About Thumbnail Sketches

Summary

In this art tips video, Marty Owings explores the utility of thumbnail sketches, aiming to demystify their role in the creative process. He discusses their importance in refining compositions, layouts, and even tonal values and color schemes before committing to a finished piece. Marty shares his personal approach, emphasizing that while thumbnail sketches are not finished works, they are instrumental in avoiding mistakes and solidifying ideas. He demonstrates creating quick sketches and suggests using them to evolve into more detailed studies or paintings, appreciating their potential as standalone art forms.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Thumbnail sketches are a preliminary tool used by artists to plan compositions, layouts, tonal values, and colors for their artwork.
• 📏 Marty Owings uses boxes or rectangles to contain his thumbnail sketches, emphasizing the importance of a quick and basic approach.
• ✏️ The use of a soft lead pencil like the TK9400 fabric pastel pencil allows for easy sketching and minimal erasing.
• 💡 Thumbnail sketches are not finished works of art but serve as a part of the creative process leading to a final piece.
• 🚫 Marty clarifies that while thumbnail sketches can be beautiful, they are not the end goal but rather a stepping stone in the artistic process.
• 🖼️ Thumbnail sketches help artists determine whether to proceed with a painting or drawing, and they help eliminate mistakes in future works.
• 🖌️ Historically, master painters used thumbnail sketches as a part of a multi-step process before creating a finished oil painting.
• 🌟 There's a recognition that some thumbnail sketches can be so well-executed that they could be considered finished works of art.
• 🎨 Marty enjoys creating thumbnail sketches for their own sake, appreciating them as a form of art and a way to explore composition and color.
• ❄️ An example is given where Marty turns a simple sketch into a winter scene by adding paint, demonstrating how thumbnails can evolve.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Marty Owings' video?

The main topic of Marty Owings' video is the utility and process of creating thumbnail sketches in art.

Why does Marty Owings suggest using thumbnail sketches?

Marty Owings suggests using thumbnail sketches to help determine whether to proceed with a painting or drawing, to eliminate mistakes in future work, and to ensure correct composition, tonal value, and color.

What materials does Marty Owings typically use for thumbnail sketches?

Marty Owings uses a TK9400 fabric pastel pencil with a 4B lead for thumbnail sketches, and he may also use a number 10 flat brush for adding basic colors.

What is Marty's opinion on the use of erasers in thumbnail sketches?

Marty Owings hopes not to use an eraser for thumbnail sketches because they are meant to be basic, but he keeps one on hand just in case.

How does Marty define a thumbnail sketch?

Marty defines a thumbnail sketch as a preliminary drawing used to plan the composition, layout, and sometimes tonal value and color of a piece of art, but not as a finished work of art.

What historical process does Marty mention in relation to thumbnail sketches?

Marty mentions that in the olden days, a master painter might do a thumbnail sketch, then a watercolor study, an oil study, and finally their finished oil painting.

Can thumbnail sketches be considered finished works of art according to Marty?

While Marty does not consider thumbnail sketches as finished works of art due to their intended use, he acknowledges that some thumbnail sketches can be so beautiful that they could be characterized as finished works.

What is Marty's personal practice with thumbnail sketches?

Marty's personal practice is to use thumbnail sketches as a part of the evolution towards a finished work, not as the complete work itself, but he also enjoys them as a form of art in their own right.

How long does Marty typically spend on a thumbnail sketch?

Marty typically spends a matter of minutes on a thumbnail sketch, aiming for quick composition and layout ideas rather than precision.

What does Marty suggest for viewers who are interested in learning more about thumbnail sketches?

Marty encourages viewers to share how they use thumbnails or why they don't, and to drop a note in the comments section for further discussion.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Thumbnail Sketches

Marty Owings introduces the topic of thumbnail sketches, emphasizing their utility in the artistic process. He plans to discuss their importance in evolving better drawings and paintings. Marty shows some of the materials he might use, including a TK9400 fabric pastel pencil, and explains his approach to thumbnail sketches, which involves quick, rough sketches usually done without erasing. He clarifies that while thumbnail sketches can be works of art, he views them as part of the creative process leading to a finished piece, rather than the finished work itself. He uses them to determine if a painting or drawing is worth pursuing and to plan composition, layout, tonal value, and color.

05:02

🖌️ Expanding on Thumbnail Sketch Techniques

Marty continues by discussing how thumbnail sketches can be a valuable step in the artistic process, especially for those looking to refine their work. He mentions historical practices where artists would create a series of studies before a final painting. Marty then demonstrates how he might take a thumbnail sketch further by adding color, using it as a study for composition, layout, and color scheme. He transforms a simple sketch into a snowy scene, showing the potential of thumbnails to evolve. He concludes by inviting viewers to share their experiences with thumbnails and thanking a viewer for the suggestion to create this video. Marty wraps up by encouraging viewers to subscribe and engage with the content.

