Illustration in Oils
Artist: John Potter
I painted this portrait of my daughter when she was a baby. It is oil on stretched canvas. I worked in the old masters' tradition of painting dark to light. The underpainting shows through in the darker skin tones.
I also added some playful patterns to the composition. The subject called for something light, and the patterns keep the painting from feeling too formal or stiff for a child's portrait.
This piece was primarily an exercise to keep my drawing and painting skills sharp. You can see the same foundational abilities at work in many of my other portraits and figure paintings. The approach is the same whether the subject is a baby or an adult. Observe carefully. Draw accurately. Build the paint with intention.
If you are considering a portrait of your own child, a family member, or yourself, contact me to discuss the project. I work in oils and acrylics and welcome both formal and informal approaches.
PORTRAITS:
PORTFOLIO SELECTIONS
- Custom illustration & covers: Featuring bespoke illustration, book and magazine covers, hand-drawn maps, and building renderings.
- Fine art & murals: Including one-of-a-kind paintings and drawings, the Custom Halftone Series, and large-scale murals.
- Design & motion media: Covering graphic design, plus video and motion and animated illustration.
- Mapping by application: Tailored maps for marine events, hospitality, waterfront, property, transit, municipal, recreation, and navigation needs.
- Additional creative work: Includes editorial covers, vehicle graphics, concept renderings, and public art.
- Mediums & formats: Ranging from digital vector and isometric projection to traditional paint, line art, GIS-based, aerial-style, and halftone.
- Software expertise: Proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp, InDesign, and Premiere/After Effects for motion. More recently I have worked with AI.