Minimalist Portraits

After an assignment in a design course to create a portrait on Adobe Illustrator, I was hooked. Being able to produce portraits that are of icons or personal pictures allows me to strip a photo down to the details that I want to include. All shapes were outlined by hand using the pencil tool, and then the color was gaged through the eyedropper. 

Black & White of my Cocker Spaniel mix, Tutter

A Royal with the Ultimate Poker Face

Iconic Miley Cyrus

A Family Huddle

The past four years of my undergraduate life were consumed by rowing. Looking back it was the most rewarding experience and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to compete at the D1 level and make life long friends. 

At our "End of the Year" banquet, the seniors were given one task: leave the team with something to remember you by. This could be a speech, video, or anything you could create that is unique to you. Creating a minimalist portrait on Adobe Illustrator is something I've enjoyed in the past, so why not make one that captures the team that means so much to me? 

This portrait was transferred into a poster sized print, as well as stickers that the team could carry with them. 

I started with a photo taken during our fall season, after a freshman boat won their race. This photograph resonated with me because it captured the younger athletes on our team who still have years left to compete, and had just completed a race that left them hungry for more. 

The goal was to keep the necessary details to recognize who was in the portrait but simple enough that when those girls graduate, it's still relevant for the future team. This is why there are more details placed in the apparel, and less in the facial and landscape features.

The last detail that I wanted to include was what our team's new foundation was built on: family. The coaches and culture of the team changed over the years and created more of an "us" rather than "me" mindset. I was known for my hand lettering among teammates, so it only seemed right to add a detail in the clouds that spoke to what the future of USC rowing is about.