"When I make a book, I make it for the child and not for the parent - no jokes in it for the parents! "
Dick Bruna was born in Utrecht, Netherlands on August 23, 1927. Since he was a teenager he had interest in design. After the war, Bruna and his family moved to Hilversum, Netherland. He doesnt’t like school and work as intern in Utrecht, London and Paris instead. He highly impresses of Picasso, Leger, Mattise, Braque, Rembrandt, Gerrit Rietveld and Van Gogh works. In the early 50's, He had a chance to make book covers. His early work was influenced by Mattisse's collage. "The first year a series of about six books appeared, the second year there were roughly eighteen, but soon afterwards there were more than one hundred a year. I realized that I, at this rate, had to apply all possible techniques: drawing, tearing, cutting, collage. The black bears were my art school." Dick Bruna by Joke Linders.
Dick Bruna first children book was the Apple published in 1953. The most famous all the time is Miffy published in 1955. At the beginning, he wasn't sure weather Miffy was a boy or girl. In 1963, Miffy's appearance change in 1963. Her looks become more refine and simpler form. He mentioned "Miffy has changed quite a lot since the early books, although I never realized it at the time."
His works always have a lot of joy in shape and color. It inspired me to make a children book. One of his inspirational quotes is "I did about 2000 covers altogether, for all sorts of books - from Shakespeare to James Bond - and I always had the idea that I must give 100%, no matter who the author was." Dick Bruna.
If you had a chance to go to Utrecht, don't forget to visit central museum. Check also Miffy's website. If you have young kids, nephew or niece it would be nice to share.
Sources: ickbrunahuis, iconofgraphics, retrobook