Thumbnail Sketching
A thumbnail sketch is a rapidly drawn image, often from imagination and usually monochromatically, to allow the artist to capture an idea while present in the mind. It is often the phase of creating where rough ideas of composition and pictorial narrative are dealt with.
TOOLS:
1 Pencil or pen
MATERIALS:
1 piece of paper
STUDIO REQUIREMENTS:
n/a
Howard Pyle:
Saul Tepper:
PROCEDURE:
1) First decide the shape and aspect ratio of the image you want to create and it as a box. Remember they are small, usually only an inch or two squared, depending on the aspect ratio of the picture.
2) Rapidly sketch in the rough composition of the image as you see it in your mind. Imagine your picture stripped of all details, through squinted eyes. All you see are big rough shapes and some lines. That's all you need for a thumbnail.
TUTORIAL: James Otto Allen
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Liveabout.com
In Context
In the boxes below you'll find a list of 'Works' and 'Creators' who used this skill.
For classes on basic thumbnail sketching and composition, visit JJ Arts London