The October 31-pastels-in-31-Days Challenge is well behind us now. The primary purpose of the Challenge is to get something painted each and every day. And this can be oh so hard!! One thing that helps me make this daily practice happen is having a sketchbook of thumbnails.
Why is this useful?
Because a lot of the hard work has already been done!
Imagine. You get to your studio ready to paint but first, ack!, you need to decide what to paint. If you’re painting from photos, you need to choose a photo. Then you need to select what part of the photo to use. Then you need to simplify…and create a good composition and also determine a strong value pattern. You have to figure out what format to use. So much to do before you actually put pastel to paper!
And that’s where a sketchbook of thumbnails comes in. The work’s already done! Here’s a sheet of thumbnails – all except one was used to paint from last year.
Each day of the Challenge (and this is true of any day I’m in my studio to paint something representational), I just flipped through my sketchbook and chose a thumbnail that jumped out at me. Then it was a matter of grabbing some paper and sketching up the piece. And yes! then it was time to jump into pastels. (The sketching-up-on-paper process could always be done the day before. It doesn’t require creativity so doing it at the end of the day works well. The next morning, you can jump straight into pastels. Whoot whoot!)
If you’re painting from life, eg from a still-life set up, you need to do the same things in preparation to apply pastel. It’s trickier to create a sketchbook of thumbnails already completed though, so this idea works best when using photos.
Many of the thumbnails I worked from in this year’s Challenge were created last year.
Here’s an example. Most of the thumbnails on the page below were used for the 2020 Challenge. There are two that weren’t used. In 2022, I selected one of two unused thumbnails to paint from.
Here’s another example. Thumbnails done and painted from last year, one thumbnail used this year, and one possibility remaining.
So When To Do The Thumbnails?
Whenever you don’t have time to do a full-blown piece!
- When you’re feeling under the weather, maybe a bit sniffly, and don’t feel like getting caught up in dust or materials
- When you don’t have a lot of time to dig in
- When you feel you want to do something but you have only a small amount of energy.
These are all great opportunities to get a thumbnail done!
It’s amazing how good you can feel after doing even one thumbnail. This IS progress! This IS showing up to do the work. And yes, thumbnails do take effort. They are work! This is why it’s such a treat to flip through a sketchbook of thumbnails already done and just pick one!
Here’s another example. This is an assorted example of thumbnails – architecture and gallery goers. I chose the Tuscan town scene to paint. It was a nice change from the figurative work midway through the Challenge.
I like working on a series. I’ve been doing Dog Walkers and Gallery Goers for a couple of years now and they are still going strong. Working on a single theme (eg Gallery Goers) helps me know what to get to work on when I have time to do thumbnails. And since I enjoy painting these subjects, the more thumbnails I have in inventory, the better!
Here’s a page with a number of Gallery Goers. You’ll also see there are two thumbnails at the top (from a kitchen in Costa Rica) that are still available to paint from. (Can’t wait to start that new series!)
I also created new thumbnails over the course of the 2022 Challenge but didn’t use all of them so there’ll be there to work from whenever I’m ready.
You can see an example of that here – the three lower thumbnails are still to be painted – yay!! I get excited when I look at them and imagine the possibilities!
So whenever I’m short of time, or when I just don’t feel like painting, I get out my photos and have fun scrolling through. I pick an image and then get to work on a thumbnail or two in my sketchbook. It’s such a relief to have thumbnails ready to go!
Do you have a sketchbook of thumbnails? Do let me know. And if not then have you been inspired? I’d LOVE to know so be sure to leave a comment!
Until next time,
Gail
PS. You can see all my work from this year’s 31-in-31 Challenge HERE.
PPS. This is a great little notebook to have on hand. It comes with blank pages and a page marker. And it comes in a lot of colours!!
24 thoughts on “A Sketchbook Of Thumbnails”
Gail, you are a genius!
I can’t imagine you ever being low on energy, but we all have issues with time.
Inspired. I usually do thumbnails and preparatory sketches at the start of a project while tons of ideas swim around my head waiting their turn.
I am chronically low on energy so this is a brilliant 💡 idea for me to try. Especially since it will cut down on procrastination. I can see after reading your post that I lose momentum when I have a good day, feeling energised but have to spend that creative energy on planning which can drag out for days to months.
