The Details Matter for UMO Student Simone McCraw
April 27, 2026
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
Some artists talk about inspiration. University of Mount Olive (UMO) Visual Arts and Design major Simone McCraw talks about intention. Whether she is adjusting the spacing of letters on a design, refining the balance of a composition, or communicating with teammates on the lacrosse field, she approaches her work with patience and purpose. Each decision matters. Each detail has a role.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, McCraw graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 2023 before enrolling at UMO. Raised in a family that valued both academics and athletics, she learned early that success, both on and off the field, requires discipline and commitment.
Creativity also appeared early in her life. As a child, she wrote short stories, illustrated handmade books, and even created plays that she and her sister performed for their parents. The habit of creating simply stuck. “I’m not sure there was one moment that drew me into art,” she said. “It’s just something that has always been part of my life.”
Today, McCraw describes her artistic style as intentional and detail-driven. She carefully considers composition, spacing, color choices, and balance within every piece she creates. “I refuse to be done with a piece until I’m confident it looks its best,” she said. “Every aspect of the composition should serve a purpose. The smallest choices, like spacing or color, can completely change the outcome.”
At UMO, McCraw enjoys working across several mediums, including ceramics, graphite pencil, and digital design through Adobe InDesign. Each medium allows her to approach the creative process a little differently. Ceramics, in particular, offers a contrast to the precision she often applies to her other work. “When I’m throwing on the wheel, I don’t always start with a final plan,” she said. “It’s freeing to see what happens as I work.”
In many of her other projects, however, McCraw begins with a clear vision of what she wants the finished piece to become. She studies reference images, refines her concept, and then begins building the work. Even then, she allows room for the piece to evolve. “Sometimes I realize certain ideas won’t work the way I imagined in a particular medium,” she said. “Other times I make decisions in the moment that improve the final result.”
One of the most challenging projects she completed recently was a cardboard house built for a Three-Dimensional Design course. McCraw designed the structure using detailed blueprints and cut every piece before assembling the model. “I had to trust my measurements and the process,” she said. “At first it felt like I was working toward something I couldn’t fully see yet.”
As the structure came together, her confidence grew. “It reminded me that patience is a big part of creating,” she said. “Even when things don’t go exactly as planned, there are always ways to adjust and move forward.”
Like many young artists, McCraw has also wrestled with the common perception that art can be a difficult career path. “For a while I felt pressure to focus more on traditional academic subjects like math and science,” she said. “But I’ve realized that creativity exists in so many areas, from design and film to storytelling and media.”
Her growth has been guided by faculty within the UMO Visual Arts & Design program. McCraw credits Ceramics Professor Frank Grubbs with expanding her perspective on working with clay, while Professor Cheryl Hooks has introduced her to a variety of mediums that pushed her outside her comfort zone. Professor Bob Murray has reinforced the importance of intentional design choices. “He always reminds us that we should be able to explain why we made every decision in a piece,” McCraw said.
Outside the studio, McCraw competes on the lacrosse field as a defender for the Trojans. The experience has strengthened her discipline and ability to stay focused under pressure. “On the field you have to stay calm and react quickly,” she said. “That same mindset helps when working through complex art projects.”
McCraw is expected to graduate from UMO in the spring of 2027. After graduation, she hopes to travel before pursuing a career in a creative field. “Art is such a broad umbrella,” she said. “There are so many directions I could go.”
Looking back on her journey so far, McCraw describes it simply as intentional growth. “Every challenge and experience has helped shape me,” she said. “Progress comes from patience, reflection, and paying attention to the details.”
ABOUT UMO…
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
