Illustration for an Arts Festival
Artist, Illustrator, Designer: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
This project is a vector illustration created for a poster concept celebrating the Deerfield Beach Festival of the Arts. Originally developed as a contest entry, the artwork has since become a detailed portfolio piece that demonstrates a full creative workflow, from initial concept to finished illustration and animation.
The illustration focuses on the community’s recognizable fishing pier. To present a fresh view of this familiar landmark, I designed the perspective from an unusual vantage point: that of a swimmer at the end of the pier looking back toward the beach. This approach creates a dynamic composition where the diagonal lines of the pier pilings draw the viewer into the scene, anchored by a detailed shoreline and a textured, expressive sky. A note of playful narrative is introduced with a cartoon crab depicted as an artist, complete with a brush and palette. An additional self referential layer shows a small easel on the pier holding a miniature version of the illustration itself.
The artwork was crafted entirely in Adobe Illustrator, built from preliminary sketches into a complex, layered vector file. I utilized a library of custom digital textures to give depth and tactile quality to elements like the water, weathered wood, and clouds. The result is a static image that combines strong graphic composition with nuanced detail.
After completing the illustration, I extended the project by creating a subtle animation. Using the layered Illustrator file in Adobe After Effects, I introduced gentle, looping motion to bring the scene to life. The clouds shift, water ripples animate, and the crab’s claw moves in a slow, continuous cycle. This animated version transforms the poster into a short motion graphic suitable for digital promotion on social media or displays.
This piece illustrates how a core illustrative concept can be adapted across formats, serving as both a high quality print ready vector graphic and an engaging animated asset.
VECTOR ILLUSTRATIONS:
(Created using Adobe Illustrator)
VECTOR ILLUSTRATED MAPS:
PORTFOLIOS
- Illustration Portfolio: Start here for custom illustration and book covers. You can also browse illustrated maps and architectural rendering.
- Fine Art: I offer original paintings and drawings, including my Custom Halftone Series. You will also find mural work here.
- Graphic Design & Motion: View my graphic design portfolio. After that, explore motion design and animated illustrations.
- Maps by application: I create illustrated maps for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transportation, transit and parking, towns and cities, parks, and wayfinding.
- Additional project types: I also produce cover illustration, vehicle and vinyl wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Illustration methods: My techniques include vector, isometric and axonometric, painting, black and white, GeoData maps, overhead maps, and custom halftones.
- Software portfolios: I work primarily in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and Adobe InDesign. For motion projects, I use Premiere Pro and After Effects. You can watch my demo reel here.