Spring '98 Newsletter

	The Mystery of Braldt Bralds SISD in conjunction with American Showcase, Thursday, April 30th, 1998 One can find mystery behind a cat's eyes, or by gazing into a stone's million year history or through the divinely inspired art of illustrator Braldt Bralds. Somehow Braldt has managed to masterfully create art that is "of this world, but not in this world," a unique accomplishment. Braldt Bralds describes his current life as a "blessing" after many years of hard work and tough deadlines in the commercial art world. Even now, Braldt credits his cats with starting the whole chain of events that brought him to his beloved home in Santa Fe, New Mexico and painting for projects he chooses. We can thank the cats for bringing Braldt to New York City in 1980. Limited career opportunities in his home country of the Netherlands motivated Braldt to consider moving to England. However, the six month quarantine in England was unacceptable to the cats and four paws up for New York City. This was the first blessing bestowed on Braldt by the cats.
	Brilliantly gifted, but naive, Braldt unknowingly ignited his career with a cover for Time magazine. He was in awe when he met his idol, Richard Hess, who asked Braldt, "... if he had time to do Time?" Unfamiliar with the language and not knowing exactly what Hess meant, Braldt of course said "yes." Then, with hints of storybook magic, Braldt began an outstanding 25 year career in the commercial art world. This was the second blessing bestowed on Braldt by the United States of America's corporate giants. Driven by his father's challenge of "never making it as an illustrator," Braldt used fire symbolically in his paintings and as well as in his career to energize and renew him through the most difficult assignments. Rolling Stone, National Geographic, Playboy and the biggest accounts nationally and internationally tested him. So it is surprising, that at the pinnacle of his commercial success, Braldt walked out of the business. He says the last commercial assignment had filled him with "incredible horror." This was the third blessing bestowed on Braldt by the world's biggest petty tyrants.
	One could say Braldt Bralds career is metaphorically similar to many storybook fairy tales. The hero courageously rides out to conquer fierce dragons, rescue maidens and find the holy grail. Usually armed with a special sword, power or gift, he soon acquires mastery in the external world, yet discovers the meaning of life (the grail) remains an elusive mystery. Eventually, the hero soon learns that all the fire, sword power and blessings in the world can't conquer the void deep inside. To find the answer to this great mystery and longing one must eventually ask: For whom does the grail serve? This is when our hero, Braldt Bralds, turns inward and finds the answer. By leaving the commercial art world, Braldt began the task of creating art that is personally meaningful. This was the fourth blessing bestowed on Braldt by the divine. Not coincidentally and soon after his departure, Braldt was approached by a company that wanted him to illustrate a series of cat portraits. He loves illustrating cats! Even more recently, Braldt began painting an unusual series of stones. He says painting stones to him is similar to gardening for some... thrilling, effortless and rejuvenating to the soul. Paradoxically, stones can be considered bound to mother earth but contain within a million year mystery. They are "of this world but not in this world."
	It is apparent as well, that Braldt's move to Santa Fe along with his new attitude and love for life is a symbolic and personal marriage of both heaven and earth. Similarly, painting now for himself and causes he believes in, (like the United Nation's environmental campaigns "Save the Oceans" and more) Braldt captures the essence of the divine and shares it with us all to learn and enjoy. Isn't this really what the mystery is all about?    Pamela Wells Home