Jude Buffum

18 Feb

👾 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 👾 After 20 years of making pixel art for clients like Disney, Hasbro, BMW, and dozens of other clients, I've published the definitive guide for Art Directors to using pixel art in commercial applications. And it's way more versatile than you could have ever imagined.

24 Aug

New pixel art work for Epic Games and Fortnite! #pixelart I'm excited to share “16-Bit Showdown,” a pixel art loading screen I created for Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4: Override, featuring new character Mali battling Hush in the style of a classic 16-bit fighting game. #pixelartist

24 Aug

The finished illustration is a featured loading screen released as a Level 35 reward in the seasonal Battle Pass. Mali draws inspiration from my go-to Street Fighter choice, Chun-Li, so I guess all of those quarters I pumped into the arcade as a kid finally paid off! #Fortnite #EpicGames #PixelArt

17 July

If you’re at @iconconference.bsky.social come say hi and I’ll give you some free #pixelart stickers! #icon13 #theillustrationconference #pixelartist #thepixelartist

13 July

Happy birthday to Harrison Ford, born on this day in 1942 🎂 Here's a pixel art portrait of him as the one and only Indiana Jones. Fortune and glory, kid. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #indianajones #harrisonford

Jude Buffum reposted

Lospec

@lospec.com

8 June

Are you brave enough for a new palette? Mariana Trench by Jude Buffum #marianatrench #palette Download: https://lospec.com/palette-list/mariana-trench

28 May

Earlier this month, the branded game (also known as an "advergame") that I created for Psycho Bunny debuted at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix. "PB Rush: Racing Challenge" is a fast-paced racing game created by Jude Buffum with original chiptune music by Doctor Octoroc. #pixelart #brandedgame

28 May

The game was part of a larger activation that included a DJ, a mini apparel shop, and cool photo opportunities, but the arcade machines anchored the space and kept attendees engaged and coming back for “one more race” to get the fastest time. Read more: www.the-pixel-artist.com/projects/psy...

28 May

You can play the game here: judebuffum.itch.io/pbrush If you're on iPad or mobile we also built a touchscreen version of the game that you can play here: luxury-cheesecake-95a0ef.netlify.app

21 Apr

These pixel art cat portraits I created for my friend Sam have been selected by this year's distinguished American Illustration jury to appear in the prestigious annual. It's always an honor to be included, thanks @amillus.bsky.social judges! #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #petportrait #catportrait

15 Apr

Pixel artists! I built a free browser-based tool that extracts color palettes from any image as hex codes. 🎨 Copy hex codes ⬇️ Download a swatch 👩‍🎨 Give it a try and let me know what you think! #pixelart #pixelartist #colorpalette #gamedev #colortheory www.the-pixel-artist.com/tools/free-p...

8 Apr

Pixel art portrait of alum Alex Seropian, co-founder of Bungie (the studio behind Halo), for the University of Chicago Magazine. Rendered in double-wide pixels for that retro video game feel. @uchicago @uchicagomag #pixelart #pixelartist #portraitillustration #editorialillustration #pixelportrait

3 Apr

To celebrate Pac-Man Day, I'm making myself 4 specialty “shots”, each based on one of the four original ghosts: Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. Can you guess what’s in each one?#pixelart #PacManDay #8bitart #Pixology #PacMan

3 Apr

Happy Pac-Man Day! This pixel art was originally created for the Miami New Times "Best of the City" issue. This was for "Finest Foods" section and it felt only appropriate to use the ghost-gobbling Pac-Man. #pixelart #8bitart #PacManDay #conceptualillustration #editorialillustration

the-pixel-artist.comFree Pixel Art Color Palette Extractor by Jude Buffum — The Pixel ArtistA free browser-based tool for pixel artists. Drop any image to extract its color palette as hex codes, sorted dark to light. Copy codes or download as an 8px PNG swatch. Nothing leaves your browser.

2 Apr

Made a fun little tool for extracting color palettes from any image (works best with .GIF and .PNG files though!) Give it a try and let me know if you have any requests! www.the-pixel-artist.com/tools/free-p... #pixelart #pixelartist #pixelartapp

30 Mar

Here’s a pixel art portrait to commemorate the anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s birthday. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #portraitart #pixelartportrait

30 Mar

This is a pixel art illustration of the Gill-man doing Boat Pose, from my Mindful Monsters series. I've found that by sitting and meditating every day, and doing yoga every Monday, I've learned to make peace with my mind. #mindfulmonday #monstermonday #pixelart

29 Mar

Happy birthday to Ernest Cline, best-selling author known for the geektastic "Ready Player One", which was made into a blockbuster Steven Spielberg film. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #ErnestCline #ReadyPlayerOne

29 Mar

I've done a few projects for and about Ernie, including a pixel art portrait for Mother Jones magazine and his family's Holiday Cards in 2017 and 2020! #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #ErnestCline #ReadyPlayerOne

23 Mar

This is a pixel art illustration of Mothman doing Butterfly Pose, from my Mindful Monsters series. I've found that by sitting and meditating every day, and doing yoga every Monday, I've learned to make peace with my mind. #mindfulmonday #monstermonday #pixelart

22 Mar

To celebrate the 2 year anniversary of the release of "Princess Peach: Showtime!", the first , I'm making myself a Peach Princess cocktail! Comment "recipe" for the specs! #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #Pixology #cocktailart

13 Mar

Pixel Art as Metaphor: Graduation as Leveling Up “Level up” has become such a widely understood phrase that it translates easily across industries, as seen in this graduation-themed gift card for Target. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #packagingdesign #retaildesign

