About Thumbnail Sketches

[@Donna_G]

I make small paintings just for the fun of it. I can fit more into my journal by doing so. I don't work small in preparation for something bigger, though. I like to work small because it forces me to put in only what's necessary and not fret over detail. When I work larger I tend to get caught up in detail. In many cases, too much detail.

[@owingsart]

Hi Donna - Just for the fun of it. That's the way it should be my friend.

[@pallygasm]

I've seen a few artists on youtube who say "If it's worth painting, it's worth planning", and that's how I use thumbnail sketches/paintings. Being able to work out potential issues with composition, subject, etc, before committing to using the more expensive materials. Also, I make thumbnails as a way to warm up before working on other pieces, or when I have very little time to commit to art at the time. Love your little works here !

[@owingsart]

I like that saying about it being worth planning. Great for warm ups as you point out. Thanks for the note.

[@jncchrstn]

Your thumbnails ARE a work of art. I’m starting to take my art seriously and thumbnails are definitely one of those things that I was hesitant to do, not because I didn’t see the value in them, but because I felt I was “wasting time” when I could have been working on the bigger piece instead. But every time I have done a thumbnail now, either I flesh out my idea and end up with a piece I’m happy with, or I get that idea out on paper and realize how I really didn’t like it enough to go through with it.

[@brigitteitg]

Beautiful scenes, especially the last one! I make thumbnails for final pieces to try out a colour scheme. It takes away the fear of spoiling the picture. I also keep a sketchbook and fill pages with thumbnail sized sketches according to a theme, trying out different media and styles. Your video gave me the idea to do rural landscapes for my next theme! The last one was chapels, churches and cathedrals, which I really enjoyed.

[@owingsart]

That's a great approach and thank you for sharing with me. I'd love to see how you use thumbnails.

[@valasafantastic1055]

Greta video. Lovely examples. I find it allows for quicker learning and removing the stress of a ‘finished work’. They can be used even years later going back through older sketchbooks.

[@owingsart]

Absolutely and great point.

[@frenchgrama]

I'm soooo glad you did this video on thumbnails... I've struggled with thumbnails since I took up art (watercolours only) 6 years ago, I 'get' the idea about why you do them and like you, I looove looking at peoples' thumbnails. I knew that thumbnails were the key to me progressing with sketching and eventually creating watercolour paintings. I have an analytical mind and therefore it was extremely difficult for me to have no boundaries and no set 'rules' or method for creating thumbnails - all I knew is that they were supposed to be simple and fun and 'what if...' But I struggled with all the choices I had... and instead of doing many quick 5 minute thumbnails with varied composition of same subject, tonal values and colour studies I'd ALWAYS end up getting bogged down with too much detail in the one thumbnail and it became quite complicated - IF I manage to do a quick thumbnail and am happy with the simplified composition and tonal value I always struggle to translate my thumbnail into a watercolour painting as I've over simplified it or not managed to put enough contrast in my painting. I want to use the thumbnail as a 'map' for how I'll do my watercolour painting BUT if I don't put enough detail in the thumbnail about where I'll put my final darkest darks to really create depth and atmosphere then my paintings are bland and boring... so, what I have to do is make notes next to my thumbnails with arrows depicting where these little details go...basically I makes lots of notes for other things like transitions of mid tone colours and layers etc., which sort of make my thumbnails a failure... but it's the best I've come up with so far, eventually if I do enough thumbnails I'll develop a visual language that I'll be able to read immediately without notes or very few notes... I would love to see a video on how someone does a thumbnail explaining what all their mark making means to them and how they translate that thumbnail into a painting taking cues from their thumbnail... Thanks again, Magdalena

[@owingsart]

Very understandable Magdalena. Your analytical mind and your attention to detail can be your best friend or worst enemies :-). I do think you're on the right path because a thumbnail has to be of some utility to YOU, not for others. I add plenty of notes to my thumbnails where I notice things or want to make changes. There are no rules around this, just do what you need to do to make them useful to you. Eventually, you'll leverage the the lessons from them and it will be more fun for you. Hope this helps.

