Robert Grantham

Artist Statement

I work where disciplined letterforms meet gestural paint. Years of study in Copperplate and Blackletter inform each piece: grids, stroke order, and pressure-release—then weathered with glazes, scumbles, and palimpsests of text.

Words like misericordia, virtus, and resilientia recur as anchors for grief, courage, and care. The ethos is simple: “Hope, written by hand.”

Materials & Process

• Surfaces: Ampersand Gessobord (7/8" cradle), canvas, and reclaimed cardboard.
• Media: Acrylics with layered glazes & scumbles; occasional tempera and mixed-media markers.
• Lettering: Copperplate, Blackletter & calligraffiti hybrids on structured grids.
• Palette: Deep blues, bone-white / plaster neutrals, and restrained metallics.

Themes

Resilience—personal and communal—sits at the center. Magnolia motifs, Latin mottos, and German inscriptions function as talismans. I’m interested in how handwriting—our most human mark—carries memory across surfaces and years.

Commissions

I accept a limited number of commissions each month—from compact calligraphy studies to larger statement works on cradled panel. If a word, motto, or concept matters to you, I’ll develop a layered design with lettering studies and a materials plan.

1. Conversation: your word(s), mood, palette, size, and budget.
2. Design packet: thumbnail sketches + lettering studies.
3. Production: layered ground, inscription, finishing, optional COA.

Student / community discounts available when possible. Payment plans available for originals.

Timeline

• Typical: 2–6 weeks depending on size and complexity
• Rush: sometimes available (ask in your inquiry)

Pricing (Guidance)

Pricing reflects size, materials, and complexity. Typical ranges:

• 8×10 study (canvas/cardboard): ~$140–$160 (unframed)
• 12×16 cradled panel (Gessobord): ~$335+ depending on complexity
• Custom sizes & framing: quoted on request

Care

Acrylic works are sealed for surface protection. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight and dust with a soft, dry cloth. Cradled panels hang flush; canvas ships ready to hang unless noted.

Recent Activity

• Edge of Night — 12×16 acrylic on canvas (2025).
• Furcht frisst Gerechtigkeit — 12×16×7/8 acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord (2025).
• Resilience — 8×10×5/8 acrylic on canvas (2025).
• Pop-ups and community showings in Austin: Café Medici (Guadalupe); Pancakes & Booze (Far Out Lounge); church/community venues including a December show at Northwest Hills UMC.