Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you have any resources for beginners you recommend? (I'm not a designer -- just have a certain fondness for dying media, I guess.)
Absolutely! Though pixel art isn’t dying—the niche is small, but not shrinking, and there are artists who make a considerable amount in commissions, typically sprites and backgrounds for games. I suggest you check out Pixeljoint[1]—coincidentally it’s down today for a server upgrade, but the community offers excellent feedback for new artists, and the tutorial section has links to some great resources. Pixelation[2]…
Thank you! Exactly what I had in mind. The attention to detail and tight constraints reminds me a lot of font design / hinting / etc.