Claire Smith is a student at Oregon State University studying graphic design. She establishes her style is inspired by nature with an emphasis on color schemes, lines, negative space, and composition. When drawing portraits in pencil, her process involves lightly sketching outlines, refining lines and adding details in steps, and shading and highlighting. She also takes self portraits in photography. For a class project, she created a system map poster for a local coffeeshop, designing the layout, logo, and theme to match their brand.
1. P o r t f o l i o
P o r t f o l i o
Claire Smith
Claire Smith
Oregon State University ‘24
Oregon State University ‘24
2. Style
Style Inspiration
Inspiration
Despite being a student and having a limited body of work
Despite being a student and having a limited body of work
to draw from to show my talents I have clearly established
to draw from to show my talents I have clearly established
inspirations for my pieces. I gravitate towards color schemes
inspirations for my pieces. I gravitate towards color schemes
and lines found in nature. I also am drawn to the use of
and lines found in nature. I also am drawn to the use of
intentional negative space and harmonious composition.
intentional negative space and harmonious composition.
4. PENCIL PORTRAIT PROCESS
PENCIL PORTRAIT PROCESS
I use a few techniques when I draw complex objects. In
I use a few techniques when I draw complex objects. In
order to capture accurate proportions I am constantly step-
order to capture accurate proportions I am constantly step-
ping back from my work and reevaluating. I try and do most
ping back from my work and reevaluating. I try and do most
of the largscale adjustments at the beginning of the process
of the largscale adjustments at the beginning of the process
when I am still using a light hand and not adding shading or
when I am still using a light hand and not adding shading or
finer details. In the end, my best work comes from connect-
finer details. In the end, my best work comes from connect-
ing with the image that I am drawing and constantly referring
ing with the image that I am drawing and constantly referring
back to the vision I have for the artwork.
back to the vision I have for the artwork.
Step 1: Lightly sketch out outlines of
Step 1: Lightly sketch out outlines of
Step 2: Begin refining lines and adding
Step 2: Begin refining lines and adding
Step 3: Shade/Highlight
Step 3: Shade/Highlight
6. System
System Map
Map
As a group project for a design class a few team
As a group project for a design class a few team
mates and I made a system map poster of a
mates and I made a system map poster of a
local coffeeshop/restaurant we liked. I was
local coffeeshop/restaurant we liked. I was
responsible for the product sector of the map
responsible for the product sector of the map
and designed the whole layout, logo, and theme
and designed the whole layout, logo, and theme
for the poster.
for the poster.
My vision for the poster was to create a tabletop
My vision for the poster was to create a tabletop
in keeping with with the brand of the cafe we were
in keeping with with the brand of the cafe we were
analyzing.
analyzing.
