In micro-grid pixel art, everything is abstract. The presence or absence of a single pixel completely alters shape and expression. Unexpectedly, I found this binary art form closer to sculpture than illustration. Adding or subtracting pixels reveals the image like how a sculptor adds or subtracts clay from a maquette.
Inspired by the legendary icon work of Susan Kare, I gave myself a pixel art challenge: communicate an idea or story on the most constrained canvas possible: 16x16 pixels in 1-Bit (i.e. black & white only). The impossibly limited space and the puzzle-like nature of the design exercise was both challenging and therapeutic—utilizing the recognition and closure abilities of the mind.
The Grid
Much of my pixel art is created using a 16x16 pixel grid. A total of 256 pixels may seem like a lot, but the fight for negative space is real. When you add more “ink”, you add weight to your subject but lose definition. You also can't go thinner than a 1px line, and at this size of grid, a 1px line is fat!
Nouns
Conceptual
Portraits
Type