Astronaut Farmer (acrylic on paper)
Artist, Illustrator: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
I painted this illustration overnight on a tight deadline. Acrylic on paper. The concept had to be simple and strong, so I focused on the story. A scientist creates artificial moon dirt, called regolith, for plant research. A plant cannot survive in the vacuum of space, but the image gets the idea across.
I added a little extra highlight to the astronaut's eye to make it look moist, giving him a sense of emotion as he gazes at the tiny, fragile plant in his hand. Soil sprinkles from his gloved fingers. The illustration ran as a full page in an agricultural trade magazine. I do not remember the name of the publication anymore. It was a long time ago.
This piece has much in common with my dog park paintings and all of my mural work. Those are all done with acrylic paint too. This illustration also shows how I match the scope of a project to real world constraints. Speed was essential, so simplicity was necessary. I leaned hard on my drawing ability and fundamental academic fine arts training to make it work.
If you need a custom illustration for a publication, a corporate project, or a specific concept, contact me for a quote. I enjoy work that tells a story.
PORTFOLIO GALLERIES
- Illustration work: Start with custom illustration and cover design, then view illustrated maps and architectural renderings.
- Fine art: Discover original paintings and drawings, the Custom Halftone Series, and mural projects.
- Design & motion: Check out the graphic design gallery, then move on to motion graphics and animated illustration.
- Maps by sector: I produce illustrated maps for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transit & parking, towns & cities, parks, and wayfinding systems.
- More creative services: Additional offerings include cover illustration, vehicle wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Artistic methods: My work spans vector art, isometric & axonometric views, traditional painting, black & white illustration, GeoData mapping, overhead perspectives, and halftone effects. Recently I have also begun to utilize AI in some cases.
- Preferred software: I rely on Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and InDesign, plus Premiere Pro & After Effects for motion projects.