A DREAM job!

I have had the great pleasure to work with author Eileen Wharton on the cover of her republished novel Blanket of Blood.

We worked together from the concept to the completion of the entire jacket.

I will try not to give too much of the story away but the villain targets teenagers and leaves them in the woods. The concept is an attempt to show the menace and horror of such a terrifying murderer.

The original art is watercolour and acrylic on hot pressed watercolour paper. The graphic design was done on Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer.
 
I have included the original art for the front and back as well as the final concept sketch.

Apparently a sequel is in the pipeline, so I am hoping I will be able to work on that too.

You can catch Eileen on most social media and this book (and others) are available as ebooks as well as paper copies.

I have been using the digital art app ‘Procreate’ for some time now, but mainly for more simplistic, comic book style work.

Many clients require a digital solution, so I decided to practice a little more and this is the result!

Not my usual style and a little too ‘tight’ for my liking but it was a great leap forwards for  me. I learned a lot during the completion of this piece. Now, if only I could loosen up a little!

​Head to my social media to see the time-lapse. 

Ghost are a Swedish rock band with an amazing, theatrical visual style. The whole band disguise themselves on stage and the singer, Tobias Forge, has played a number of characters over the years often incorporating faux religious vestments.

I was asked to paint the character above as a birthday present for the son of the client (and good friend).

The piece was a pleasure to do, bringing the image alive from the chaotic background. Check out grahamsteadart on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a time-lapse video of the process. 

Asked my dad one day, if he could be which kind of fantasy character what would he choose? Quick as a flash, he said “pirate!”

His favourite book as a kid was Treasure Island, so I took a few quick photos and turned him into a ruthless captain of the high seas!

This one was HUGE fun to do! After some sketches I decided to have him battling a giant sea monster as his ship was being pulled into Davy Jones’ Locker.

​Needless to say, he loved it!

It was a pleasure and an honour to paint Elsa. Wow, what a beautiful cat! I just love to paint animals and this was a delight to do.

I take commissions, so please message/email if you would like to discuss a pet portrait. 

The painting is a base layer of Faber Castel watercolour pencil, then acrylic and other media (pen, ink, marker, coloured pencil, fine-liner)

The time lapse video is available on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (grahamsteadart)

Surely the coolest dude on planet earth. Ladies and gentlemen, the iconic Keith Richards.

Prints and original art are available. Just message/email for details. 

The painting is a base layer of Faber Castel watercolour pencil, then acrylic and other media (pen, ink, marker, coloured pencil, fine-liner)

The time lapse video is available on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (grahamsteadart)

Jimi Hendrix, arguably the greatest guitarist that has ever lived. Do you agree?

Prints and original art are available. Just message/email for details. Any requests are considered. 

The painting is a base layer of Faber Castel watercolour pencil, then acrylic and other media (pen, ink, marker, coloured pencil, fine-liner)

The time lapse video is available on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (grahamsteadart)

It's the prince of darkness himself! The legend that is Ozzy Osbourne!

​Prints and original art are available. Just message/email for details. Any requests are considered. 

The painting is a base layer of Faber Castel watercolour pencil, then acrylic and other media (pen, ink, marker, coloured pencil, fine-liner)

The time lapse video is available on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (grahamsteadart)
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I am starting a new series of ROCKSTAR portraits!

Prints and original art are available. Just message/email for details. Any requests are considered. 

The painting is a base layer of Faber Castel watercolour pencil, then acrylic and other media (pen, ink, marker, coloured pencil, fine-liner)

The time lapse video is available on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (grahamsteadart)

I finally got got the time to paint my other little boy, Matthew.

He was supposed to be part of a pair, with his brother (see further down this page!) but due to various factors (time, work, family, procrastination etc.) it's been a while before I have been able to get him done.

Please don't ask if he is on the wall yet. I think you already know the answer!

This is Acrylic in canvas. The panel is a long horizontal piece, with the portrait on the far right of the surface.