Mastering Thumbnail Sketching: Top Tips

Drawing is a skill that most people wish they could do but they immediately put themselves in the category of "Oh, I could never do that." I want to take this time and welcome you to my channel: Draw Sessions.

I've been drawing all my life and have had the privilege of working both for AAA game studios and also movies. I have taught foundation drawing at the University of Cincinnati and it's time now to give back. I understand the frustrations of learning art in general but specifically, drawing. My channel is dedicated in helping absolute beginners, intermediate artists, and industry veterans - all wanting to improve their drawing skills. Please like, subscribe, hit the notification bell and comment below if you're finding this channel helpful in your journey of becoming an artist.

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#drawing #art #education #fine art #sketching

[RichardKabushenga]

I've always wanted to fill my own sketchbook with dozens of sketches. After watching this video in conjunction with your sketchbook preview videos, I finally understand the importance of thumbnailing.

[blooddrunkbruce]

I started doing this last night. I felt after my first two thumbnails, my brain was like "Oh this would be cool! Draw this!" Instead of random scribbles, I was instead starting to draw with an intent of something I had imagined. Full anarchy scribble with take some work for me.

[damionbartholomew]

Just hearing you talk about creatures is so pleasing to me, this is exactly the video I needed! Think from here on out I’m just gonna have you on in the background when I draw. I put too much effort into this automatic practice but to just be loose with it like you I’ve never really tried to do. Very eye opening for me 💕🙃

[umbertomaz]

First time learning about thumbnails! I tried it today, and it was a great exercise for loosening my lines. I'm enjoying your videos very much. Thank you!

[knessing]

these are great tips and mental refresher ... I hadn't thumbnailed in a long long time.

[aussiegruber]

I have been trying to get into some drawing and came across this channel and dam I wish I came across it earlier

[TheTiuri]

Loved it! Been using this exercise ever since you first mentioned it in another video. It feels so freeing to let things flow and happen almost just by accident

[ChrisKoe]

Awesome as always!
What impresses me most is how seemingly effortlessly you add the smallest detail and suddenly the whole area makes sense. Like when you mentioned that it needs something to make it look like the fungus was growing out of the skin. And you just add two scribbly lines and it TOTALLY looks like skin with something growing out of it?! I guess it comes with years and years of practice. But as someone who has picked up drawing just recently, this is just mindblowing!

[bfkgod]

I have an iPad and Wacom Cintiq, but I still draw better with a BIC pen, literally the cheapest art tool on the planet lmao.

[yelop_w]

You differentiates the "crazy stuff" and the "cool stuff" which are in the artbooks, but i personally would absolutely LOVE to see random thumbnails, messy hairballs and how yhese abstract shapes would for a complete design in an artbook, i love so much leaving to interpretation

Love your vids, you taught me a lot in a small amount of time ! Thanks you !

[MarcusBeirne]

This was really insightful, seeing your creative process from sketching thumbnails to fleshing out a concept.

[-coolcolin-]

First, I really like your creature design. Can I get a hi? Love your content, keep going!

[ireneyoon]

So cool! First time learning about thumbnails. Thanks for the video

[pcatful]

I like the process so far, especially from sketchy to more or less "outline" then reinforcing edges, adding depth--which helps give more ideas, and don't forget texture. Although this sort of conceptual art is not what I generally do, it's a good exercise for anyone. In my college drawing class, most subjects were from life, but they also assigned imaginary subjects, and subjects from memory or ideas. (They didn't get much into abstract, but they assigned drawing a piece of fresh ginger as something amorphous for which we would not have preconceptions. But it turns out I had just spent years growing and harvesting ginger on a farm in Hawaii before going back o school.)

[heartsaliveart]

Thank you! I'm actually getting excited about doing art again!

[JRMorris]

I have a bag of those stick pens in the studio that I use for layout on wood and anything with a lot of tooth. They hold up great to the absolute abuse I give them.

Good video. I wanted to share some love for the lowly stick pen too though.

[PossumMedic]

These look perfect for the Mothership RPG! 🤘
I folded some paper in half, and stapled it together to make a little monster book!
Thanks for the great vid! :D

[cozmoznova]

Just what i needed at the right time, thanks!

[magiv]

17:41 "Oh boy, what did I just do?"
You reinvented hallucigenia, that's what you did.

[prix_Ilustração]

Usually, I sketch with pencil, but your videos make me wanna sketch with pen, so I'm gonna try. I like drawing animals, so let's try something different