Last week we discussed how to Start a Painting with Confidence by doing thumbnail sketches.
Knowing the design of your painting is solid is key to creating successful paintings.
I realize you would rather start painting immediately… I get it, but let’s look at this in a different light. Doing your thumbnail sketches is similar to wanting to lose weight.
You want to drop some pounds so you get a membership at the local gym. After going a couple times it becomes boring so you stop going on a regular basis….sound familiar?
We think thumbnail sketches are boring but if you change your mindset they can be very exciting.
Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty of how to do thumbnail sketches so confidence in your painting design becomes second nature.
When I sketch my first thumbnail I select where the center of interest will be on my canvas or paper and then design my shapes out from this place.
What I am doing is developing shapes that are interesting, interlocking and take the viewer to my selected center of interest.
I call this The Roadmap of Design.
Look at it this way…you are the driver so make sure you take the viewer on a trip that is exciting, interesting that takes them to your center of interest.
One important thing to remember when taking the viewer to your center of interest is to give them “eye candy” when they reach your selected destination.
The term Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear refers to the size of the shapes. Baby Bear is the center of interest therefore the shapes are smaller.
Another key element to remember is the size of your thumbnails…make them small. My thumbnails are about 1 – 2 inches in total size. The reason for this is so you won’t take forever to do a thumbnail and at this point you are only interested in developing your shapes.
I usually do about 10 thumbnails before I select the one that is exciting and grabs my attention.
I find that doing these thumbnails on newsprint gives me the freedom to explore without the fear of wasting good paper.
You will be amazed when you start doing thumbnails on a regular basis as you will feel you have opened Pandora’s Box. Ideas flood your brain and the excitement grows.
After I have selected the thumbnail I want to use I transfer this design to my paper or canvas.
I then put the thumbnail sketch away.
I may refer to it occasionally but it has done its job. It is now time for the painting to have its own voice. I can let go of the thumbnail because I know the foundation of the painting is solid.
I can now paint with confidence.
Next step…COLOR!
Let me know if this helps you with the development of good design.
Please comment below and know your comments help other artists.
