sit down with your journal or notes app, and spill your soul onto the paper. Why are you going to college? What do you want for your future? Why? Who do you want to be? Why? Keep asking, keep digging deeper.
research the steps to your dream job, its okay if you’re not exactly sure, but give yourself something to work towards.
schedule your classes and extracurricular activities to align with your dream future.
For example: i want to become a surgeon. So I’ve made a complete college plan that includes the courses required for my major and for medical school, as well as when i am going to volunteer, shadow, work, scribe, and take the mcat.
Step two: find your vibes.
From your color scheme to your mindset, customize your avatar. Scroll through Pinterest and tumblr for as long as it takes to make a mood board that fully embodies who you want to be.
Consider how you want your room to look, your makeup, your clothes and accessories, but also how you speak and the type of people you want to invite into your life.
Step three: Be the girl who over-organizes and over-prepares
Find the syllabus for each class and put in all your assignments, due dates, breaks/holidays, and professor contact information.
I personally use:
Google Calendar: exam dates, class schedule, personal schedules and events
Notion: big assignment tracker, professor info, entire plan for college, vision board
YPT: recording study time, analyzing your study habits, calendar that syncs with google, to do lists
My notion board:
Decide how and where you are going to take notes and do your practice questions. Computer, paper, or iPad? Which apps? What structure?
Personally, as a premed student, i use an iPad and the app Kilonotes, as i get to hand write with a stylus (helps you remember the information better than typing) but the notes are stored digitally- all in one place.
I wish everyone the best luck for this new school year/ semester ! Hope we all find our people, finds ourselves, and have fun !
Hello, my name is Tofu and I'm a professional pixel artist. I have been supporting myself with freelance pixel art since 2020, when I was let go from my job during the pandemic.
My progress, from 2017 to 2024. IMO the only thing that really matters is time and effort, not some kind of natural talent for art.
This guide will not be comprehensive, as nobody should be expected to read allat. Instead I will lean heavily on my own experience, and share what worked for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. This is a guide, not a tutorial. Cheers!
🔹 Do I need money?
NO!!! Pixel art is one of the most accessible mediums out there.
I still use a mouse because I prefer it to a tablet! You won't be at any disadvantage here if you can't afford the best hardware or software.
Because our canvases are typically very small, you don't need a good PC to run a good brush engine or anything like that.
✨Did you know? One of the most skilled and beloved pixel artists uses MS PAINT! Wow!!
🔹 What software should I use?
Here are some of the most popular programs I see my friends and peers using.
Stars show how much I recommend the software for beginners! ⭐
💰 Paid options:
⭐⭐⭐ Aseprite (for PC) - $19.99
This is what I and many other pixel artists use. You may find when applying to jobs that they require some knowledge of Aseprite. Since it has become so popular, companies like that you can swap raw files between artists.
Aseprite is amazingly customizable, with custom skins, scripts and extensions on Itch.io, both free and paid.
If you have ever used any art software before, it has most of the same features and should feel fairly familiar to use. It features a robust animation suite and a tilemap feature, which have saved me thousands of hours of labour in my work. The software is also being updated all the time, and the developers listen to the users. I really recommend Aseprite!
⭐ Photoshop (for PC) - Monthly $$
A decent option for those who already are used to the PS interface. Requires some setup to get it ready for pixel-perfect art, but there are plenty of tutorials for doing so.
Animation is also much more tedious on PS which you may want to consider before investing time!
⭐⭐ ProMotion NG (for PC) - $19.00
An advanced and powerful software which has many features Aseprite does not, including Colour Cycling and animated tiles.
⭐⭐⭐ Pixquare (for iOS) - $7.99 - $19.99
Probably the best app available for iPad users, in active development, with new features added all the time.
Look! My buddy Jon recommends it highly, and uses it often.
One cool thing about Pixquare is that it takes Aseprite raw files! Many of my friends use it to work on the same project, both in their office and on the go.
⭐ Procreate (for iOS) - $12.99
If you have access to Procreate already, it's a decent option to get used to doing pixel art. It does however require some setup. Artist Pixebo is famously using Procreate, and they have tutorials of their own if you want to learn.
🆓 Free options:
⭐⭐⭐ Libresprite (for PC)
Libresprite is an alternative to Aseprite. It is very, very similar, to the point where documentation for Aseprite will be helpful to Libresprite users.
⭐⭐ Pixilart (for PC and mobile)
A free in-browser app, and also a mobile app! It is tied to the website Pixilart, where artists upload and share their work. A good option for those also looking to get involved in a community.
