Well I wouldnt call it cheating, but if u use photoshop its not really pixel art. Its called pixel art cause u draw the pics pixel by pixel.

Im not sure if they do it that way. But i do. The bucket fill tool wouldnt be very usefull in pixel art unless u outline everything with black or somethin which i dont recomend. Doing it pixel by pixel makes it look better, ecspecially with shading.

I dont know of any paint programs for Mac but just search around im sure youll find one.

Your next game is gonna be in pixel art. Great. But a fair warning. It will take along long time to do all the graphics.(unless there isnt alot of graphics)

-Gerdi