Art and Design A-Level
Thumbnail Sketch
What Thumbnail Sketch means in Art and Design A-Level, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Thumbnail Sketch
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A small, quick drawing used to explore multiple ideas for composition or layout before starting a larger work.
A small, quick drawing used to explore multiple compositional layouts before starting a final piece.
A very small, quick drawing used to plan the composition and layout of a larger piece.
Topics that use Thumbnail Sketch
- Art and Design titles (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Developing students' knowledge, skills and understanding in art and design (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Knowledge, skills and understanding — Content for both components (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
- Chiaroscuro
- Mark-making
- Primary Source
- Foreshortening
- Gestural Drawing
- Resist Technique
- Continuous Line
- Formal Elements
Using Thumbnail Sketch in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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