Brad Sneed was raised on a farm in Newton, Kansas. Many times he would use the objects around the family farm as themes for his artwork. Sneed would use animals and other farm equipment as inspiration for his drawings and artwork. The farm provided a rich start for Brad Sneed.
As a child Sneed enjoyed many things as well as drawing. Sneed talks about his enjoyment of sports and particularly football. He says that growing up he enjoyed playing games with his sister outside in the yard. Many of Sneed’s illustrations were inspired by his childhood on the farm.
It didn’t take long after high school for Sneed to realize that he could make a career out of his artwork and decided to pursue a degree in art at the University of Kansas. During Sneed’s junior year at KU he was taking a children's book illustration class, and realized that he wanted to draw illustrations for children’s books. He enjoyed the process and the creative freedom that drawing and illustrating in children’s books gave him. His first job came from Dial Books. The first book Sneed illustrated was Grandpa's Song by Tony Johnston and his illustrations went along very well with the story.
Since Grandpa's Song, Sneed has illustrated many other children's books. He has also illustrated for his own books. Sneed wrote and illustrated a book about farm animals. He also authored and illustrated Picture A Letter.
Brad Sneed lives in Prairie Village, Kansas. Sneed continues illustrating because he enjoys doing so. Sneed does artist lectures in elementary schools around the country. He enjoys telling his story about his illustrations and his career.
---Information gathered by Kansas State University
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