Piet Grobler

Click for enlargements See Nicolette's quilt of Piet's painting Author's cats gallery

24 Florida Street
Paradyskloof
Stellenbosch 7600
www.pietgrobler.com
On 24 September 2005, Piet
opened his new art studio and gallery,
Hoi Hannelore!
at Cnr Dorp & Ryneveld Streets
Piet Grobler
Piet & Rottie
Illustrator and author of children's books

Born 26 September 1959 in Nylstroom, Limpopo Province. Grew up on a farm in Warmbaths area. Oldest of five children. Lives in Stellenbosch since 1989 with wife Marietjie, music teacher and musicologist and baby daughter Catherina (and cat Rottie).

Studies: BA & BD (Theology), University of Pretoria (1978-84)
Private tuition in watercolour painting, Innes Aab Tamsen (1982-84)
Hons, B Journalism, Stellenbosch University (1990)
N6 Graphic Design, Cape Town Technical College (1991-93)
MA in Fine Art, cum laude, Stellenbosch University 2004

Career:
Minister of religion, Hervormde Kerk (1985-89)
Graphic designer and editor, SANLAM Advertising & Publications (1991-96)
Freelance artist, illustrator and writer since May 1996

Awards:
Tienie Holloway medal (gold) for contribution to children's books 1997
(South African Academy for Arts and Science for Rhinoscephants on the roof (by Marita van der Vyver)
Silver medals: NOMA Concours (UNESCO), Tokyo, Japan 1997 and
2003 for Here I am (Ann Walton) and Sun canary, moon, canary (unpublished)
Octogone De Chêne 1999, France, for Carnival of the Animals (by Philip de Vos)
Bronze medal; Teheran International Biennale for Illustration 1999, Iran, for Carnival of the Animals
Primo Alpi Apuane; Italy 2000, for Carnival degli Animale
Bronze medal: Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), 2003
MER-Price 2006 for
Mia se ma/Mia's Mom
Katrine Harries Award for Children's Book Illustrations for the last few years:
1999-2001, 2002-2003 for three books:
Toepa toepa towery, Net een slukkie, Padda and Die Spree met Foete
and 2004/05 for Het Vogeltjes ABC (Lemniscaat) (2005); Makwelane en die krokodil & Mia's mom.

Favourite books:
The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy, Triomf by Marlene van Niekerk
Favourites are picture books! Anything illustrated by the German illustrator, Wolf Erlbruch, especiallyDie Menschenfresserin and anything illustrated by Zcech illustrator Kveta Pacovska or the Austrian Lisbeth Zwerger.

Click to enlarge Hobbies: Travelling, gardening
Corresponding with fellow illustrators abroad and collecting picture books
Motto: Got it from my Dutch granddad, born in Friesland:
Aanholn dut verkriegen (perseverance will be rewarded)

Books

Albert, Lizzie en die tasrekenaar
Boontjie kry sy loontjie
The rainbow birds
Net een slukkie, Padda (Please Frog, just one sip!)
Fussy Freya, 2008

I have illustrated more than 50 books. Most prominent ones:
Rhinoscephants on the roof by Marita vd Vyver
Here I am (by Ann Walton)
The Carnival of the Animals, Die Spree met Foete and Beware of the Canary by Philip de Vos
Doctor MeDiCin by Roberto Piumini
Please Frog, just one sip! by Piet Grobler
Aan tafel met Nettie Pikeur by Madeleine v Biljon (jr)
Rampe in die ruigte by Hennie Aucamp
Kwinksinnig by Johan Combrink

Kat se Blad (with Philip de Vos) , Human & Rousseau, 1999
Toepa toepa towery by JF Spies

Text and illustrations by Piet Grobler, August 2003 Photographs by Philip de Vos