⭐⭐ Dotpict (for mobile)
Dotpict is similar to Pixilart, with a mobile app tied to a website, but it's a Japanese service. Did you know that in Japanese, pixel art is called 'Dot Art'?
Dotpict can be a great way to connect with a different community of pixel artists! They also have prompts and challenges often.
🔹 So I got my software, now what?
◽Nice! Now it's time for the basics of pixel art.
❗ WAIT ❗ Before this section, I want to add a little disclaimer. All of these rules/guidelines can be broken at will, and some 'no-nos' can look amazing when done intentionally.
The pixel-art fundamentals can be exceedingly helpful to new artists, who may feel lost or overwhelmed by choice. But if you feel they restrict you too harshly, don't force yourself! At the end of the day it's your art, and you shouldn't try to contort yourself into what people think a pixel artist 'should be'. What matters is your own artistic expression. 💕👍
◽Phew! With that out of the way...
🔸"The Rules"
There are few hard 'rules' of pixel art, mostly about scaling and exporting. Some of these things will frequently trip up newbies if they aren't aware, and are easy to overlook.
🔹Scaling method
There are a couple ways of scaling your art. The default in most art programs, and the entire internet, is Bi-linear scaling, which usually works out fine for most purposes. But as pixel artists, we need a different method.
Both are scaled up x10. See the difference?
On the left is scaled using Bilinear, and on the right is using Nearest-Neighbor. We love seeing those pixels stay crisp and clean, so we use nearest-neighbor.
(Most pixel-art programs have nearest-neighbor enabled by default! So this may not apply to you, but it's important to know.)
🔹Mixels
Mixels are when there are different (mixed) pixel sizes in the same image.
Here I have scaled up my art- the left is 200%, and the right is 150%. Yuck!
As we can see, the "pixel" sizes end up different. We generally try to scale our work by multiples of 100 - 200%, 300% etc. rather than 150%. At larger scales however, the minute differences in pixel sizes are hardly noticeable!
Mixels are also sometimes seen when an artist scales up their work, then continues drawing on it with a 1 pixel brush.
Many would say that this is not great looking! This type of pixels can be indicative of a beginner artist. But there are plenty of creative pixel artists out there who mixels intentionally, making something modern and cool.
🔹Saving Your Files
We usually save our still images as .PNGs as they don’t create any JPEG artifacts or loss of quality. It's a little hard to see here, but there are some artifacts, and it looks a little blurry. It also makes the art very hard to work with if we are importing a JPEG.
For animations .GIF is good, but be careful of the 256 colour limit. Try to avoid using too many blending mode layers or gradients when working with animations. If you aren’t careful, your animation could flash afterwards, as the .GIF tries to reduce colours wherever it can. It doesn’t look great!
Here's an old piece from 2021 where I experienced .GIF lossiness, because I used gradients and transparency, resulting in way too many colours.
🔹Pixel Art Fundamentals - Techniques and Jargon
❗❗Confused about Jaggies? Anti-Aliasing? Banding? Dithering? THIS THREAD is for you❗❗
As far as I'm concerned, this is THE tutorial of all time for understanding pixel art. These are techniques created and named by the community of people who actually put the list together, some of the best pixel artists alive currently. Please read it!!
🔸How To Learn
Okay, so you have your software, and you're all ready to start. But maybe you need some more guidance? Try these tutorials and resources! It can be helpful to work along with a tutorial until you build your confidence up.
⭐⭐ Pixel Logic (A Digital Book) - $10
A very comprehensive visual guide book by a very skilled and established artist in the industry. I own a copy myself.
⭐⭐⭐ StudioMiniBoss - free
A collection of visual tutorials, by the artist that worked on Celeste! When starting out, if I got stuck, I would go and scour his tutorials and see how he did it.
⭐ Lospec Tutorials - free
A very large collection of various tutorials from all over the internet. There is a lot to sift through here if you have the time.
⭐⭐⭐ Cyangmou's Tutorials - free (tipping optional)
Cyangmou is one of the most respected and accomplished modern pixel artists, and he has amassed a HUGE collection of free and incredibly well-educated visual tutorials.
He also hosts an educational stream every week on Twitch called 'pixelart for beginners'.
⭐⭐⭐ Youtube Tutorials - free
There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials on YouTube, but it can be tricky to find the good ones.
My personal recommendations are MortMort, Brandon, and AdamCYounis- these guys really know what they're talking about!
🔸Where To Post
Outside of just regular socials, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, Instagram etc, there are a few places that lean more towards pixel art that you might not have heard of.
⭐ Lospec
Lospec is a low-res focused art website. Some pieces get given a 'monthly masterpiece' award. Not incredibly active, but I believe there are more features being added often.