Keywords

💡Thumbnail Sketches

Thumbnail sketches are small, rough drawings used by artists to plan the composition and layout of a larger artwork. In the script, Marty Owings discusses the utility of these sketches, highlighting how they can help artists visualize the arrangement of elements in a painting or drawing before committing to a final piece. He also mentions that thumbnail sketches can include considerations of tonal value and color, demonstrating their versatility in the creative process.

💡Composition

Composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements in a piece of art. In the context of the video, Marty emphasizes the importance of thumbnail sketches in determining the composition of a painting or drawing. He suggests that by quickly sketching out ideas, artists can experiment with different arrangements of elements and choose the most effective layout before investing time in a detailed work.

💡Illustration

Illustration is a type of artwork that is often used to complement text or tell a story. Marty mentions that thumbnail sketches are frequently used in illustration, as well as in advertising and fine art. This keyword is significant as it places the discussion of thumbnail sketches within a broader context of artistic disciplines, indicating their widespread utility.

💡Evolution

Evolution, in the context of the video, refers to the development of an artwork from initial concept to finished piece. Marty talks about how thumbnail sketches are part of this evolutionary process, helping artists refine their ideas and avoid mistakes in the final work. This term is crucial as it positions thumbnail sketches as a valuable step in the artistic journey.

💡Fine Art

Fine art is a type of creative art, typically characterized by an emphasis on aesthetics and the creative expression of the artist. Marty discusses the use of thumbnail sketches in fine art, suggesting that they are a traditional part of the process for many artists, including master painters. This keyword helps to establish the historical and cultural significance of the technique being discussed.

💡Tonal Value

Tonal value in art refers to the lightness or darkness of a color or shade, which can contribute to the mood and depth of a piece. Marty mentions that thumbnail sketches can be used to experiment with tonal values, allowing artists to plan how different shades will interact in their final work. This concept is important for understanding the depth and complexity that thumbnail sketches can bring to the planning stage of art creation.

💡Color

Color is a fundamental element of visual art, used to create contrast, evoke emotions, and add vibrancy to a piece. In the script, Marty talks about incorporating color into thumbnail sketches, which can help artists decide on a color palette and visualize how colors will work together in the final artwork.

💡Process

Process in art refers to the steps an artist takes to create a piece, from initial idea to completion. Marty Owings is focused on the process of using thumbnail sketches as a tool to enhance the development of drawings and paintings. He shares his personal process of creating thumbnail sketches, emphasizing their role in refining ideas and preventing mistakes in the final artwork.

💡Reference

Reference in art is a source of visual information that artists use to guide their work. Marty mentions that while he primarily creates thumbnail sketches from his imagination, he might use a little bit of reference from the internet. This keyword highlights the balance between原创性和借鉴外部资源 in the artistic process.

💡Sketchbooks

Sketchbooks are books used by artists to record their ideas, experiments, and preliminary drawings. Marty expresses his fascination with looking at thumbnail sketches in sketchbooks, as they reveal an artist's thought process and approach to their work. This term is significant as it underscores the personal and developmental aspect of art-making.

💡Precision

Precision in art refers to the accuracy and detail of an artist's work. Marty contrasts the rough nature of thumbnail sketches with the precision that might be sought in a finished piece. He clarifies that thumbnail sketches are not about precision but about quickly capturing ideas and planning the overall structure of an artwork.

Highlights

Introduction to the utility of thumbnail sketches and their importance in the artistic process.

Thumbnail sketches help demystify the early stages of creating art.

The artist's personal process of using thumbnail sketches is discussed.

Thumbnail sketches are a tool for composition and layout planning.

Exploring tonal value and color within thumbnail sketches.

Thumbnail sketches are not finished works but part of the creative evolution.

The historical use of thumbnail sketches in fine art and other fields.

How thumbnail sketches assist in determining the direction of a painting or drawing.

Eliminating mistakes in future work through thumbnail sketching.

The optional nature of thumbnail sketches for artists.

The transformative journey from a thumbnail sketch to a finished oil painting.

Appreciation for thumbnail sketches as art forms in themselves.

The practicality of thumbnail sketches for quick composition and color decisions.

The artist's enjoyment in creating thumbnail sketches for their own sake.

The potential of thumbnail sketches to evolve into more detailed studies.

The artist's practice of using thumbnails as a stepping stone to finished works.

Invitation for viewers to share their experiences and opinions on thumbnail sketches.

