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:
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.