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In a hurry? I tested dozens of freelance websites to find the best pixel artists in 2024, but most artists I liked came from Fiverr. There’s a freelancer on the platform for every budget.
Pixel art is a subset of digital and physical art that isn’t always highly represented, so I know that finding a talented artist can be challenging. Given that many artists specialize in one or two styles, it’s even trickier to locate the right person for the job.
To save you time and effort, I’ve put together a list of nine of the best pixel artists, each one with their own specialty. Not only are these artists talented and experienced, but using Fiverr, a top-rated freelance platform, you can hire some of them from as little as $5.
As well as my top recommendations, I’ve also broken down how to find the perfect pixel artist using Fiverr. Read on to find out how it’s done.
9 Best Freelance Pixel Artists
I’ve used all kinds of online platforms and services to hire pixel artists over the years. Some of them offer quality designs from experienced professionals, and others focus on offering cheap packages for bulk orders. But the value for money I get from hiring artists through Fiverr is unmatched. Nowadays, all it takes is a simple scan using the platform’s clever search engine, and I can have my design ready in just a few hours. It’s easy, cheap, and incredibly efficient.1. Trasaves – Best for High-Resolution Emotes and Stickers
There are hundreds of pixel art sellers on Fiverr, but most specialize in simple character creation. If you’re looking for full-body designs, Trasaves (or Nastya) can help with high-resolution stickers, emojis, and emoticons. They have a BA in graphic design and an MA in communicative design – and it shows. Because there’s flexibility in terms of image size, this gig is ideal if you’re working with bigger screens – and if you like the cute art style. Nastya works hard, and with you, to make sure the completed design matches your vision.Lucasserapiao is a pixel artist for game characters, background and landscape tilesets, and sprite sheets. He’s also skilled at character creation and adaptation, so can help you to develop your game design ideas. I like his flexibility; he’ll work with the style that you need for a seamless result. One thing to watch out for, though: Lucasserapiao’s gigs are very one-piece focused. If you need an entire collection of pixel art created for a game project, buying them one at a time could get surprisingly pricey. I’d recommend contacting him directly and asking for a package quote.
3. Fridaydesign – Best for Custom Twitch Sub Badges
Fridaydesign can create beautiful sub-badges for your Twitch stream in less than 24 hours. Each PNG design is transparent and comes in three sizes (18px, 36px, and 72px), meeting all of Twitch’s badge requirements. On top of that, they offer unlimited revisions with all their packages. Fridaydesign maintains a score of 4.9 with more than a thousand reviews, which is, let’s be honest, very impressive. I also like how Fridaydesign offers free consultations and will chat and discuss ideas before accepting payment.4. Vcmxss – Unlimited Revisions for Only $5
Kevin designs both static and animated pixel art characters and objects. He’s been designing pixel art for more than 5 years, maintaining a flawless record and a rating of 4.9 on the platform. With his lowest package tier, you can get a simple 32×32 pixel design for just $5. Each of his packages offers unlimited revisions, which allows you to tweak the design until you are 100% satisfied. It’s important to note that his package pricing is for static art. If you’d like an animated design, reach out to him for a quote before making a purchase.5. Itahacortes – Best for Pixel Art Portraits
Itahacortes offers just one specialty gig, although judging from their profile, they could offer other custom services. They specialize in pixel art portraits: a cute gift idea for a partner, friend, or family member. I love that they can capture the essence of each person (and even pets!) so accurately via pixel art. Figures are delivered in high-resolution (1024×1024 px) PNG or JPEG format. One thing that impressed me is that Itahacortes’ Premium tier offers just a one-day turnaround. This is perfect for anyone who tends to forget gift shopping until the last minute.6. Enriqueyan – Best for Custom Minecraft Skins and 3D Art
Enrique has some interesting pixel art gigs to offer, including voxel (3D) art and custom Minecraft skins. If you have children who play Minecraft, you might know that custom skins are a popular commodity. A custom skin for their character would make an unusual but popular gift. The higher tiers of Enrique’s pixel art gigs include handy details like sprite sheets and backgrounds, so it’s worthwhile checking them if you’re after something more complicated. His package pricing is very affordable and his 4.9-star rating makes him an attractive seller for those who need a low-cost, but expert, design option.7. Shakaw – Best for Retro Pixel Art
Most pixel art you’ll come across is small – emojis, avatars, game characters, and the like. However, Shakaw offers something a bit different. They take 80s/90s nostalgia and a retro palette and create large-scale pixel art. Their work is suitable for album covers and posters. These pieces are created in Shakaw’s own style, which ensures a uniqueness that you won’t find anywhere else. Pricing is based on the complexity of your design, so contact him before hiring to share your vision and receive a quote. While his gig timeframes are longer than most, his work makes up for the wait.8. Gandalfhardcore – Custom Pixel Art Characters for Only $10
Gandalfhardcore is a top-rated seller who specializes in pixel art characters. They’ve earned the Fiverr’s Choice badge and have an exceptional number of repeat buyers. They’re an experienced pixel art specialist, and their profile features an impressive portfolio of projects in a distinctive style. With the Basic package, you’ll receive a 32×32 px custom full-body character of your choice. If you’d like something bigger and more detailed, the Standard and Premium packages offer 65 and 128 px designs, respectively. You can also request to have your character animated, but bear in mind that it’ll cost you extra. The seller offers unlimited revisions, so you can expect to receive a design that will hit the mark.9. Anecdotesclub – Best for Retro 2D Pixel Art
Retro-styled pixel art is Anecdotesclub’s specialty. They can put together single static characters or entire animated scenes. I’d recommend this artist primarily for 2D games work. That sort of animation can get quite tricky, so finding someone who already has experience in the field can make life a lot simpler. They encourage custom orders, so if you don’t see a package that matches your needs, just message them with your requirements to receive a quote. Note that unlike many of the artists on Fiverr, Anecdotesclub requires artist credit to be given if you use the work in a game.How To Hire a Pixel Artist on Fiverr
Hiring through Fiverr is super simple and utterly commitment-free while you’re still searching. Here’s a short step-by-step guide:- Head to the Fiverr homepage and type “pixel artist” or “pixel art” into the search bar to bring up all relevant gigs offered by freelancers on the site.
What To Look For in a Freelance Pixel Artist
Before you begin your search, identify what type of freelancer you need. Use Fiverr’s various filters, like budget, seller details, and delivery time, to narrow down your results. Once your results match your base requirements, look for important seller characteristics such as:- Excellent color theory usage. Take a look through each freelancer’s portfolio to assess how well they use colors, highlights, and shadows in their designs.
- A five-star seller communication rating. How well does your seller communicate? Check their communication rating to see how past clients rated their skills out of five.
- Timely and accurate content turnaround. An artist’s ability to meet deadlines and deliver work that meets your requirements is essential. You can check a freelancer’s “Service as Described” rating above their customer reviews to see how past clients rated this skill.
- Experience in your desired style. A freelancer with extensive experience will understand the intricacies of certain genres, like the palette to use. Does your freelancer have a sufficient background in the style you’ve requested? If your vision is set, you’ll want to explore a freelancer’s portfolio to ensure that they have completed similar content in the past.
- Commercial use. If you want to use your new pixel art in a commercial scope – for example, using it on t-shirts or in games – then you need to make sure your seller allows this usage. According to most copyright laws worldwide, the maker of a piece of art still owns it unless they specifically sign over their copyright to the buyer.
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