There is a pretty decent article over on GameDev about improving your programmer art.
Great article!
It’s just what I needed to. I’ve been doing some programmer art lately. I haven’t really been trying, but it’s terrible. I think I should put a little bit of time into it just so the artist doesn’t think the characters are supposed to look like squiggly blobs.
That was linked from a guy in Ludum Dare. It’s pretty good although I don’t think I agree with him entirely. I’m not a fan of shrinking your pixel art to get that ugly blur look.
Yeah, the article is pretty good.
About the shriking, i think it depends on style.
If you are going for pixel art, then it’s a pretty terrible solution.
Anyways, the difference between “programmer-” and “real art” seem inarguable. 
- Scarzzurs
Don’t forget to check out the video link. http://jordanmechner.com/old-journals/1985/10/october-20-1985/. Look familiar?