12 Mar

Pixel Art as Metaphor: Daily Obstacles as Platformer Enemies This ad campaign for Brooks uses the structure of a classic vertical platformer to turn daily responsibilities into obstacles standing between the runner and their goals. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #advertisingart #sportsmarketing

Happy MAR10 Day 🍄 The original Mushroom Kingdom, reimagined inside a pixel art terrarium, complete with piranha plant, fire flower, and a Super Mario mushroom. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #MAR10Day #conceptualillustration

Happy MAR10 Day 🍣 Cheep Cheep and Blooper, reimagined as Mario's favorite sushi. Pixel art diagrams of two of the Mushroom Kingdom's most delicious aquatic residents. #pixelart #pixelartist #MarioDay #infographic #conceptualillustration

Happy MAR10 Day 🍄 Wish you were here! Greetings from Subcon, a pixel art postcard from the dream world of Super Mario Bros 2, where dreams do come true... #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #typographytuesday #MAR10Day

Happy MAR10 Day! 🍄 Super Amaro Bros, a pixel art cocktail very popular in the Mushroom Kingdom. An 8-bit illustration from my Pixology collection. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #cocktailart #conceptualillustration Comment "recipe" if you want me to send you the specs!

9 Mar

Do you ever feel like your mind is a little "monster" that you just can't tame? 🪷 This is a pixel art illustration of a Minotaur doing Side Plank Pose, from my Mindful Monsters series.

9 Mar

I've found that by sitting and meditating every day, and doing yoga every Monday, I've learned to make peace with the mind. And as an illustrator who does 8-bit art, I find something very meditative about placing each pixel one at a time. #mindfulmonday #monstermonday #pixelart

Closing out our Women's Day series 🌺 Josephine Wolff, cybersecurity policy expert, Tufts professor, and author exploring why data breaches keep happening. #pixelart #pixelartist #portraitillustration #IWD2026 #pixelportrait

Next up in our Women's Day series 🌺 Audrey Tang, Taiwan's digital minister and civic tech visionary. A trailblazing voice for open, transparent governance. #pixelart #pixelartist #portraitillustration #IWD2026 #pixelportrait

Continuing our Women's Day series 🌺 Adrienne O'Keeffe, SVP of Global Partnerships and Media at the NBA, who created NBA Top Shot and pioneered digital collectibles in professional sports. #pixelart #pixelartist #portraitillustration #IWD2026 #pixelportrait

Happy International Women's Day! 🌺 Kicking things off with Kamala Harris: attorney, senator, and the first woman, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President of the United States. #pixelart #pixelartist #portraitillustration #IWD2026 #pixelportrait

6 Mar

The Dude abides 🎳 On this day in 1998, The Big Lebowski hit theaters. These pixel art portraits of The Dude, Walter, and Jesus Quintana really tie the room together. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #thebiglebowski #conceptualillustration

4 Mar

Pixel Art as Metaphor: Fighting Battles This editorial illustration for About Health reimagines interventional radiology as a side-scrolling action game, with a miniature doctor running through the human body. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #editorialillustration #medicalillustration

4 Mar

3 Mar

In my recently published article, “Pixel Art Illustration: An Art Director's Guide to Branding, Editorial, and Advertising”, I break down the five primary ways to harness the power of 8-bit style illustration. One of the most innovative is Conceptual Metaphors.

3 Mar

Since video games introduced visual concepts that didn't exist before, pixel art illustration can translate those conventions into clever metaphors. Life choices become branching narratives. Daily obstacles become boss battles. And important milestones translate to leveling up.

3 Mar

Over the next month I’ll be highlighting some of these projects, including work for Target, Brooks Running, and the City of Edmonton. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #conceptualillustration #artdirection

Do you ever feel like your mind is a little "monster" that you just can't tame? 🪷 This is a pixel art illustration of a Scarecrow doing Crow Pose, from my Mindful Monsters series.

Pixel Art for Interactive Experiences: Branded Video Games This game for Adult Swim walks a middle ground between full-scale commercial game and simple interactive promotion. Rather than monetize an established franchise, the goal was introduce a new property through a playable experience.

Pixel art made it possible to quickly translate Hot Streets characters and world-building into a recognizable game format. The classic arcade structure allowed audiences to engage with the IP as players, not just viewers, without requiring the budget of a major console release.

Pixel art is the perfect illustration style for branded video games like this. The aesthetic also allows contemporary brands to be reframed through an unexpected 8-bit lens, instantly signaling play, nostalgia, and approachability. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #gameart #adultswim #brandedgame

26 Feb

Pixel Art for Interactive Experiences: Branded Video Games Coach’s holiday campaign represents a middle ground between full-scale commercial games and simple interactive promotions.

26 Feb

The side-scrolling snowboarding game placed the brand’s mascot at the center of the action, while products appeared as collectible objects. Pixel art makes a luxury brand feel playful and accessible without undermining its core identity, offering a festive interaction beyond static advertising.

26 Feb

Pixel art is the perfect illustration style for branded video games and the aesthetic also allows contemporary brands to be reframed through an unexpected 8-bit lens, instantly signaling play, nostalgia, and approachability. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #brandedgame #luxurybranding #gamedesign

25 Feb

Pixel Art for Interactive Experiences: Simulating Gameplay For WWE’s “Flip a Truck with Braun Strowman,” the objective was to simulate the feeling of playing a video game. The IG Story format invited users to tap rapidly, mimicking the button-mashing mechanics common in fighting games.

25 Feb

Pixel art reinforced the illusion by presenting the action as a series of exaggerated, retro-style frames. By borrowing the visual language of arcade combat, the audience was not playing a game, but still participating in the experience. #pixelart #pixelartist #8bitart #wwe #socialmedia

Jude Buffum reposted