Illustration in Oils
Artist: John Potter
I painted this from a photograph. For a long time I believed the photo was taken by Wes Skiles, a friend and an exceptional cave diver and photographer. Now I am not entirely sure. Either way, the photographer deserves most of the credit for capturing that moment. I just translated it into paint.
The image shows a cave diver emerging from a tight squeeze. You can feel the effort and the relief. The walls press close, and the light shifts from dark to pale as he pulls himself through. It is a technical subject, cave diving, but I approached it with expressive painting techniques. The brushwork and color carry emotion alongside information.
This piece demonstrates something I return to often. A specific, even technical topic can still benefit from a painterly hand. Accuracy and expression do not have to fight each other.
If you need an illustration that combines technical understanding with an expressive visual approach, contact me. I enjoy work that asks for both.
EXPLORE MY WORK
- Illustration: Discover custom illustrations, book covers, illustrated maps, and architectural renderings.
- Fine Art: Browse original paintings and drawings, view the Custom Halftone Series, or check out mural projects.
- Graphic Design & Motion: See the graphic design collection, then dive into motion design and animated illustrations.
- Maps by industry: View illustrated maps tailored for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transportation, towns, parks, and wayfinding.
- More project types: Explore cover art, vehicle wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Techniques & styles: Work spans vector, isometric, painting, black-and-white, GeoData, overhead maps, and halftones.
- Software expertise: Primary tools include Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and InDesign, plus Premiere Pro & After Effects for motion.