thumbnail sketches
Quick character portraits
Thumbnail sketches are small, quick drawings that capture the essence of an idea without detail—preliminary visual notes.
The term comes from their typical size, roughly that of a thumbnail.
By extension, any brief summary or outline of something larger: The report opens with thumbnail sketches of each candidate.
The singular thumbnail sketch is equally common.
- doodlingCasual aimless sketching
- pencil drawingArtwork in graphite
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
- back of envelopeInformal quick calculation method
- diagrammingCreating visual schematics
annotating · prototyping · wireframing · illustration · outlining · rough outline · summarizing · preliminary study · rough draft · first draft · caricature · ideation · charting · mapping · quick study · storyboarding · rendering · simplifying
- art techniquespainting, drawing, shading, blending, cross-hatching
- sketchespencil drawings, doodle, sketchbooks, rough draft, quick study
- landscape sketchingplein air, en plein air, horizon line, foreground, background
- art preparationpriming, color mixing, underpainting, toning, gridding
- miniaturesminiatures, figurines, figurine, miniature sculptures, scale models
- wildlife drawingwildlife art