Patrick Smith
Graphic Design and Digital Media
Hometown: Mason, NH
Passion: Illustrations, mainly cartooning
Goals: To run his own show as freelance illustrator; build his portfolio by drawing whenever he can
Drawing up an enterprising career
Patrick Smith had always drawn illustrations while he was growing up, and he figured it would make sense to create a career out of his passion. While the illustration tools have changed slightly (a mouse instead of a pen), his main focus has stayed with drawing cartoon characters. “Cartoonists draw their view of how they see the world in a more humorous and colorful way. Sometimes things tend to get too serious, so it’s fun to break away from that.”
Patrick knew Champlain’s graphic design program was for him the minute he and his father visited campus. “I loved it. It was the first college I applied to. Champlain really allows you to build a solid relationship with your teachers.”
His design work is being constantly honed through a coveted internship at Burton Snowboards, where he got a job designing in the company’s soft goods creative department using Illustrator. His goal is to build up his portfolio and eventually become a freelance illustrator.
His advice to up-and-coming artists? “Use your free time to keep drawing, and keep that passion up. The more you draw, the better you’ll get.”
Graphic Design work for the Senior Art Show created by Craig Winslow