22 Midjourney Prompts for Beautiful Pixel Art Illustrations
Pixel art is a digital art form where images are created at the pixel level. It started in the 1970s and 1980s when computer graphics were limited. Artists had to make the most of every pixel, leading to a distinct, blocky style.
Even with today’s high-res graphics, pixel art is still popular. It’s used in indie games, icons, and digital illustrations. Many people love it for its nostalgic feel and the skill it takes to create detailed images with so few pixels.
Today, I’m sharing something cool: how to make beautiful pixel art using Midjourney. I’ve put together 22 prompts that have given me some amazing results.
Midjourney Prompts for Pixel Art
Bedroom Bliss
Prompt: Pixel art of a cozy bedroom interior, warm lighting from a small desk lamp, pixel furniture like a bed, desk, and bookshelf, a cute pet cat resting on the bed –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This prompt creates a snug bedroom scene. The warm lamp light adds a cozy feel, while the pixel furniture gives it that classic retro game look. The cat on the bed is a sweet touch that brings life to the room.
Froggy Friend
Prompt: 8-bit pixel art of a cute frog sitting on a rock in a pond, with a simple background, in the style of video game design. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
Here’s a charming little frog character that could hop right into an old-school game. The simple background lets our amphibian friend stand out. It’s amazing how a few pixels can create such a cute creature!
Snowy Cabin
Prompt: Pixel art of a cozy winter cabin, nestled in a snowy forest, smoke rising from the chimney, snow-covered trees surrounding the cabin, warm light glowing from the windows, with detailed snowflakes gently falling from the sky –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This wintery scene makes me want to curl up with a hot cocoa. The cabin looks so inviting with its glowing windows, and the falling snowflakes add a magical touch. It’s a perfect blend of cozy and cold.
Majestic Castle
Prompt: Low-res pixel art of the majestic castle, with its towering spires and intricate architecture, set against an idyllic backdrop –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
Even with low resolution, this castle manages to look grand. The spires reach for the sky, and you can almost imagine the flags fluttering in the wind. It’s impressive how much detail fits into such a small space.
Flaming Skull
Prompt: Flaming skull and crossbones in orange on a black background, pixel art style –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This fiery skull is perfect for adding some edge to your pixel art collection. The orange flames pop against the black background, creating a striking image that’s both spooky and cool.
Magical Night Forest
Prompt: Pixel art of a magical forest at night, glowing mushrooms, fireflies, and tall pixelated trees with twinkling stars in the sky, a small pixel character walking on a path, soft gradients in the sky, creating a dreamlike atmosphere –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This scene is full of wonder. The glowing mushrooms and fireflies light up the dark forest, creating a magical feel. The tiny character on the path adds a sense of adventure. It’s like stepping into a pixelated fairy tale.
Colorful Night Carnival
Prompt: Pixel art of a colorful carnival at night, with bright lights, a Ferris wheel spinning, pixel characters enjoying rides, detailed tents and booths, and fireworks lighting up the pixel sky, with a soft glow illuminating the entire scene –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
The carnival comes alive in this vibrant pixel scene. You can almost hear the excited chatter and see the lights twinkling. The fireworks add a festive touch, making this a joyful and lively piece.
Starry Night Flight
Prompt: A simple pixel art scene of an airplane flying through the sky, leaving behind a trail against a starry night background. The clouds are depicted in light gray and white colors with minimal detail to emphasize their form. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This scene captures the peace of a night flight. The simple airplane and its trail stand out against the starry sky. The minimal clouds add depth without taking away from the main focus. It’s a calming image that speaks of travel and dreams.
Moonlit Garden Party
Prompt: Pixel art of an elegant outdoor garden at night, with lights and tables, a moon in the sky, cozy and warm colors in a pastel palette –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This garden party scene is elegant and inviting. The soft pastel colors create a gentle, warm atmosphere. It’s a perfect blend of nature and sophistication.
Blooming Flower Garden
Prompt: Pixel art of a beautiful garden with blooming flowers, pixel-perfect butterflies flying around, a small stone pathway leading through the garden, trees swaying gently in the breeze, vibrant colors and detailed shading on each flower petal –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This garden is bursting with life and color. The detailed flower petals show how much care went into each pixel. The butterflies add movement, making the whole scene feel alive. It’s a cheerful, spring-like image that brightens any day.
Cute Cat Portrait
Prompt: A cute gray and white cat face, with blue eyes, in a pixel art style, with a simple design, on a white background. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This adorable cat face is sure to make you smile. The blue eyes pop against the gray and white fur, creating a striking portrait. It’s amazing how a few well-placed pixels can capture a cat’s charm so perfectly.
