I’ve started our pixel unit in my art class and there are two parts. In the first part, students have to come up with a “lil’ dude” or “lil’ dudette.” This project finds it’s inspiration at pixeljoint, the super collaborative pixel website .

For part two of the project students will each make a creative pixel drawing that is 40×40 pixels which is 10 inches x 10 inches of 4 squares per inch graph paper.When you realize that the origional gameboy was like 240×180, you realize that 40×40 pixels is pretty tiny.

The only other requirements are that it has to have less than 10 colors and has to be appropriate for school display. I’m also making it a contest and the winners will get their drawings made into giant pixel pictures to go on our wall. I’m going to try and integrate some time on the computers to make these into true pixel drawings! Have you done any pixel drawings? Do you have any advice for my students?

Update: if you fill in a square you have to fill in the whole square. No half squares!