[Gothic Gerbil]

I was wondering about the process of how you people who post art here come across your compositions professional and amateur alike. Do you do many thumbnails, a few thumbnails? Doodle til inspiration strikes? Go straight to it drawing out the picture and then painting it or even skipping the drawing part? Personally I go through somewhere from 5 to 20 thumbnails depending upon the subject and how inspired/brilliant I am at the time, school assignment or personal project both. Sometimes accompanied with a fullblown drawing most times just a quick sketch and very rarely just straight to the paints. I'm just curious about how you other people go about it.

[Waldo]

D.
All of the above.

Generally, I knock out a piece/concept in my head (driving in traffic no less) and work it out there and then usually run with that. It depends upon what it is though, i.e. an editorial piece that can be image only or a Christmas card that has interacting text. In case of the latter, I'll rewrite the text until it works better (funnier in my case), but if it is image only, I'll take it and quickly block in 3 or 4 small little thumbnails with varying color schemes. That will help me in discerning the direction that would be most prudent and it helps the Art Directors, too. Then it's off to the track with pen and pencil in hand. Me personally, the first light bulb that goes off in the head is usually the brightest. Gah, and at times is the first to burn out...

It is what works best for you and what you feel the most comfortable with. I don't think you can go wrong with doing many Comps/thumbnails in the beginning. Then again, there is no set formula IMO...

My 2 cents and I won't be offended if others disagree.

Good luck!