Mural - Hallway Illustration, Design and Mural Painting by John Potter

Indoor Mural of a Tropical Island

Illustration, Design and Mural Painting by John Potter - Escape Key Graphics

I painted this mural in my home in 2006. The space is a short hallway that cannot really function as usable square footage, but it offers plenty of opportunity for aesthetic treatment. I wanted a rich, classical feel. Two things influenced me strongly. One was the book "The Painted House" by Graham Rust. The other was the television show "Lost." I wanted a tropical theme, something that felt like a beautiful south pacific island while still grounding you in a warm, inviting home.

The painting is acrylic. It depicts jungle in tight spaces. As you walk in, a mountain looms above a doorway with two palm trees arching over and up onto the ceiling. Those trees also help obscure the transition to the right hand wall. A small section of jungle sits on the left. If you turn, you can look down on a tropical beach surrounded by jungle, rock formations, and a landslide. Dramatic clouds billow above it all.

For the rest of the room, I ran a chair rail around the whole space to stop the painting from descending too low. Below the rail is a dark, rich maroon. I upgraded the door trim to something with more architectural detail, and over the years I have replaced the doors with solid wood. All the wood is natural with stain and clear coat. The result takes what could be wasted space and turns it into a calming, warm mood setter for the house.

If you have a space that could benefit from a custom mural, contact me. I enjoy transforming overlooked areas into something worth pausing in.