Andrea Kruis is a Dutch comics artist, illustrator, writer, and creator of children's literature. She is known for the comic strips Vijftien en een half, Sammie en Muis, Grietje, and her illustrations for children's books. She is the daughter of comics artist Jan Kruis, whose character Catootje was modelled after her.
Background
Andrea Kruis was born in Rotterdam in 1962 and grew up in a creative family. Her father was the well-known comics artist Jan Kruis, while her mother was a musician. She has an older sister, Leontine. When Andrea was thirteen, the family moved from Rotterdam to Drenthe. As a child she drew pictures to accompany books she read, which fostered her ambition to become a children's-book illustrator. She briefly considered working with animals and horses after receiving a pony, but ultimately pursued illustration.
Education
Kruis studied at the Minerva Art Academy, also known as the art academy in Groningen, where she followed a five-year programme in illustration and sculpture. She left the academy without a diploma after repeating a theoretical subject and deciding that she wanted to begin working professionally.
Career
Kruis began her professional career with commissions from the magazine Tina and the publishing house Malmberg, followed by illustration work for Bobo, the monthly magazine Kinderen, and Uitgeverij Kluitman. In 1990 she began creating the comic Vijftien en een half for Margriet, a series that ran for approximately a decade and became one of her best-known works. She also created or illustrated Grietje, Sammie en Muis, Keetje en Waf-Waf, Snuitje, and Grietje, and illustrated numerous children's books. Her work includes Marco en de boze wolf, Wat is er met die duif?, Juf Rommelkont, De boot van oom Kees, Pien en Puk krijgen nieuwe buren, Biggetje Bor, and books in the Sam Schiet series. Her first book, De kinderen van de Karekiet, appeared in 1998 and marked her debut as a writer. Sammie en Muis, written and drawn by Kruis, originally appeared in Tina and was later collected in book form. Her drawing style shows the influence of her father but is softer and more minimalist.
Achievements
Created the comic strip Vijftien en een half for Margriet, which became one of her best-known series and ran for approximately ten years.
Created and illustrated the comic strip Sammie en Muis for Tina, writing and drawing the stories herself.
Made her literary debut with the children's storybook De kinderen van de Karekiet in 1998.
Built a sustained career as an illustrator of Dutch children's books and as a creator of comic strips for children's and weekly magazines.
Works
children's book
Pien en Puk krijgen nieuwe buren
(Children's book associated with Andrea Kruis as author an...)
(Comic series created by Andrea Kruis for Margriet from 19...)
Early-reader book
Sam Schiet: Raak! (maar ook wel eens mis!)
(Part of the Sam Schiet series written by Fred Diks and il...)
2022
graphic novel
Alsnog
(Graphic novel for which Willem Ritstier wrote the scenari...)
2023
storybook
De kinderen van de Karekiet
(Andrea Kruis's debut book as a writer, a collection of st...)
1998
Personality
As a child, Kruis was an enthusiastic reader and illustrator who made her own pictures for books without illustrations. Her documented career reflects a sustained interest in children's literature, comics, and visual storytelling.
Interests
Kruis has described a childhood interest in animals and horses, including caring for a pony. She has maintained a particular professional interest in children's books and comic storytelling.
Connections
Andrea Kruis is the daughter of Dutch comics artist Jan Kruis, creator of Jan, Jans en de Kinderen. The character Catootje, the younger bespectacled daughter in that strip, was modelled after Andrea. She is also the sister of Leontine Kruis. In 1998 she and her husband Hans had a daughter, Carolien.
Father:
Jan Kruis
Dutch comics artist and creator of Jan, Jans en de Kinderen; his daughter Andrea followed him into comics and illustration.
Sister:
Leontine Kruis
Andrea's older sister.
husband:
Hans
Andrea and Hans had a daughter, Carolien, in 1998.
Daughter:
Carolien
Daughter of Andrea Kruis and Hans, born in 1998.
References
Kluitman: Andrea Kruis
Biographical profile documenting Kruis's family background, education at the Groningen art academy, early clients, comic work, children's-book illustrations, and writing debut.
Andrea Kruis official website
Official website presenting Kruis's illustrations, comics, projects, and professional activities.
Lambiek Comiclopedia: Jan Kruis
Reference documenting Andrea Kruis's work as a comic artist and illustrator, including Vijftien en een half and Sammie en Muis.
