Think back to before computer-based illustration was hyper-real. Remember the 16-color palette? The cartoon outlines? The static viewing angle? Well, they're back. And they're better than ever. Not only will you find practical examples of pixel art all over the place, from online games to magazine illustrations. You've also got consumer products like t-shirts and building blocks aimed at quenching the cultural thirst for this retro style. One of my favorite incarnations of pixel art is Craig Robinson's minipops collection -- tiny little portraits of people like Sonic Youth and the characters from Big Lebowski and hundreds and hundreds more. If you want to explore the world of the pixel art, some decent starting places include eBoy, pixelfreak, Electriconland, and Craig Robinson's Flip Flop Flyin'. If you want to learn how to create your own pixelated masterpiece, then bookmark this tutorial.
