Steven Rhodes Artist Feature: Behind the Scenes
Imagine a retro textbook that took a sharp left turn into existential dread, then made you laugh about it. That’s the best way to describe this Steven Rhodes artist feature. A gloriously offbeat mix of vintage visuals, dark humor, and sharp commentary from this Brisbane-based illustrator.
I’ve followed Steven’s work for years because it nails what most of us aim for. It’s wickedly funny, unmistakably his, and instantly recognizable. The kind of work that makes you laugh. Honestly, school would have been wildly more entertaining if these were actual subjects.
You’ve probably seen his work. Most likely wandering around in the wild on a T-shirt, in a meme, or maybe being ripped off by someone who thought copyright didn’t apply to artists with a sense of humor. More on that in a minute.
From Pencil to Photoshop (and Back Again)
Steven has built a lasting career doing exactly what he loves: making clever, slightly demented art that rewires childhood nostalgia with adult sarcasm and the occasional Satanic goat.
Tools of Choice:
- Pen and paper
- Brush pens
- Photoshop
“There’s something very satisfying about the practical process of using real media in this digital age.”
A Medieval Revival (In Your Ears)
When he’s not drawing haunted libraries or demonic science fair posters, Steven’s soundtrack of choice leans old-school.
On Burnout, Blocks, and Garden Breaks
To bounce back from burnout, Steven goes offline. He walks, gardens, reads, and lets the inspiration come back on its own.
“In a few days I’m always itching to get started on some designs again.”
When Ripping Off Artists Stops Being Easy
Like many artists, Steven has dealt with ripoffs—and the frustration runs deep. When Edwin James IP first reached out, he wasn’t sure what to think:
“You put so much hard work into it and someone can come along and steal it so easily and blatantly. I gotta say, I think I was pretty sceptical about getting an unsolicited email out of the blue—you can never be too careful these days. But after they walked me through the process, I decided to give it a go.”
It turned out to be worth it.
“It’s been very satisfying to see so many unauthorised listings get taken down. The best part is there’s no cost involved, and you can even be financially compensated while taking some of these infringers down. That’s something I didn’t expect.”
One Last Word of Advice
Here’s what Steven wants other artists to know:
“It’s getting increasingly difficult for an artist to make a career from art, so we need to take advantage of every service available to us.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Follow Steven’s work on Instagram at @stevenrhodesart and keep an eye out for the next brilliantly weird design that’ll make you laugh in a full-on mwahahaha kind of way.
Want to hear from more artists like Steven?
Read our Feature on the Queen of Cat Designs, Kilkennycat (Ryan Connors).
📣 What We Do (and Why It Matters)
Edwin James IP: We stop counterfeit. We recover earnings. We protect artists.