Bob Bertram was born in Kirkwood, Missouri in 1960. As far back as he can remember he was drawing. His mother used to give him paper and a pencil and ask him to draw her a picture as a way to keep him quiet and out of trouble.

Bob graduated from Springfield High School in Springfield, Illinois in 1979. In 1981 he received his Associate of Arts degree from Lincoln Land Community College. Bob then attended Murray State for the next three years, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with emphasis in illustration in 1984.