Vexel Article - Help, my vexel looks like crap! - by Andrea

We’ve all been there, you are in the middle of the process of making a vexel, but it just won’t turn out the way you want it to! This article will give you, an artist who is kind of new to vexelling (or artists who are not so new to vexelling), some tips on how to get further with your piece.

- Don’t bury yourself because you just can’t get that look that you’ve seen done so many times. Don’t commit suicide, and certainly don’t quit vexelling. It's not the end of the world. What is it that doesn’t work? Isn’t the image just a little too hard? Or do you just have a bad day? If something doesn’t work out, let it go for a while or try the next day. Don’t frustrate yourself, instead treat yourself on a nice chocolate bar.

- So you had several attempts on it, but you still think your vexel looks like crap. Again ask yourself, what doesn’t look right about it? What is it that you haven’t mastered yet? Visit the vexel Tip Guide. It might just give you what you need. Par example, if you have trouble with the face shading, the posterize option can help you out. If you have trouble making your shapes smooth, you could for once not use the posterization option / follow it too closely. Well, you get the idea.

- Visit a lot of tutorials to see which methods other artists use. Some techniques can work better for you than the one you’re using now. Oh, and experiment a lot - don’t stick too much to your regular technique if it doesn’t work.

- Don’t submit a vexel you’re not satisfied with at all. It only gets you more depressed when you receive comments that exactly point out the things that you just couldn’t get right. Also, never post an unfinished vexel! It’s against the rules. ;) Instead of that, post your vexel in the Progression board and ask for some constructive criticism, suggestions, anything. That way other vexellers can have a look at it and give you tips, or show you how they do it.

- ..Oh no, the nose still looks like a potato! The hair still looks like grass, and the mouth still looks like it was stuck on the face! You’ve tried everything, asked for help from other artists, but this image is just pure evil. A wise thing to do now is to move on. Start on a new image, maybe one that you’re sure of you will be able to vexel. It will boost your confidence again. Practice with other images on the parts that went wrong to improve your skills. When you think your skills have improved, you could have another try on it. Or you could just drop it forever. :)