[@peckerdecker]

Great thumbnails. Thank you for the video and suggestions.

[@AnnieThyme]

This was great, particularly like the winter barn scene, and can really see how they would be helpful for getting a feel for the scene. Always fun seeing some of the things you've been up to Marty. Hope you and yours are all well :)

[@owingsart]

Hi Annie - Thanks for much and always great to hear from you. I really enjoy these little thumbnails and there's no big commitment with them. Hope you are well my friend.

[@watercolourartincapetown2919]

Me looking for ideas for my brand new sketchbook on a rainy Sunday indoors. You posted at the perfect time! Thank you

[@owingsart]

Is this Yolandi Visser? :-)

[@watercolourartincapetown2919]

@@owingsart nope, but that sounds like a South African name 👋 I’m Nabeelah, long time follower ☺️

[@owingsart]

Ha ha, I was only kidding. Yolandi Visser is in a band called Die Antword. :-)

[@watercolourartincapetown2919]

@@owingsart 🙈🙈🙈 😂 I pretty much only listen to classical music 😂 so I didn’t know who that was.

[@sallysims5090]

Very helpful video, Marty. I like thumbnails for the reasons you cover and also for developing visual stories. It's great to see how different artists use them.

[@owingsart]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@IllustrationsByPete]

Great video Marty! I know they help and it's something I need to do a lot more of. I always learn a lot from watching you work. Thanks for the video!

[@shannonwolff2599]

Thanks for another great video Marty. I haven't really done thumbnail sketches before, but recently with being off work now and having a lot more time I have been planning on getting out and doing some work outdoors, I've made up a small palette and box of supplies I can keep in the car for whenever the mood strikes, and these seem a great way to capture the look and feeling you get at the time and place to allow for more detailed work in the studio. Thanks for the great tips as always and can't wait for the weather to cooperate so I can get out there more (In Ontario, Canada so still rather cold out there!!). I think having a supply in the car with a folding chair, a drawing board and some easy portable supplies (I certainly have enough laying around the studio to make up a pretty good "to go" kit) will allow me to stop whenever the mood or scene strikes me and that is a great way to relax and release stress too (used to go in the woods and draw when I was a teenager but as life got in the way I haven't done so in many years now)!! I'm sure others will find this helpful too!! I'll let you know which supplies I find the easiest and most helpful out there, as an art supply hoarder I have some of everything under the sun!!

[@noeauh6121]

Thanks, Mr. O! Your video on Thumbnails is the best Iʻve seen to date..including SMs! It looks like fun and a great way to get rid of the clean page syndrome I have. Stay safe!

[@owingsart]

Glad you enjoyed it! Steve is a master and I learn from him daily so that comparison is really nice, but I don't deserve the praise. "clean page syndrome" hehehehehe

[@noeauh6121]

@@owingsart your art gets better with every post and I enjoy your chats with Mr. M and Mr. Gurney, humble but such talented souls...I joined Steve’s Patreon and never regretted it! Stay safe and there will always be one thumbs up on your posting from me!

[@majkenblixt9306]

I really enjoy your voice! And you are very skilled, really appreciate your spot on advice!

[@owingsart]

Thanks, that's very kind of you to say.

[@elisagiaimo5187]

Thank you for the explanation! Very helpful! 🙋🏽‍♀️🙏🏽

[@maryriley6163]

Those are very nice sketches. Thank you for sharing your talent

[@owingsart]

Thank you Mary.

[@mrchristian8782]

wow, your thumbnails are good and great!

[@owingsart]

Thank you ver much.

[@dianethoroughman9541]

I need to do thumbnails. I am not good at it because I haven't been practicing. Thank you for sharing, I enjoyed watching you work.

[@owingsart]

I'm not good at it either, but I get better with practice. :-)

[@retrochristmaschic]

Great video! I was wondering about the Caran D'Ache Fixpencil you are using? I'm rather new to lead holders and wondered, will Faber Castell lead refills fit into another brand such as the Caran D'Ache Fixpencil? Also, would love to know where you find your 4B lead refills! Thanks so much for the wonderful content! You have a great demeanor.

