Indoor Mural of Spoonbills
Illustration, Design and Mural Painting by John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
Client: Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club
Final Drawing
Sketch 2
Sketch 1
About the Location
This mural lives in a restaurant at the Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club in Vero Beach, Florida. The club features two world class golf courses and a magnificent beach club. It is often described as Vero Beach's premier private golf and beach club, and spending time there makes it easy to see why.
The Mural Itself
The painting depicts spoonbills, those striking pink wading birds that feel so native to coastal Florida. They stand in shallow water, their forms echoed in the reflections below. The composition is calm but alive, which felt right for a dining space where people come to relax.
I painted this using traditional academic methods. That means working from dark to light over a burnt umber underpainting. The underpainting establishes the values first, and then the color builds up in layers. It is a slower way of working, but it gives the final piece a depth that faster methods cannot match.
My Process
Before I touched the wall, I worked through several sketches. The page shows the final drawing alongside two earlier versions. That progression matters. Each sketch gets closer to what the client actually wants, and having those stages to look back on helps me see how the work evolved.
Your Mural Project
If you have a restaurant, a club, or any other space that could benefit from a custom painted mural, contact me. I have done this work before and I would be glad to do it for you.
PORTFOLIO GALLERIES
- Illustration work: Start with custom illustration and cover design, then view illustrated maps and architectural renderings.
- Fine art: Discover original paintings and drawings, the Custom Halftone Series, and mural projects.
- Design & motion: Check out the graphic design gallery, then move on to motion graphics and animated illustration.
- Maps by sector: I produce illustrated maps for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transit & parking, towns & cities, parks, and wayfinding systems.
- More creative services: Additional offerings include cover illustration, vehicle wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Artistic methods: My work spans vector art, isometric & axonometric views, traditional painting, black & white illustration, GeoData mapping, overhead perspectives, and halftone effects.
- Preferred software: I rely on Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and InDesign, plus Premiere Pro & After Effects for motion projects.