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Rene van Belzen

Art

  • I thought pixel animation would be easier. Alas, with iPadOS it still is too hard, so it seems, and Aseprite is still the desktop app to emulate. Yes, you can do animation on the iPad, but it takes a lot of time compared to what I’m used to on the desktop 20 years ago, using Moho.
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    animated bouncing ball

  • I used Noppa, Charley, and Latte as inspirations for this pixel art piece.

    It is compatible with the Nintendo Game Boy screen (160 x 144 pixels, 4 shades of green).
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    pixel art with guinea pigs on a spread

  • My reason to share a work-in-progress shot is to set a milestone, so I stay motivated working on the piece. Since I share it publicly, it also keeps me honest. Now I have to finish it.
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    screenshot of pixel art work in progress, showing in pixel art the title Guinea Pig, a spread, a guinea pig, a carrot, a flower and a clover leaf, and two reference photos on the side of guinea pigs

  • 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