Peter Wienk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Wienk
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Peter Wienk in 1973
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| Born | 11 September 1920 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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| Died | 16 August 2010 (aged 89) IJsselstein, the Netherlands
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Peter Wienk (born September 11, 1920 – died August 16, 2010) was a talented Dutch artist. He was known for both his amazing illustrations and his beautiful paintings.
Contents
Who Was Peter Wienk?
Early Life and Art Skills (1920-1950)
Peter Wienk loved to draw from a very young age. He was lucky enough to take art lessons from Miss A.C. Gijswijt. She was a friend of the Amsterdamse Joffers, a group of famous female artists in Amsterdam.
When Peter was 14, he had to leave school to start working and earn money. He first worked as a car mechanic and a driver. After a difficult time in East Germany in 1945, he began working as an illustrator. He drew for different advertising companies and art studios. One of these was the Toonder Studios, run by Marten Toonder, another famous Dutch illustrator. In 1947, Peter joined Reclamebureau Van Alfen. This is where the fun character Flipje (a fruit character for a jam company) was created by Eelco ten Harmsen van der Beek.
Drawing Noddy (1950-1970)
Eelco ten Harmsen van der Beek, also known as Beek, had his own art studio. In 1949, he got an exciting job to illustrate a new story by the children's author Enid Blyton. This story was about a character named Noddy. Noddy first appeared as a comic strip in an English newspaper. It became so popular that the first book, Noddy Goes to Toyland, was published soon after.
Enid Blyton wrote very quickly, so Beek needed help. In 1950, Peter Wienk became his assistant. At first, Peter helped by coloring Beek's drawings. But soon, Peter started drawing the Noddy characters himself!
Beek passed away in 1953. After this, Peter Wienk, Marten Toonder, and a few other illustrators all wanted to continue drawing the Noddy books. Even though Toonder was very famous, Enid Blyton felt that Peter Wienk's drawings were a better fit for Noddy.
So, from 1953 to 1970, Peter Wienk illustrated many Noddy books, including the bigger Noddy Big Books. Enid Blyton died in 1968. Peter's work on the Noddy books ended in 1970.
Other Creative Projects (1952-1971)
In 1952, Peter Wienk opened his very own art studio, called Studio Wienk. Besides his work on Noddy, he took on many other illustration jobs. He drew for Sic Natura, English textbooks, Blooker's Cocoa, and Wonderen van de Natuur (Miracles of Nature). These Miracles of Nature drawings appeared weekly in newspapers in the Netherlands, England, Germany, France, the United States, and Australia.
Peter also created his own comic strips, like Nikkie, which appeared in Dutch and English newspapers. He hired several artists to help him. In 1955, Nelly Koenen joined his studio. She had studied at the Art Academy in Maastricht. Peter and Nelly fell in love and got married in 1957.
Later Life and Painting (1971-2010)
In 1971, Peter Wienk trained to become an insurance adviser. By 1973, he opened his own office called Wienk Assurantiën-Financieringen. Even with his new job, he never stopped drawing and painting in his free time. He created many beautiful artworks.
After he retired, Peter Wienk moved to the Nijmegen area. There, he spent all his time painting, using different art styles. He painted both for people who asked for specific artworks and just for fun. Peter and his wife, Nel Koenen, held several art exhibitions together to show their work. Nel passed away in 2015 in Maastricht.
Peter Wienk had two children, Reinoud and Chris. He died in IJsselstein on August 16, 2010, just a few weeks before his 90th birthday.
Peter Wienk's Artworks
Illustrations
- 1952-1969 – Sic Natura (Peter Wienk) (published in Dutch and various foreign newspapers)
- 1952-1963 – Various comic strips (Peter Wienk) (published in Dutch and English newspapers)
- 1953-1970 – Noddy books and Noddy Big Books (Enid Blyton)
- 1953-1971 – Wonderen van de Natuur (Wonders of Nature) (Peter Wienk) (published in Dutch and various foreign newspapers)
- ±1959-1961 – Nikkie (Peter Wienk) (published in Dutch and various foreign newspapers)
- ±1960 – Margriet Vacantieboek (Dutch magazine yearly supplement)
- 1962 – Birds in the Garden (George E. Hyde)
- 1963 – How to Know Trees (George E. Hyde)
- 1963 – Furry Creatures of the Countryside (George E. Hyde)
- 1985 – Flierefluiter wienkt... (Jan van Goch)
- 1986 – Birthday calendar (commission by NMB bank)
Exhibitions
- 1983 – Sales exhibition (Amsterdam) (Peter and Nel Wienk)
- 1984 – De Weijer Exhibition Centre (Boxmeer) (Peter and Nel Wienk)
- 1985 – Nature Exhibition (Rijkevoort) (Peter Wienk)
- 1986 – Art Oploo ca ’86 (St. Anthonis) (Peter and Nel Wienk)
Images for kids
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Wonders of Nature, story and illustrations by Peter Wienk
