And as long as I have a generalized idea of where I want to position things, I feel comfortable enough to move on to the real sketch.īut not every artist is alike. I name the colors I want to use, write adjectives to describe the piece, and make any notes of important details I might forget. All my thumbnail drawings are accompanied by associating words that clarify my vision more than the actual visual interpretation. Personally speaking, I always write more than I draw. Here are several different methods you can try out for yourself: Behind every great piece is a long list of notes, thumbnails, and even small studies to work out each detail.Ĭreating thumbnail drawings is pretty straight to the point. You see, great art doesn't just fall out of the sky. This becomes an important step in your journey as an artist because as your skills improve, you want to prepare your paintings in a way that allows you to avoid any beginner mistakes.Īnd the number one thing beginners fail to do is prepare. Well, by sketching everything out in Photoshop first, you can work out the perfect composition before committing to a painting.
Thumbnail sketch how to#
Traditional artists have always used them to plan out their work, so there's no surprise that thumbnail drawings have crossed over into the digital art realm.ĭo you ever feel as if you have a ton of ideas but you're just not sure how to compose them? Thumbnail drawings are small, preliminary sketches, usually done within an outlined frame as a quick snapshot of your painting idea. In today's quick tip for our Digital Painting 101 series, we'll cover the many benefits of these tiny masterpieces.
They help us to fully realize our paintings by giving us ample room to experiment. I’d love to have you visit my newly re-born artist’s blog, my Etsy store where I’ll be offering some of the demos from my classes, my catalog, where you can find instructional CDs and downloads for artists, or drop by for a visit on Facebook! Check out my YouTube videos for lots more art tutorials.Thumbnails are the sketch before the sketch. Working small IS faster…Īs you saw last time, our friend Steve Penberthy sometimes does a few thumbnail sketches right in the margin of his field sketch…it’s handy and a really nice graphic effect. Try out a few options!Īnd of course sometimes all you have time for is a tiny color sketch … the middle one was from memory at a stop light, the bottom was a fleeting sunset. A quick color sketch or two, capturing different moods or themes, can really help in the long run. What colors do you want to use for your finished work? Sometimes working on the spot tempts us to try to exactly reproduce what we see - and we may overwork it, trying too hard. Helps you decide what you want to focus on for a larger work, too! Well, how long does a thumbnail sketch take? You’ll be surprised at how they can call up the memories of a time and place, with a few well-placed lines.
Thumbnail sketch zip#
You may not have a lot of time as you zip through in a car or train (or in a plane! I’ve often sketched from plane windows…) You may be traveling with others who prefer to shop, golf, surf, fish, rock climb, hang glide, visit galleries – so you may feel rushed and perhaps even frustrated. This kind of small, quick sketch is really useful when you’re traveling, too. Personally, I don’t like to plan TOO much ahead, doing numerous detailed studies it kills the spontaneity for me – so thumbnail sketches are just right. – planning a composition, and working fast. Last time we mentioned choosing a format – horizontal or vertical, etc. Whether you’re working in your journal, planning a more formal painting, or even doing a mural size work, some small, very quick studies can firm up your thinking and save you time. Of course they are useful (and quick, and paper-saving), when you’re planning just what you want to do.
As promised, a wee bit more on using thumbnail sketches!
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