Pads & Panels

Cool People #5 – Donna Pike (Arcade Artist)

Donna Pike loves old-school gaming if her artwork is any indication. She has created various types of pixel art featuring everything from old-school Mario games, to regressed states of modern hits like Resident Evil and Pikmin. But it was her pixelated Half-Life magnets that caught the attention of Pads & Panels. Pike (aka Arcade Artist) rounded off the set – which includes Gordan Freeman (with his trusty crowbar), the G-Man and a headcrab infested lab tech – with a collectible card that suggests what the box art may have looked like if Half-Life had been released on the Nintendo Entertainment System. That awesome set and the entire body of her work have landed her an email interview in edition #5 of “Cool People.”

Name: Donna Pike (aka Arcade Artist/ D-Bug)

Age: 34

Location: Somerset, United Kingdom

Website: www.arcade-art.com / www.arcadeart.etsy.com

Interview by: Bill Jones

When and how did Arcade Art get its start?

I started out with a chunky pixel painting on canvas of old school Mario called “Retro Mario Jump.” That was back in 2005. It took weeks to finish – definitely a labour of love. I thought I’d try selling it on eBay and someone bought it. It all went from there.

What kind of background do you have in art?

I’ve always enjoyed drawing, painting and making things. Being an only child it was great to have something to amuse me by myself for hours on end – I’m sure my parents would agree. After high school, I went to art college, where my studies were broad-based, covering all types of art, then on to university for an animation degree.

You seem to have an affinity for old-school gaming and its pixilated art? What is it that draws you to these characters and art style? Any particular favorite games or characters?

From a young age, I was always fascinated with computer games, which I guess was pretty unusual for a girl in the 1980s. I’m a fan of the classics, from the early days of the arcades, home computers and consoles. DayGlo colours and psychedelic designs were the only way you could stand out, and that led to weird and wonderful things. The technology was primitive. Back then every pixel had to count! Pac-Man is my favorite retro game. I love pick up-and-play games – play it for 3 minutes or 3 hours, it’s always fun. My significant other would have to be Mario Kart on the N64. I couldn’t even make a guess how many hours I’ve spent zooming around Moo Moo Farm.

You have also adapted characters from modern games, such as Pikmin, into 8-bit sprites. Is this a bigger challenge for you? Do you find yourself always imagining modern games in an older style?

Simplifying their character but keeping their essence is the tricky thing. Yes, I do tend to look at any game through my 8-bit glasses now.

Speaking of regressing things, I’ve seen the pixilated magnets you’ve created lately – Resident Evil, Half-Life, etc. They look small, but I assume time consuming. How much work goes into one of these magnets? How are they made?

They’re made from Hama/Perler Beads, tiny little beads placed on a peg board and then ironed to fuse them together. A really fun way of making sprites, but yes they are time consuming. Each bead is placed in position with tweezers, so you have to be patient.

Ahh! That’s why I did an animation degree, the patience factor!

Originally, I’d send them out just wrapped with a little printed gift tag, but now it’s evolved into more of a gamer gift. Each set is mounted on board and has a professionally-made collectable card. Then I wrap it in a clear sleeve, so yeah, quite time-consuming.  I really enjoy making my stuff look professional.

Your work is produced with a variety of media. Can you talk a little bit about your latest projects and the different materials you try to experiment with?

Pixel painting on canvas is the main thing I do, but I like to change it up a little, for instance using gold leaf for a Legend of Zelda Triforce picture, or using texture to replicate underground in a Dig Dug picture. These materials can be challenging to use but I like experimenting.

Do you have a favorite medium?

I’d have to say spray paint on canvas. Cutting out the stencil takes forever, but when it comes to spraying, it only takes a few short seconds.  It is make or break.

Your site says you take commissions? Have you ever been asked to do something totally ridiculous? Are you open to ideas outside of gaming?

No one’s ever suggested anything that’s been totally outrageous. Gamers tend to want to keep it authentic, although usually it’s the bigger the better. Recently, I’ve made some sprites of the characters (I mean “contestants”) in the latest series of Big Brother UK. It’s been a nice diversion, and a nice way to support my faves. Plus, it was quite a thrill getting mentioned on the official Big Brother Twitter feed the other day.

Is art a profession for you, or a hobby?

I actually call it my hobby business. Doing something you love doesn’t feel like a proper job, and it’s more of an obsession rather than profession.

How is business at the site? Is the economic recession making it harder to sell art?

Actually, business has been getting better since the recession hit. That’s quite weird, but I have more commissions than ever. Staying in playing games is a great way to escape from what’s happening in the real world and having something on the wall which reminds you of happy times is definitely a good thing.

What is next for Arcade Art?

I always have loads of projects both in my head and on the go. My cupboards are filled with projects I need to get around to finishing. At the moment, I’m working on three new pixel painting commissions, some much bigger canvases and more graffiti stencil art.

Anything else readers should know?

I’m working on some new “What if Half Life 2 was 8-Bit?” gamer gifts, which should be on my website before Christmas. Cheers!

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