Thanks Gail, you are brilliant. And it was lovely to see into your sketchbook. You cram so much information into those thumbnails.
Melanie your comment sure made me smile!! I love that you think I’m a genius lol! Really, I’m just trying to find the easiest way through. And you’re right, doing thumbnails does help with procrastination. And what a joy it is to have them there when I’m ready to paint! Do let me know here if you try this idea and especially if it works. 😁
Such a wonderful read this morning (4:38), chuck full of really good and practical and examples. The thumbnail drawings inspired me to do the same when I see something I may want to create. Thanks so much for sharing.
Ohhhh very early in the morning read! Glad to bring something useful and inspiring into your day Melanie Beth 😁
Great article Gail, just love your explorative thumbnails for sifting through ideas possibilities for your pastels.
So great to hear that Richard. Thanks!!
I love seeing your thumbnails, your dog walking and gallery goer series. They are inspiring! I especially love the Miro painting. The man’s face turned for the selfie echoing the figure in the upper right of Miro’s painting is wonderful.
Thank you for all of the time you devote to this blog.
Thanks Gill! And thanks for commenting on the man taking a selfie with Miro painting. I’m glad you saw the visual connection 😁 Its so much fun to look for and add the connections between viewer and painting.
Gail, this was so inspiring! Thank you! I can really see how this will be a big help- and fun, too!! I’ve got my thumbnail sketchbook chosen and ready to go and I can’t wait to get started!
~Carol
That’s so awesome to hear Carol!! Let us know how you go. I’m so excited for you!!
Love this idea. And wonder why I hadn’t thought of it. There are so many takeaways. Just doing a sketch will give me satisfaction that I’m working toward a goal. A most appealing thing about pastels for me (other than loving drawing) is that they can be completed so quickly. Inspiring article!
Ohhhh Genie, it warms me to read you comment! And yes!! Doing even a sketch moves us towards our goals and along our art journey. And that feels sooooo good!!
Hi Gail!
Your post was such a treat and best of all, really motivating for me! I think that all of your sketches are tremendous, I found myself staring at each one with such curiosity. My favorites were the dog walkers! You will have to sketch a cat walker, I hear they are out there more and more.
Your energy and creative spark are a real gift to us all, thank you Gail! Very much appreciated.
Thanks so much Kris!! I’m tickled pink!!
And I am on the lookout for cat walkers!
I really like this idea. I too often fall into the “What should I paint” category. I am going to try this out.
Thanks for another great article!
Thanks Keith! Let us know if you do try it!
Hi Gail,
Just a random question. When you’re getting your work ready to ship with glassine, do you use archival tape?
Hi Sherry,
If the tape will touch the pastel/paper, then yes. If I tape glassine to glassine, I’m not so worried. Hope that makes sense!
I found this post as I was reading your post to get ready for the 2023 31in31 challenge. I have tried doing thumbnails. Can you tell me how you do yours? Is it just with pencil? I do see such value in them. Thank you
Hi Christine! So happy you can see the value you in doing thumbnails! When I do them for myself, I usually do them in pencil. When teaching, I have students do them in black and grey markers – that way there’s no fudging the value choices! Is it light? Or middle value? Or dark? That’s it!
Found this post in my mail here in January 24, thanks so much, great idea no matter the medium.
Just on equestion: so you make your thumbnails plus i guess with a few comments in colours?
Does that mean you forget about the photo and “invent” the colours once you paint it?
Hi Susana! I mkae the thumbnails to find the composition and pattern of light and dark. At this stage I don’t make colour notes. When I get tothe next stage – of painting – and I am unsure about colours, I may try a few colour studies. But I’m usually still referring to the original photo as I begin painting. Ayt some point though, I do leave the photo behind.
Gail, this post on your thumbnail sketchbook was just the kick in the pants I needed. So very inspiring, thank you! I am a new follower to your blog and find it chock full of ideas and inspiration. Opening a new post from you in my email is like opening a box of chocolates!
Hi Lisa, I’m delighted you are inspired!! (I love when a kick in the pants lands well!)
And thank you for your lovely comment about the blog!