctance to continue this project, which reluctance is quite normal, I believe. As long as the desire to see this through is greater than doing much of the same thing day after day, I think I’ll manage the mental resistance to continue.
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    pixel art with merchant townhouses on a blue background

  • Another day, an additional house. Paying attention to details, but especially adjusting what’s in the reference to what’s already drawn, takes a huge amount of time. I went with another color of brick to add variety. It’s all imagined, so I get to pick and choose.
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    pixel art of three merchant townhouses against a blue background

  • You’d think we’d developed something against male pattern baldness by the 24th century
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    pixel art of Star Fleet captain in Simpsons cartooning style

  • Another house added, plus the previous house edited. Creation is mostly revising what you previously made. Anyway, it’s giving me vibes of a Dutch city in summer. Only six whole and two half houses to paint before I get to invent the background.
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    pixel art of two merchant townhouses on a blue background

  • Game Boy Advance pixel art with Game Boy color palette
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    pixel art of a squirrel, a leave and an acorn

  • There are so many details to even a single house with a step gable to copy from an illustration, that it took me almost 2 hours to make it. Next, I’ll try a neck gable, then a clock gable from reference. There are other architecture styles I noticed collecting photos. It’s a slow process overall…
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    pixel art of single merchant townhouse with step gable