Pokémon Pixel Art Tutorials
Step-by-step guides to help you create amazing Pokémon pixel art — from complete beginner to advanced techniques
Quick Start: Easy Pokémon to Begin With
These Pokémon have simple shapes and few colors — perfect for your first pixel art project
Getting Started with Pokémon Pixel Art
Learn the basics of pixel art and create your first Pokémon. We cover grid setup, color selection, and fundamental techniques.
- 1
Choose a simple Pokémon design (we recommend starting with Pikachu or Jigglypuff)
- 2
Set up a 16×16 grid using graph paper, a digital tool, or a perler bead pegboard
- 3
Identify the colors you'll need from the pattern's color palette
- 4
Start filling in pixels from the top-left corner, working row by row
- 5
Step back periodically to check your progress against the reference pattern
- 6
Complete the outline first, then fill in the body colors
- 7
Add details like eyes, mouth, and special features last
Color Theory for Pokémon Pixel Art
Master color selection and shading techniques to make your Pokémon pixel art pop. Learn about limited palettes and dithering.
- 1
Understand the basics: each Pokémon typically uses 3-6 main colors
- 2
Use lighter shades for highlights (areas facing the light source)
- 3
Use darker shades for shadows (areas away from the light source)
- 4
Limit your palette — fewer colors often look better in pixel art
- 5
Learn dithering: alternating two colors to create a gradient effect
- 6
Study official Pokémon sprites for inspiration on color choices
- 7
Practice with monochrome versions first, then add color
Pokémon Perler Bead Patterns from Pixel Art
Convert any Pokémon pixel art pattern into a perler bead project. Includes tips for ironing, color matching, and display.
- 1
Choose a pattern from our gallery — 16×16 grids work perfectly with standard pegboards
- 2
Match pixel art hex colors to perler bead colors (we provide a conversion guide)
- 3
Sort your beads by color before starting to speed up the process
- 4
Place beads on the pegboard following the grid pattern exactly
- 5
Double-check your work before ironing — mistakes are hard to fix after
- 6
Iron with parchment paper on medium heat, using circular motions
- 7
Let cool completely before removing from the pegboard, then iron the other side
Creating Advanced Pokémon Sprites
Take your pixel art to the next level with animation frames, larger grids, and complex shading for legendary and evolved Pokémon.
- 1
Start with a 32×32 or 64×64 grid for more detail
- 2
Block out the basic silhouette before adding any detail
- 3
Use sub-pixel rendering techniques for smoother curves
- 4
Add anti-aliasing manually by placing intermediate color pixels at edges
- 5
Create depth with 3+ levels of shading per color
- 6
Study official sprite sheets for pose and proportion references
- 7
Practice creating idle animation frames (2-4 frames is typical)
Pro Tips for Better Pokémon Pixel Art
Start Small
Begin with 16×16 grids. You can always scale up later once you're comfortable with the basics.
Use References
Keep the original Pokémon sprite open while you work. Our gallery provides clean reference patterns.
Outline First
Always draw the outline before filling in colors. It's much easier to correct proportions at this stage.
Limited Palette
Fewer colors often look better. Stick to 4-8 colors per Pokémon for clean, readable pixel art.
Zoom Out Regularly
Pixel art is viewed at a distance. Zoom out frequently to check how your art reads at actual size.
Practice Daily
Try creating one Pokémon pixel art per day. With 900+ Pokémon, you'll never run out of subjects!
Practice Pokémon by Difficulty Level
Ready to Start Creating?
Browse our gallery for patterns or try the interactive generator.