Thumbnail Sketches- Grab those sketchbooks!

Before beginning any work of art every artist or designer needs to keep in mind every composition begins with an idea. To use the design principles effectively it is necessary that the artist have an idea to express or an objective in mind. This is vital to the success of any art or design work. Without an objective, the most diligent attention to the principles of design will result in uninteresting work. 


Every designer’s goal should be to create a composition that is both unified and interesting to look at. 

Thumbnails are Memory Aids and Planning Tools: 
Thumbnail sketches can serve as a memory aid to help you remember important features of a subject, when making notes for a painting or drawing. They are also useful when visiting a gallery, to help you remember important pieces. Often artists use thumbnail sketches to plan pictures. You can quickly experiment with format and composition, placing just the major features - such as the horizon and any large objects, and indicating movement and balance.

How to Draw a Thumbnail Sketch: 
Imagine your subject or picture stripped of all details, through squinted eyes, or in poor light. All you see are big rough shapes and some lines. That is all you need for a thumbnail. First, sketch a rough box, smaller but in the same proportions as the finished picture might be. Then sketch in the horizon line, hills, or any major verticals or horizontals. The outline any key shapes, and quickly hatches in any strong dark areas. There are no right or wrong ways - that's my approach, and it might work for you.

This is a rough sketch of a Halloween costume I designed. I think I scribbled more notes than I sketched. Sometimes when I am stumped for visual ideas I also write out word lists that are associated with my design idea. 

Thumbnails can be in Color: Thumbnail sketches are a great way to plan color schemes. Use text, colored pencil or watercolor to put in major areas of color in your picture. Small but intense colors can also be noted, as these can attract the eye, but don't get bogged down with detail.