[@paulalister80]

Great thumbnails, it’s going from the thumbnail to the picture I get a little lost in, could you show us how this works in another video? I throughly enjoyed watching you create.

[@owingsart]

I might have to try that sometime.

[@jenniefrench1338]

Súper! Thank you Marty

[@owingsart]

Thanks Jennie.

[@OldBlindDougArtist]

When I use too paint I would draw a thumb nail to work out contrast and Composition on my playing air paintings

[@owingsart]

Howdy Doug. You can really get a feel for things when you do these little pictures.

[@mekellesmith9322]

😮😮❤❤

[@DS-zj2on]

Love love love!

[@owingsart]

Thank you!

[@petrajimenez7323]

Hello . Doing thumbnails is very helpful. for the artist but sometimes I just want to go right into the painting and I ended regretting it .

[@ptaylor4923]

Great video on thumb nails, but it's the casein that caught my eye. I've been trying to paint with casein and the drying time is driving me crazy. Ideas? I already use both emulsion and water. And I have an acrylic moisture pallette on its way.

[@owingsart]

Hi there - Yes, I use a blow dryer when I'm impatient.

[@ptaylor4923]

@@owingsart For casein?!!!! I can't keep it wet! Dries like in the desert at high noon in summer

[@owingsart]

@@ptaylor4923 Ahhhh, I see your issue. Yes, well I just want it to dry, so that's not an issue for me since I am glazing over them with watercolor or gouache.

[@MadebyDawn23]

Hey Marty, thank you for your video

[@owingsart]

My pleasure!

[@claudiocruzat8777]

well.. those thumbnails are sold as comics, many comic books are a story built based just on detailed thumbnails.

[@Afzaaldrawing]

Good

[@TJPruitt]

Great video, I’d love to see you do a portrait, maybe of yourself or Steve from the World Of Watercolor, or a historic figure, such as Abraham Lincoln.

[@owingsart]

Thanks T.J.

[@StrictlyStarsky]

I need to do more thumbnails 😁

[@tonywells8569]

Something I want to try now. May I ask if you are using a reference out of shot or are these from your imagination. I always need a reference from life or photo.

[@owingsart]

Most are from my head, but some are reference from my phone and elsewhere. When I do thumbnails in the field, where they are most useful, I just sketch what I can see.

[@elsagrace3893]

Man, look at those meaty hands 😯 🍖✊🏼😄. I love you thumbnails. I don’t really make art yet. I practice proportion, form and value. I practice landscape values in thumbnails sometimes.

[@wolfgangproductions7402]

I love this ! Sketching is my passion... I’m trying to publish my children illustration book on Amazon......great video ... thumbnails are cool... I was always told I’d be great at comics. Lmk if you’d like to check them out. Thx for this video you sketch great!

[@owingsart]

For sure. Do you have a link?

[@wolfgangproductions7402]

@@owingsart the only way I can show you my sketches are through Twitter I’m BANDITSTARR on there or my Instagram Lunafromthewestend

[@wolfgangproductions7402]

@@owingsart lmk if you found them and if so what do you think of my sketches ty

[@owingsart]

@@wolfgangproductions7402 Yes, I found you on Instagram and I like the vibrancy and colors in your paintings. They are filled with life and happiness.

[@Tatokala]

Is there a concrete definition of size ? How big can a picture be when it is called thumbnail?

[@owingsart]

I don’t think there are any rules that I know of. I’ve seen some pretty big storyboard style thumbnails. I guess the sky is the limit.

[@HollywoodColt]

What sketchbook are you using?

[@owingsart]

This particular one is a sketchbook I started back in 2006 so it's so old I don't remember and it isn't marked. I think I bought it at Dick Blick or Utrecht. The sketchbooks I use most often are 100% cotton and made by Etchr. I also like using Stillman & Birn and Hahnemule sketchbooks. Hope that helps.

[@edidiongekwereobong1019]

Pls do a video on mood board

[@owingsart]

What is a mood board?

[@joyfulldj]