Transcripts

hi there i'm marty owings and welcome to

this week's art tips

today i want to take a look at thumbnail

sketches i want to talk a little bit

about the utility of thumbnail sketches

maybe unlock some of the secrets and

demystify

thumbnail sketches a little bit for you

and just talk about how i use them in my

process

and what i look for and why they're

important

in the evolution of better

drawings and paintings this is some of

the gear i'll use today i may may not

use all of it but i've got it on hand

anyway

this is a quick look at some of the

thumbnail sketches i'll do today now i'm

going to

just sketch out six quick boxes i like

boxes rectangles anything like that

that can contain my thumbnail i dropped

an eraser there

i hope not to use it because thumbnail

sketches really are

just basic but i keep an eraser on hand

just in case

i'm going to sharpen up this tk9400

fabric pastel pencil

with a i think it's got like a 4b

lead in it so it's pretty soft and i'm

going to take most of

what i do for these thumbnail sketches

today right out of my head

i may use a little bit of reference from

the

internet but i'm just really trying to

pull this stuff

out of my head and get it on paper what

is a thumbnail sketch and why are they

why do they exist well i don't know the

whole entire history

of thumbnail sketches but i know they're

used a lot in illustration

um and in advertising and in different

forms of art

and in the regular process of fine art

just to get

a better idea of your

composition the layout

you could even go into tonal value and

color in a thumbnail sketch

you can do a lot with a thumbnail sketch

but what a thumbnail sketch

isn't and this is just my opinion it

really isn't a finished work

now a thumbnail sketch can be a work of

art that's for sure

and i certainly enjoy looking at

people's thumbnail sketches

and and when i see them in sketchbooks

i'm always fascinated by it

but i'm more around the process than

anything else and so

thumbnail sketches to me aren't finished

work they're

a part of the evolution in a finished

work

and i'll tell you why i use thumbnail

sketches basically thumbnail sketches

help me determine whether or not i want

to actually do

a certain painting or drawing and they

help me eliminate

mistakes in that future work that i

might do

because i took the time to lay the work

out in a thumbnail

now certainly not everyone needs to do

thumbnail drawings obviously they're not

for everybody but

for somebody who kind of wants to

advance their work a little bit and see

through some of their mistakes

and make sure that their composition is

correct and even get down to tonal value

and color

this can be a really good step i guess

in the olden days of your

a a pen a painter a master painter might

do a thumbnail sketch then a watercolor

study

then an oil study and then do their

finished oil painting

but really i think thumbnail sketches

as an art form in themselves is is just

great i have no argument with that

i don't call it a finished work

obviously but

there sometimes people do thumbnail

sketches that are so beautiful

that they certainly could be

characterized as finished work i try not

to make

uh that judgment even though i said

earlier that thumbnails

really aren't finished works of art just

because of that's how that's not how

they're used

but can they end up that way certainly i

don't dispute that

and i even enjoy it myself so here you

can see a number of these thumbnail

sketches

i've just enjoyed doing this but i get

an idea of of where i want to put things

in another painting

and this particular uh thumbnail sketch

the last one

has really what i think is kind of a

nice composition

with that nice cool interesting tree off

to the right and the farmhouse in the

background

and so this one i might want to take a

step further add a little paint to

get an idea of color and maybe take this

thumbnail sketch to the next level at

some point

but the whole idea is to get through

this sketch in a maybe a matter of

minutes really rather than

you know a half hour or something we're

talking about minutes

so here i'm going to take some of the

paint and i'm just going to block in

some basic colors this is a number 10

flat

on a really small thumbnail sketch so

i'm not looking for precision here

or anything like that just blocking and

there's a little yellow sky

and even when i did that i thought to

myself i want to make this a winter

scene

so i took some white casing paint

and and kind of you know brightened up

that snow

in the foreground there and then i'll

add this shadow and blue

for the tree but it's kind of turned

into a nice little

snowy scene and i kind of like that i

think that's

if i was going to take this painting to

the next level or this thumbnail

and do another work another uh study

with it and then maybe a finished work

this gives me an idea of layout and

color and composition

and all that stuff so you can go a long

way in a thumbnail

and again this is my opinion this is my

practice

other people's opinions or practice with

thumbnails may differ

but i've been having a lot of fun with

thumbnails lately just in

by themselves not as a finished work not

as the complete work

but maybe as a work of art in in and of

itself you know something to look at

um it's fun i like looking at people's

sketchbooks

and seeing thumbnail sketches in because

i get an idea of what their process was

and here i'm just going to hand freehand

some squares around here

just to add a little bit of definition

and then we'll wrap this up

and that's that's thumbnails in a

nutshell thumbnail nutshell yeah that's

that's about it

and um you know i i'd love to hear how

you use thumbnails if you do

uh and and if you don't why don't you

uh drop me a note down in the comments

section i'd

i'd love to hear and thanks to a viewer

who suggested

i do a video on thumbnails i really

appreciate it and

and so here it is by request and uh

i hope we've unlocked a little bit of

the secrets of thumbnails here

don't forget to subscribe hit the like

button it feels good to hit the thumbs

up thanks for watching this has been

marty for owingsart.com