Meet R. Cat Conrad

02/26/13

Cat hails from Fort Worth, after residing many years in Arlington – that’s Texas, not the national cemetery, even though his life reads like a cemetery plot … one that might’ve been dreamed up by his renowned vampire author wife (Rachel Caine). Alas, Cat’s puns have reportedly jeopardized his allotted nine lives so just pretend he’s a famous (not yet dead) artist and purchase his paintings accordingly.

His background includes a degree in fine arts from the University of Science and Arts in Oklahoma. From there, Cat learned just how far an art degree would take him … across town and into a 10-year stint with an UnFortunate 500 company … as an industrial chemist. He often wonders if some frustrated chemist out there ended up sweating over a drawing board and muttering, “What the hell happened to my resume?”

Prolonged exposure to hazardous materials may not have improved Cat’s humor, but it did convince him that he wasn’t making a better living through chemistry. In 1991 he moved on to greener pastures – in preference to becoming a permanent part of the “underground” movement.

Cat’s art reflects a variety of genres and mediums, from SF to the surreal, for both fine art and commercial illustration audiences. Stylistically, his paintings demonstrate recognizable influences from old masters and 20th century painters/illustrators. He’s best known for his space landscapes and dragon illustrations.

C Conrad Photo 1 Currently, in addition to being an award-winning painter and Golden Age comic historian, Cat is a popular speaker and auctioneer, and continues to gain prominence as a fan entertainer. He has been a featured auctioneer at almost a hundred conventions throughout the Southwest, including the possible Guinness record breaking five and a half hour marathon auction of WorldCon 51.