Roger Bradfield

Roger Bradfield studied at the Minneapolis School of Art, the Academie Julian in Paris, and the Heatherly School of Art in London. He has headed his own commercial art studio, written and illustrated award-winning children’s books and created art for both movies and television.

Bradfield was born in White Bear, Minnesota, in 1924. He launched his career with the advertising agency Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He then spent several years working in England and France, where he did humorous illustrations for Punch and Good Housekeeping magazines. He returned to the U.S. and opened his own commercial art studio in 1953. Among the many awards garnered at this stage of his career was the prestigious National Fashion Academy Gold Medal for his work in package design.

A successful creator of children’s books, he has won awards for his writing and illustration in this field and has had his books chosen as Junior Literary Guild selections. Bradfield is perhaps best-known for writing and illustrating the comic strip Dooley’s World, which was syndicated world-wide by King Features.

Upon retiring in 1988, Bradfield has been able to spend a great deal of time painting — mostly in watercolor. Since then he has sketched in Greece, Norway, Portugal, Italy, France, Spain and Mexico, gathering subjects for his paintings. He says, “When someone looks at one of my paintings I want them to get the impression that I had fun doing it and that I did it almost without effort. That’s really the hardest part — making it look easy.

When asked of what he was most proud Bradfield answered easily, “My kids. There are five of them and they are all happy, successful and well-adjusted. More importantly, they love one another…and each has found a wonderful mate.” When asked what he valued the most in life, he replied, “Same answer — my kids…along with my wife, Joan. I have absolutely no doubt that she is the sweetest, most agreeable person in the world.”