Have you tried the GIMP for pixel-art? I do do pixelling and I use that and it is very, very easy. And I use Ubuntu mainly so no MS Paint for me. I only use Windows for games.
~I tried to use Paint a couple times... compared to the GIMP I wanted to puke.
Enchilado
Oddworld montage
Text editor design
Beginnings of Trouser spriteset (not the playerset)
Just some odds and ends I uploaded. I've done plenty more.