15 + 1 questions for Piet Grobler

1. Describe yourself in a hashtag?

#worrier or #chameleon or #libra. I can't choose which one.

2. What do you listen to when you're alone?

I always return to Sigur Rós, Paloma Faith, Leonard Cohen, Queen and Sumi Jo. But this month's favourites are Cosmo Sheldrake and Laufey.

3. What do you read first thing every morning?

Wordle blocks with my first coffee at six (English, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Dutch and German).

4. Which South African publications do you read regularly?

Vrye Weekblad and Media24 highlights when I see on Facebook there is drama in the motherland.

5. When did you decide to become an artist/illustrator?

I always dreamed of it since I can remember. But as a farm kid, I didn't think it was possible. So by the age of 30, when I went to study journalism, I made a job out of it.

6. And what came first, art or writing?

Drawing. I don't remember drawing on walls, but certainly on any paper, magazine, empty envelope or book that my brother Diek and I could lay our hands on as toddlers.

7. Which person had a big influence on you?

I think indirectly my grandfather Reint (a farmer and immigrant from the Netherlands) on my mother's side. He was eccentric and interesting, although a bit demonic, and he had a heavy Dutch accent. Grandfather Kaas planted vegetables and fruits that were not terribly common in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s, such as eggplant, sweet pepper and persimmons. He ate canned octopus and clams like other people would eat peanuts. He whetted my appetite for unknown things and distant places.

8. What was your favourite toy as a child?

Books, pencils and farm animals. For the latter we made living worlds on the sand pile. Our childhood toys (plus a so-called boy doll, Cecil … spoiler alert) continued to play roles in concerts in the hallway long after we were toddlers.

9. Who and what inspires you?

Foreign cities. Nature. Picture books that are clever and unusual. I can't think of people who inspire me right now. The people who impress and move me the most are those who take care of abandoned people and animals free of charge with little money.

10. The highlight of your life?

The birth of my daughter, Catherina.

11. Where do your ideas come from?

It helps to be curious and constantly look around when you walk. Eavesdropping on conversations in coffee shops also helps, but it's a bit difficult in Portugal, because they mutter and talk too fast for my level of understanding. Many ideas come from the human traits in animals. And the animal traits in people. People's madness, ridiculousness, superstition and defencelessness are quite a source of subjects for my independent illustrations or small paintings.

12. If you weren't an illustrator and writer, what would you want to be?

Gardener.

13. Who else would you like to collaborate with?

In South Africa, my collaboration with Philip de Vos meant a lot and struck exactly the right chord in my work. I would still like to work with a publisher or two that I admire: Tara Books in India and Chronicle Books in the US. After a lifetime of illustrating for other writers (which was great — what a variety!) I now want to focus on my own stories.

14. Your favourite South African author?

Wow, I have a lot of writer friends and choosing is going to be a problem. It might be safer to choose a deceased one: Verna Vels, who wrote Liewe Heksie. For the influence she had on so many children of my lifetime.

15. What could you never live without?

Cheese, coffee, boerewors, lamb chops, white yoghurt, tomatoes, Indian food, salad leaves, swimming in nature. Suddenly I wonder if the question required a more esoteric answer? But I think I am content with the list of carnal pleasures.

16. What are you looking forward to?

The next meal. Christmas is overrated.

♦ VWB ♦

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