Indoor Mural of Spoonbills
Illustration, Design and Mural Painting by John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
Client: Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club
Final Drawing
Sketch 2
Sketch 1
About the Location
This mural lives in a restaurant at the Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club in Vero Beach, Florida. The club features two world class golf courses and a magnificent beach club. It is often described as Vero Beach's premier private golf and beach club, and spending time there makes it easy to see why.
The Mural Itself
The painting depicts spoonbills, those striking pink wading birds that feel so native to coastal Florida. They stand in shallow water, their forms echoed in the reflections below. The composition is calm but alive, which felt right for a dining space where people come to relax.
I painted this using traditional academic methods. That means working from dark to light over a burnt umber underpainting. The underpainting establishes the values first, and then the color builds up in layers. It is a slower way of working, but it gives the final piece a depth that faster methods cannot match.
My Process
Before I touched the wall, I worked through several sketches. The page shows the final drawing alongside two earlier versions. That progression matters. Each sketch gets closer to what the client actually wants, and having those stages to look back on helps me see how the work evolved.
Your Mural Project
If you have a restaurant, a club, or any other space that could benefit from a custom painted mural, contact me. I have done this work before and I would be glad to do it for you.
WORK FOR GRAND HARBOR GOLF AND BEACH CLUB:
MURALS:
STREET ART:
PAINTINGS:
PORTFOLIOS
- Illustration Portfolio: Start here for custom illustration and book covers. You can also browse illustrated maps and architectural rendering.
- Fine Art: I offer original paintings and drawings, including my Custom Halftone Series. You will also find mural work here.
- Graphic Design & Motion: View my graphic design portfolio. After that, explore motion design and animated illustrations.
- Maps by application: I create illustrated maps for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transportation, transit and parking, towns and cities, parks, and wayfinding.
- Additional project types: I also produce cover illustration, vehicle and vinyl wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Illustration methods: My techniques include vector, isometric and axonometric, painting, black and white, GeoData maps, overhead maps, and custom halftones.
- Software portfolios: I work primarily in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and Adobe InDesign. For motion projects, I use Premiere Pro and After Effects. You can watch my demo reel here.