Steve McGhee, Pixels and ‘Disaster Porn’ – by Lucas Duguid

The bio of digital artist Steve Mcghee includes a rather unique disclaimer: “My work is in no way intended to glorify or condone acts of terrorism or celebrate the loss of millions of souls who have perished in past events, rather it is a commentary on the frailty of human existence and to honour the families, friends and loved ones left behind to deal with their unbearable loss.”

The work of Steve McGhee was once described as “Disaster Porn” by a representative of the Vatican. In many cases this is a fitting description. Steve Mcghee is a world- renowned, multi-award-winning digital artist. Steve has contributed to Photoshop UK and is widely considered to be one of the best Photoshop users in the world. His specialty; fabricating natural disasters.

Why create disasters? Steve’s online bio sheds some light: “I’ve been able to find creative freedom and hope within the images I create. And that in itself has allowed me to cope with some of the issues I face. If you meet your fears head on, and blast right through them, you can never be controlled by them.”

I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Steve for several years. When he’s not wreaking havoc on large cities, he is a mild-mannered husband and father of two, and graphic designer at Ricter Web Printing in Brantford. If you would like to get to know Steve, you can visit his website at www.stevemcghee.com

In an effort to introduce you to the abundance of talent that exists here in our community, the Advocate will be showcasing local creative talent in the months to come. From oil paintings and sculpture to dance and graffiti; if you’re an artist, we want to help.