30 Day Challenge: Lunar Embers



 There's something mesmerizing about a campfire, isn't there? The flickering flames, the dancing shadows, the warmth radiating out into the cool night air... It's a scene that's been recreated countless times in video games, from the pixelated landscapes of my childhood to the hyper-realistic worlds of today. Inspired by that timeless imagery, I decided to create my own little campfire scene in the form of a pixel art GIF.

The Process: Keepin' it Simple

This time around, I decided to keep things simple. I wanted to capture that feeling of sitting around a campfire at night, so I focused on a few key elements: the flickering flames, the warm glow of the firelight, and that sense of stillness and peace.

Colors: Warm and Cozy

For the color palette, I stuck to a limited range of warm oranges, yellows, and browns for the fire and the light it cast. The background is mostly dark blues and greens to create that nighttime atmosphere. I used a few shades of gray for the figure and the tree to add some depth.

Animation: Bringing it to Life

The animation itself was pretty straightforward. I made the flames dance and flicker, casting a warm glow on the surrounding area. The light on the figure's arm and leg, and the tree root at the bottom, subtly shifts with the movement of the fire.

The Result: Campfire Zen

Overall, I'm pretty happy with how this turned out! It's a simple animation, but I think it captures the feeling I was going for. There's something about the warmth of the fire and the gentle movement of the light that just makes me feel relaxed and at peace.

Next Steps: More Pixel Adventures!

I'm definitely going to keep experimenting with pixel art and animation. I'm thinking about adding some more details to this scene, maybe some stars in the sky or some embers floating up from the fire or clouds floating by slowly.


After the 30 Day Challenge is completed I will be going back and touching up/adding lots more to these images and animations I've made, so that should be fun!


Feel free to share your thoughts or ask any questions about the creation process in the comments below. Your feedback and engagement are always appreciated!

If you’re interested in starting your own pixel art journey, check out some of my recommended tools and resources through the links below. Happy creating!

Drawing Tablet
Aseprite (You can also obtain it for free if you compile it yourself)

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