Cliffside Castle
Prompt: Pixel art of an ancient castle on a cliff, overlooking the ocean, with pixelated waves crashing against the rocks below, flags waving in the wind, intricate details on the castle walls, dramatic sky with detailed pixel clouds –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This scene is full of drama and majesty. The castle stands proud on the cliff, defying the crashing waves below. The waving flags and detailed clouds add movement to the image.
Seaside Pixel Town
Prompt: Pixel art of a cute seaside town, small pixel houses lining the shore, a lighthouse in the distance, gentle waves hitting the beach, seagulls flying in the sky, and detailed pixel clouds floating above –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This charming seaside town is full of little details to discover. From the quaint houses to the distant lighthouse, it captures the essence of coastal living. The seagulls and gentle waves add life to the scene, making you wish you could step right in.
Surfing Bear and Duck
Prompt: Pixel art of brown bear surfing with his yellow duck friend, in the sea. The wave is small and white color, with blue water splashes. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This whimsical scene brings a smile to your face. A bear and duck surfing together? Why not! The small white wave and blue splashes add just the right amount of action. It’s a fun, lighthearted image that shows pixel art can be playful too.
Owl in the Moonlight
Prompt: A cute owl sitting on the branch of an old tree, watching over you under the moonlight. The background is a full blue night sky with a white moon and silhouettes of trees, pixel art style. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This nighttime scene is both cute and a bit mysterious. The owl’s big eyes seem to follow you, while the moonlit sky creates a peaceful backdrop. It’s a simple yet captivating image that captures the magic of a moonlit night.
Winged Heart
Prompt: A pixel art-style heart with wings, in pink and teal colors with a bold outline. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This winged heart is a perfect blend of cute and cool. The pink and teal colors pop, while the bold outline gives it a classic pixel art feel. It’s a simple design that packs a lot of charm into a small space.
Galactic Cabin
Prompt: Pixel art of a cabin in the woods with stars and a purple galaxy sky, conveying cozy vibes and a cute aesthetic –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This scene combines the cozy feel of a woodland cabin with the wonder of a starry galaxy. The purple sky adds a touch of magic to the rustic cabin scene. It’s like the best of both worlds – snug and earthly, yet connected to the vast universe.
Fisherman’s House
Prompt: Pixel art of an old fantasy fisherman’s house with a wooden dock and bridge over a lake, surrounded by lush greenery. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This scene feels like it’s straight out of a fantasy game. The old fisherman’s house has so much character, and the wooden dock and bridge add to the rustic charm. The lush greenery makes it feel alive and vibrant.
Mushroom in a Jar
Prompt: A simple pixel art picture of a mushroom in a glass jar, on graph paper with grid lines and a white background. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This image is clean and simple, yet oddly captivating. The mushroom in the jar feels like a science experiment or a magical ingredient. The graph paper background adds a nice touch, making it feel like a sketch come to life.
Starry Night Mountains
Prompt: Pixel art of a night sky with stars and a moon, with a simple, dark background and a minimalistic forest landscape. In the distance, there are mountains with purple tones. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This minimalist landscape captures the peace of a starry night. The mountains add depth to the scene, while the simple forest silhouette grounds it. It’s a calming image that shows how effective pixel art can be even with a limited palette.
Birds and Bikers
Prompt: 8-bit pixel art of two birds flying in the sky, one blue and white with red tail feathers and another gray bird that is also colored similarly flying side by side over a grassy field with three people on their colorful bikes, all having fun in a game screenshot. –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This scene is full of joy and movement. The birds soaring above and the bikers below create a sense of freedom and fun. The bright colors add to the happy vibe.
Japanese Garden
Prompt: Pixel art of a Japanese garden, with a detailed wooden bridge over a koi pond, vibrant pixelated cherry blossoms in full bloom, soft reflections in the water, and lanterns glowing –ar 3:4 –v 6.1
This scene captures the beauty of a Japanese garden beautifully. The wooden bridge and koi pond are classic elements, while the cherry blossoms add a burst of color. The glowing lanterns give it a magical feel. It’s amazing how much atmosphere can be created with pixels!
These 22 prompts show just how versatile and charming this art style can be. From cozy bedrooms to magical forests, and from cute animals to grand castles, pixel art can bring any scene to life with its unique charm.
What I love about pixel art is how it forces you to focus on the essentials. Every pixel counts, and it’s amazing to see how much detail and emotion can be packed into such a limited space. It’s a great reminder that sometimes, less really is more.
I hope these prompts inspire you to try your hand at pixel art. There’s something special about this art form that keeps drawing people back, even in our age of high-definition graphics.