A lot more goes into a layout than what meets the eye! A layout artist must combine technical skills, imagination, and intention to create a stellar piece. From the focal points to the unnoticeable gaps, every aspect of a layout plays an integral part in successfully communicating with the viewer.
These are my very first layout thumbnails from October. At this time, I had done very little research on what makes a successful layout and I struggled quite a bit with getting started. I knew nothing about focal points or the rule of thirds and I was also only at the beginning of learning how two-point perspective worked!
The most valuable lesson I discovered while making thumbnails was that they can look terrible- in fact, it's better if they do! I got so hung up trying to have accurate perspective, interesting characters and random details that I burnt out instantly instead of being able to sketch a multitude of ideas. The thumbnail's job is to capture the essence of an concept- the refining stage will come in due time! You have to be ok with making bad drawings first so you're prepared to make excellent ones later!
The most valuable lesson I discovered while making thumbnails was that they can look terrible- in fact, it's better if they do! I got so hung up trying to have accurate perspective, interesting characters and random details that I burnt out instantly instead of being able to sketch a multitude of ideas. The thumbnail's job is to capture the essence of an concept- the refining stage will come in due time! You have to be ok with making bad drawings first so you're prepared to make excellent ones later!