⭐⭐ Pixilart
Pixilart is a very popular pixel art community, with an app tied to it. The community tends to lean on the young side, so this is a low-pressure place to post with an relaxed vibe.
⭐⭐ Pixeljoint
Pixeljoint is one of the big, old-school pixel art websites. You can only upload your art unscaled (1x) because there is a built-in zoom viewer.
It has a bit of a reputation for being elitist (back in the 00s it was), but in my experience it's not like that any more. This is a fine place for a pixel artist to post if they are really interested in learning, and the history.
The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous / impressive pixel art pieces that paved the way for the work we are doing today.
⭐⭐⭐ Cafe Dot
Cafe Dot is my art server so I'm a little biased here. 🍵
It was created during the recent social media turbulence. We wanted a place to post art with no algorithms, and no NFT or AI chuds. We have a heavy no-self-promotion rule, and are more interested in community than skill or exclusivity.
The other thing is that we have some kind of verification system- you must apply to be a Creator before you can post in the Art feed, or use voice. This helps combat the people who just want to self-promo and dip, or cause trouble, as well as weed out AI/NFT people.
Until then, you are still welcome to post in any of the threads or channels. There is a lot to do in Cafe Dot. I host events weekly, so check the threads!
⭐⭐/r/pixelart
The pixel art subreddit is pretty active! I've also heard some of my friends found work through posting here, so it's worth a try if you're looking.
However, it is still Reddit- so if you're sensitive to rude people, or criticism you didn't ask for, you may want to avoid this one. Lol
🔸 Where To Find Work
You need money? I got you! As someone who mostly gets scouted on social media, I can share a few tips with you:
Put your email / portfolio in your bio
Recruiters don't have all that much time to find artists, make it as easy as possible for someone to find your important information!
Clean up your profile
If your profile feed is all full of memes, most people will just tab out rather than sift through. Doesn't apply as much to Tumblr if you have an art tag people can look at.
Post regularly, and repost
Activity beats everything in the social media game. It's like rolling the dice, and the more you post the more chances you have. You have to have no shame, it's all business baby
Outside of just posting regularly and hoping people reach out to you, it can be hard to know where to look. Here are a few places you can sign up to and post around on.
/r/INAT
INAT (I Need A Team) is a subreddit for finding a team to work with. You can post your portfolio here, or browse for people who need artists.
/r/GameDevClassifieds
Same as above, but specifically for game-related projects.
Remote Game Jobs / Work With Indies
Like Indeed but for game jobs. Browse them often, or get email notifications.
VGen
VGen is a website specifically for commissions. You need a code from another verified artist before you can upgrade your account and sell, so ask around on social media or ask your friends.
Once your account is upgraded, you can make a 'menu' of services people can purchase, and they send you an offer which you are able to accept, decline, or counter.
The evil websites of doom: Fiverr and Upwork
I don't recommend them!! They take a big cut of your profit, and the sites are teeming with NFT and AI people hoping to make a quick buck. The site is also extremely oversaturated and competitive, resulting in a race to the bottom (the cheapest, the fastest, doing the most for the least).
Imagine the kind of clients who go to these websites, looking for the cheapest option. But if you're really desperate...
🔸 Community
I do really recommend getting involved in a community. Finding like-minded friends can help you stay motivated to keep drawing. One day, those friends you met when you were just starting out may become your peers in the industry. Making friends is a game changer!
Discord servers
Nowadays, the forums of old are mostly abandoned, and people split off into many different servers. Cafe Dot, Pixel Art Discord (PAD), and if you can stomach scrolling past all the AI slop, you can browse Discord servers here.
Twitch Streams
Twitch has kind of a bad reputation for being home to some of the more edgy gamers online, but the pixel art community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Some of the people I met on Twitch are my friends to this day, and we've even worked together on different projects!
Browse pixel art streams here, or follow some I recommend: NickWoz, JDZombi, CupOhJoe, GrayLure, LumpyTouch, FrankiePixelShow, MortMort, Sodor, NateyCakes, NyuraKim, ShinySeabass, I could go on for ever really... There are a lot of good eggs on Pixel Art Twitch.
🔸 Other Helpful Websites
Palettes
Lospec has a huge collection of user-made palettes, for any artist who has trouble choosing their colours, or just wants to try something fun.
Rejected Palettes is full of palettes that didn't quite make it onto Lospec, ran by people who believe there are no bad colours.
The Spriters Resource
TSR is an incredible website where users can upload spritesheets and tilesets from games. You can browse for your favourite childhood game, and see how they made it! This website has helped me so much in understanding how game assets come together in a scene.
