Braldt Bralds

 Artist Braldt Bralds was born in the Netherlands, where he attended the Grafische School in Rotterdam. For a time, an art career was the last thing on his mind. In fact, his only art education consisted of a mechanical drawing class and on-the-job experience as a typesetter in a printing shop.

Braldt moved to the USA in 1980. Since that time, Bralds’ career has been one success after another. His work has appeared in such prestigious publications as Time, Newsweek, Omni, TV Guide, Rolling Stone, National Geographic, Cats, Cat Fancy and many more. He has illustrated book covers for such publishers as Avon, Simon & Schuster and Warner Books. Braldt has lectured and held workshops in cities all over the world, including Brussels, Tokyo and Seoul. Among his awards are three gold medals, three silver medals, and the Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators. His advertising art has won an Andy, a Clio, as well as several gold and silver awards.

In addition to his art career, Bralds is proud of his contribution to education. He has taught at New York’s School of Visual Arts and was an independent student counselor for their Masters Program. He now serves on the International Advisory Board of the Art Institute International, which established a Braldt Bralds Illustration Scholarship in 1993.

"While I was in a bookshop leafing through an art book on Dutch master still lifes, it struck me that in many parts of Europe-including Germany, France and my native Holland-'bouquet' is pronounced 'booket'. Suddenly, I envisioned the Boucat, a visual treat for lovers of cats and flowers. For my feline array I have gathered a Birman, Ocicat, Somali, Blue British Shorthair, Red Maine Coon, an American Gray Shorthair and a Snowshoe."