[reaperducer]

pinning it down to a particular developer or graphics artist

Jim Sachs was one of the early masters. The Wikipedia article about him does not do him justice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Sachs

One amazing thing was that even after the Amiga became available, he continued simultaneously making great art on the C-64.

[mrandish]

I met Jim at users groups and trade shows and had to the opportunity to hang out with him several times. Not only an incredible artist but extremely humble and just a very nice human.

[reaperducer]

The July, 1988 issue of Run Magazine has profiles of then-leading-edge computer artists using Commodore gear.