VGMaps
Similar to the above, except there are entire maps laid out how they would be played. This is incredible if you have to do level design, or for mocking up a scene for fun.
Game UI Database
Not pixel-art specific, but UI is a very challenging part of graphics, so this site can be a game-changer for finding good references!
Retronator
A digital newspaper for pixel-art lovers! New game releases, tutorials, and artworks!
Itch.io
A website where people can upload, games, assets, tools... An amazing hub for game devs and game fans alike.
A few of my favourite tools: Tiled, PICO-8, Pixel Composer, Juice FX, Magic Pencil for Aseprite
🔸 The End?
This is just part 1 for now, so please drop me a follow to see any more guides I release in the future. I plan on doing some writeups on how I choose colours, how to practise, and more!
I'm not an expert by any means, but everything I did to get to where I am is outlined in this guide. Pixel art is my passion, my job and my hobby! I want pixel art to be recognized everywhere as an art-form, a medium of its own outside of game-art or computer graphics!
This guide took me a long time, and took a lot of research and experience. Consider following me or supporting me if you are feeling generous.
And good luck to all the fledgling pixel artists, I hope you'll continue and have fun. I hope my guide helped you, and don't hesitate to send me an ask if you have any questions! 💕
i am one of the first people to tell you to go to sleep- I myself prefer to be a 7:30 pm bedtime kinda guy, but sometimes I need more time to study, so here are some tips to have a less painful late night study sesh:
lights on at full brightness- as much as I love watching the sunset through my window and lighting my desk via a dim yellow lamp and candles, the sunset + low yellow light is screaming at your brain that it is bedtime, so keep as many lights on as you can
have a super cold drink- i'm talking 95% ice. I love warm drinks, but when I start getting really tired because it's late, it only makes me sleepier, so ice water/iced tea will be your friend
have a very clear to-do list. when it's late and you want to sleep, your brain gets floaty and you might drift onto topics/things you don't need to be doing, so make sure you have a good list
get rid of any distractions- your goal right now is to get your shit done and go to bed- if you spend half an hour scrolling through tumblr, that's half an hour later you now need to stay up to finish.
NO CAFFINE please do future you a favor; you won't be able to sleep and (at least for me) you can start getting really anxious
Should I study over the summer? A guide for college students
The arrival of summer brings visions of relaxation, adventure, and a break from academic responsibilities. As a college student, you may find yourself questioning whether it's necessary or beneficial to study during the summer months. This guide aims to help you make an informed decision about whether you should study over the summer, considering various factors that might influence your choice.
Assess Your Academic Goals: Start by evaluating your academic goals and aspirations. Consider the following questions:
Do you want to maintain a high GPA or improve your grades?
Are you pursuing a competitive major or planning for graduate school?
Do you have any courses or subjects you struggled with during the previous academic year?
If your answers indicate a strong commitment to academic excellence, dedicating some time to summer study might be beneficial.
2. Reflect on Personal Motivation: Self-motivation plays a crucial role in successful summer studying. Ask yourself:
Am I disciplined enough to stick to a study schedule during the summer?
Will studying over the summer help me stay intellectually engaged?
Do I genuinely enjoy learning and want to explore subjects beyond my regular coursework?
If you possess the necessary motivation and enthusiasm, studying over the summer can be a rewarding experience.
3. Consider the Nature of Your Courses: The type of courses you are taking or planning to take can influence your decision to study over the summer. Here are some scenarios to consider:
Prerequisite courses: If you have prerequisite courses to complete before advancing in your major, summer study might help you stay on track.
Intensive courses: Some universities offer condensed summer courses, allowing you to complete credits more quickly. Consider whether this option aligns with your goals and interests.
Online courses: If you prefer a flexible study schedule and have reliable internet access, taking online courses over the summer can be an advantageous choice.
4. Evaluate Financial Considerations: Summer study opportunities may come with associated costs. Weigh the financial implications by considering the following:
Tuition fees: Determine if the cost of summer courses fits within your budget or if scholarships and financial aid options are available.
Living expenses: If you plan to take courses away from home, factor in the cost of accommodation, transportation, and other living expenses.
5. Explore Internship and Job Opportunities: Summer break also offers opportunities for internships and part-time jobs. Consider the benefits of gaining practical experience and building your professional network. Reflect on how these opportunities align with your long-term goals and weigh them against the benefits of summer study.
Balance with Personal Well-being: Remember the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Consider these factors:
Rest and rejuvenation: Taking time off during the summer can help you recharge, destress, and prevent burnout.
Pursuing personal interests: Use the summer to explore hobbies, travel, and spend quality time with friends and family.
