Portrait in Oils
Artist, Illustrator: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
This portrait of Albert Einstein sits somewhere between illustration and fine art. I am comfortable with that ambiguity. Most of the painting is acrylic, with some final touches in oils. The techniques I used here are the same ones I rely on for murals and other paintings.
I did not focus on strict accuracy. Instead, I combined features to create the Einstein we all recognize. The man himself, but simplified and distilled. This piece started as a palette knife painting. That part was not going especially well, but I liked where the piece was heading overall, so I kept going and switched to brushes.
I gave his hair a kind of nuclear glow. That was a small homage to his career as a physicist. The glow felt right for someone who helped unlock the power of the atom.
If you need an expressive portrait for a publication, a private collection, or a themed space, contact me. I enjoy work that asks for character and a interpretive touch rather than strict likeness.
PORTRAITS:
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. I am also supplementing some projects with AI.