How to Draw Concept Art Thumbnails Fast and Simply
Taking a creative break today, I sketched some Concept art thumbnails inspired by Scott Robertson artworks, you can find in his book: “How to Draw”.
Thumbnails are an incredible way to generate ideas quickly, especially at the start of any design project.
They allow you to explore multiple concepts without getting stuck in details.
Skip the Details to Capture the Essentials
The secret to successful thumbnails is to skip the small details and focus on the essential shapes. Don’t worry about precision or realism—just draw fluid lines that capture the main forms.
The goal is to create dynamic and loose sketches that express a mood or idea.
Draw with Fluid Lines for Dynamic Sketches
When you focus on simple shapes and energetic lines, your thumbnails become expressive and lively.
Remember, thumbnails are meant to convey feeling and concept, not realistic detail.
Only selected sketches get detailed later—this saves time and keeps the creative flow going.
Save Time and Increase Creativity with Thumbnails
Thumbnails help reduce the time spent searching for ideas.
A single thumbnail can take less than a minute to draw, so drawing many helps generate inspiration fast.
Some professional artists spend hours just drawing thumbnails before choosing which to develop.
How to Enlarge Thumbnails for Refinement
To redraw a thumbnail in a larger format, scan it, scale it up digitally, and use it as an underlayer. This way you keep the original energy but can add more detail where needed.
Start Sketching with the Designer Starter Kit
If you enjoy dynamic lines and want to learn the basics, the Designer Starter Kit is a great resource. Simple and practical, it helps you build foundational skills in sketching.
Simple and efficient. 🙂
Cheers,
Chou-Tac
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