Conclusion: Deciding whether to study over the summer ultimately depends on your individual circumstances, goals, and priorities. Evaluate your academic needs, personal motivation, and financial considerations while keeping a healthy work-life balance in mind. Remember that summer can be a valuable time for personal growth, exploration, and self-care. By making an informed decision, you can optimize your summer break and set yourself up for success in the upcoming academic year.
Hey! I’m looking for a penpal!! If you’re interested please dm me :)
My name is Est and I am 16
I am looking for a pen pal ages 15-19
I’m mostly just interested in making friends with a someone through letters, but if you like literature, music (specifically emo, punk, and riot grrrl), art or learning then we will already have something in common :)
establish a workplace- clean your desk, line up your materials and make sure you’re working in a clean, organized environment
light a candle- have soft, cozy lighting! a sweet-scented autumn candle will definitely help :)
have snacks- a warm drink and some healthy snacks are always good when you’re getting work done
eliminate distractions- put your phone on do not disturb and make sure to put away any other distractions
write a to-do list- having a visual reminder of the work you have to do will ensure that you don’t miss anything. as you get working- cross off the tasks you finished
listen to a non-distracting playlist- this time of year i love listening to vintage autumn music! it just fits the whole vibe and makes homework/studying very fun :)
take breaks- when you really feel burnt out, take a break- walk around, take some time off, then get back to work
stay mindful- if you feel yourself getting distracted, do a quick meditation. remember WHY you’re working hard, WHY you’re studying. this will help you self-motivate
build a routine- once you find a routine that helps YOU study, stay with it. for example, i like to keep the lighting soft, open my windows, close my door and listen to music while i work. i never take breaks, but my approach will obviously be different, because we all learn differently.
I spent this week in New Orleans for a school trip! It was a lot of fun, but very tiring and honestly made my anxiety spike. I've been pretty stressed about the semester ending, but I can't seem to find the motivation to actually do my work.
On another note, I want to start writing more. I've been thinking about doing some music reviews, and maybe an article for my journalism class on local musicians. I also want to do some movie reviews, but I know less about film then I do music. I think writing more in general would be good for me.
Another thing that's been on my mind this week is my driving. I really want to get my license, but can never seem to find the time to practice driving. If I could drive a whole slew of hobbies would open up to me. For one, I want to try grave rubbing. I live near a cemetery with graves dating back to the 1600s, so I think it would be really interesting to read them and research the people buried there. Another hobby I could do if I could drive is go to local shows. I know being under 21 would be an obstacle, but the local music scene is pretty big, so I think I could find ways around it.
I've been listening to a lot of new music recently! I discovered that I really like Bjork, and I discovered the Squirrel Nut Zippers, a really underrated band that I've fallen in love with. I also have been listening to tons of Regina Spektor recently, but that's nothing new. I really want to write something on her music and how I think her having feminine vocals has affected peoples reaction to her lyricism.
So I decided to start recording my week because I figured that would help keep me motivated :)
Anyway, I started the "Full Potential Challenge" yesterday ( I think the original post was deleted but you can find screenshots if you look it up) and it's been going okay-ish. I started yesterday afternoon since I didn't decide to actually do it until then, but none the less I was able to complete all the afternoon things on the challenge and was feeling pretty great about it! However this morning I slept through my alarms and was crunching for time so I couldn't do the morning list which sucked and honestly set a bad tone for the day :( I tried not to let it get me down though because there's always tomorrow! Anyway, this evening has been going good except I was a little behind schedule because I went to dinner with my sister, but I just found out class is cancelled tomorrow so I won't have to go to bed early tonight :DD
But I protect myself, I surround myself with books, their silence does not demand anything, they exist , they are alive , they are for anyone to open, unlike us human being.
–Bo Carpelan, tr. by David McDuff , from "Urwind". Published c. 1993
some of my favourite vídeo essays about art history:
whose migrant mother was this? the story of the native american woman who became the face of the 1930s depression (and got almost nothing for it)
bauhaus design is everywhere, but its roots are political how even a simple choice between what font to use can be a political act
edvard munch: what a cigarette means munch + tobacco = art? (yes we’re still on the topic of art as a political weapon)
art that was never finished how great masters sometimes even didn’t finish stuff. also! the history behind the colour aquamarine
fka twigs on mary magdalene (if you like asmr you’re gonna love this)
having a coke with frank ohara (technically not art history but this video is too good for me not to mention)
video postcard: woman at her toilette a quick dive into my favourite painting of woman impressionist berthe morisot
this documentary about georgia o´keeffe (that ive seen about 10 times)
david hockney on vincent van gogh on love of nature, beauty, attention, and the art of looking (essentially a mary oliver poem in interview format!!!!)
