Using thumbnails and drawings to visualise ideas

Posted: 27/09/16 09:01 | 4 Comments

OCA tutors and assessors Christian Lloyd and Beth Dawson look at the work of OCA students who use thumbnail sketches and drawings as a way to figure out composition and communicate specific ideas.

Andrew English, Wendy Healey and Jane Horton – Christian Lloyd and Beth Dawson from Open College of the Arts on Vimeo.
Featured Image: Wendy Healey.

Posted by author: Alice Morris

4 thoughts on “Using thumbnails and drawings to visualise ideas”

claire says:

28th September 2016 at 4:48 pm

I’m glad to hear about loosing the dynamic of a thumbnail when drawing on a bigger format.
I experienced that a lot and I see now that I am not the only one.
Thank you for the tip

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Sara Waterer says:

30th September 2016 at 11:32 am

I recognise that problem around losing the dynamic of the initial quick drawing too – it is the thing I stress about most, being able to scale up an expressive line without killing it. It’s why I often feel that my final assignment pieces lack the vitality of my sketchbook work.
Enjoyed this video and a look at this thumbnail work – very useful and interesting.

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Judith Law says:

3rd October 2016 at 9:54 am

Excellent video – I found it really inspiring!
I realise now how important it is, not only to use thumbnail sketches to stimulate the creative process, but in order to inform the tutors – and ourselves – about the process.
Thank you, I really enjoyed it.

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Dawn Langley says:

3rd October 2016 at 12:01 pm

Very helpful and inspiring – thank you!
As someone who is on the photography pathway the idea of picking up a pencil or pen and physically drawing was quite daunting. I have found thumbnail sketches a really useful way of both developing my ideas and not having to feel too precious about the outcome. It is definitely helping to grow my confidence.
Great to see other examples and approaches.

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