What you'll learn
- Design a page layout for small thumbnail sketches
- Draw close-up and pulled-back scenes at a small scale
- Use watercolor, colored pencil, or marker to add color
- Add notes, lettering, or collage to your page
Requirements
- Basic, beginner drawing and watercolor skills
Description
Thumbnail sketches are tiny sketches, maybe only a couple inches tall, that you can draw in just a minute or two.
Art students learn how to do this as a way of working up some ideas for larger paintings.
But they’re also a great way to very quickly capture your travels when you’re on the move. This is especially helpful when you’re traveling with a group, and they don’t want to wait while you settle down to draw for an hour or two!
In this class, I’ll show you how to fill a sketchbook with lively, interesting thumbnails, filled with personality.
Design: I’ll give you a template for designing a page layout
Drawing: Discover how quickly you can draw a basic scene in just a minute or two.
Watercolor: Use an ultralight watercolor kit to add a few brushstrokes.
Writing: Add some lettering, captions, or notes to make your pages more personal.
Collage: Work in stickers, maps, ticket stubs, and more.
The result will be a rich and varied tapestry of images that truly took only a few minute per sketch! This class is perfect for urban sketching, travel sketching, nature journaling, and anyone keeping a visual diary or illustrated journal.
If you’re a beginner, this class is a great place to start. For more experienced artists, this class is a fun way to loosen up and try a different approach to travel sketching.
Who this course is for:
- Beginning and intermediate artists who love to travel and sketch
Instructor
- 4.7 Instructor Rating
- 399 Reviews
- 1,473 Students
- 20 Courses
I'm the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Plants, and Girl Waits with Gun. I've been a full-time author for twenty years, and in that time my books have sold over a million copies worldwide and been translated into 17 languages.
I love talking to writers and artists, and bonding over the creative process. I started teaching so that I can inspire others to take the leap.
I believe that writing, drawing, and painting are all teachable skills. Forget about talent--it doesn't exist, and you don't need it. With some quality instruction and lots of practice, any of us can make meaningful, honest, and unique art and literature.
When I'm not writing or traveling on book tour, I'm painting and drawing in ink, watercolor, gouache, and oil. Come find me on my website or on Instagram to stay connected.