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 PORTFOLIOS
- Illustration: Find custom illustration, book covers, illustrated maps, and architectural rendering.
- Fine Art: Browse original paintings and drawings, the Custom Halftone Series, and murals.
- Graphic Design & Motion: See my graphic design work, plus motion design and animated illustrations.
- Maps by industry: Illustrated maps tailored for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transit & parking, towns & cities, parks, and wayfinding.
- Other project types: Also available: cover art, vehicle & vinyl wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Techniques: Explore work in vector, isometric & axonometric, painting, black & white, GeoData, overhead, and halftone styles. Recently I have also begun to use AI for some specific solutions.
- Software: Primary tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and InDesign. Motion work uses Premiere Pro & After Effects.