Astronaut Farmer

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.