Cartoonish YouTube Thumbnail Design

I’m looking for a creative YouTube thumbnail designer who specializes in bold, attention-grabbing illustrated/cartoon thumbnails for history and documentary content.

I want thumbnails with a simple, highly readable composition similar to the examples I provide. The thumbnail should immediately communicate the subject without being cluttered.

Style & composition:

* 16:9 YouTube thumbnail format
* Usually 2–4 large subjects/characters rather than many small elements
* Characters should take up most of the available space
* Exaggerated, expressive faces and dramatic poses when appropriate
* Bold, clean outlines and strong visual separation
* Bright/high-contrast colors that stand out on YouTube
* Simple backgrounds that support the subject without distracting from it
* Minimal text—only short, highly readable labels or phrases when necessary
* Large bold typography that remains readable on a phone
* Strong visual hierarchy: the images should be the first thing viewers notice
* Clean spacing and properly centered subjects

Most importantly: I don’t want generic-looking AI artwork. When historical photographs, paintings, engravings, symbols, artifacts, or other authentic historical imagery are available and appropriate, I prefer using real historical source material or carefully edited/illustrated versions of it. The finished thumbnail should feel like a professionally designed history-channel thumbnail, not an AI-generated collage.

The overall goal is high CTR and immediate visual storytelling. Someone should be able to look at the thumbnail for one second and understand the basic subject and feel compelled to click.

I will provide reference thumbnails showing the exact visual direction I want. Please study the references carefully and match the composition, simplicity, scale of the subjects, typography, and overall visual impact rather than simply creating a generic cartoon thumbnail.

Ideal experience:

* YouTube thumbnail design
* History/documentary channels
* Illustrated or cartoon-style thumbnails
* Photo manipulation and historical imagery
* Bold thumbnail typography
* Designing specifically for mobile CTR

Please provide a portfolio showing actual YouTube thumbnails you’ve designed, particularly examples with a similar bold, illustrated, high-CTR style.