Yes, that's right, a Totem pole project. It's pretty self explanatory really. Anyone can make a segment of said pole and then in the end all of the wonderful segments will be placed on top of each other to create the biggest pixel totem pole ever.

Here are the details:

Download the template here, and please read the "Readme" file included.

You are given a 70 pixel wide, cylindrical wooden base template. It's already shaded for you. Open it up with your favorite graphics program and 'carve' anything you want into the wood. For example, it could be a face, or an animal, or a design, etc. Please look at the example below:



As you can see, I drew and shaded in a mean-looking face. I started with the blank wooden piece and then drew my line art, then begun shading with the darker colors, then added highlights. I think it came out quite nicely. The idea is to not change the width of the totem, because then when they're all added together they wont sync, or look good. The light source is from above, so everything will be symmetrical (if your design is symmetrical of course) And if it isn't, that's fine. It doesn't have to be. Oh and please, try to make it somewhat traditional/practical/logical. Don't make like a totem that goes real skinny or something like that.. Oh and try not to make one that's smiling.. break out of tradition. We have a lot of smiling ones so far.

Notice that there's a palette of 9 colors next to the last example image. Please use these, you don't have to use all of them, and you are not strictly prohibited from using similar shades. But keep in mind that we want the totem to look like it was all carved out of the same material. Please try at best to make your submissions as detailed and nicely shaded as possible. If you're not good at shading, etc, this might not be up your alley.

Now, if you're not a pixel artist, or are not accustomed with pixel art, you are still allowed to submit. I normally don't encourage newcomers to the pixelart field to jump in and make something. But if you feel that you can 'handle' it, I don't see why not. This project is open to everyone. Just remember that we ask you to put a sincere effort into whatever you do and try to use the whole palette given.

Yep, that about covers it. I hope that a lot of talented pixel artists can join in and make this one of the biggest pixel projects at DA.

For updates, more information, and all of the submissions read my journal

Thanks, *ryan-gfx