Pokémon Perler bead creations are my go-to crafts
Pixel art has long been the style of choice for Pokémon fans, as the chunky, low-resolution look evokes nostalgia of the early days of the series on Game Boy. And while the style is its own art form that some take years to hone, it also makes it easy for everyday fans to make their own related creations using Perler beads.
Perler beads, the plastic cylindrical beads that come in a rainbow of colors, are designed to fit snugly onto boards. Because of the layout and the low-resolution look, they’re the perfect tool to recreate pixel art. As a person who would describe herself as “craft inept,” this is one of the few remotely artistic things I can do.
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For Polygon Summer Camp, I made a quick and easy guide to designing Pokémon Perler bead art and coasters.
The beauty of Pokémon Perler bead creations is you can create any Pokémon by just looking at the pixel art and recreating it dot by dot. (That’s how I made Gengar.) However, if you’re a beginner I suggest using a pattern online. To find one, just Google a Pokémon, then add the term “perler bead.” There are also YouTube videos that show designs and are easy to follow. From there, you can pick a design that looks doable to you based on the beads you have.
An important note before you start: Make sure you pick a pattern that fits on your board. The size of your design will always expand. Something that looks smaller will end up being larger because of the chunky pixel look, so make sure you count the largest length and width to ensure the final design will fit on your board.
If you want to make a
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