- Source: Marjolein Bastin
Marjolein Bastin (née uit den Bogaard) (born 1943) is a Dutch nature artist, writer, children's author and illustrator. She is the creator of the character "Vera the Mouse".
Biography
Bastin was born in Loenen (aan de Vecht) and studied at the Academy of Arts in Arnhem, where she met her husband and manager Gaston Bastin. Her father was educator and photographer John Henri uit den Bogaard (1911-1993). They have a daughter, Sanna (born in 1973), and a son, Mischa (born in 1974). Sanna runs the "Marjolein Bastin Kadowinkel" (The Marjolein Bastin Giftshop) while Mischa is a lawyer in Kansas City, USA. Marjolein and Gaston divide their time between country homes in the Netherlands and Missouri, and a tropical retreat in the Cayman Islands.
From 1960 to 1965, Bastin worked for different advertising agencies and publishers. Shortly after completing her studies at the Academy of Arts, she was asked to illustrate a one-page feature for the popular Dutch women's weekly Libelle. A Hallmark Cards designer discovered Bastin's artwork while on a trip to the Netherlands in the early 1990s. Stationery, greeting cards, home décor items and gifts in Hallmark's Nature's Sketchbook by Marjolein Bastin line are among the company's best-selling offerings. Many of her drawings are available as cross-stitch patterns, through Lanarte. Heye Puzzles offer Bastin's work as jigsaw puzzles.
In Good Housekeeping in 2003 she is quoted as saying, "I love the familiar and ordinary" and, "[t]he world that lies before us every day is just as beautiful as what's exotic and rare. Nature makes us all rich."
In Country Living in 2004 her garden was described as combining both formal manicured lines (e.g. topiary) along with "wild and woolly habitats" to encourage visits from a variety of different animals.
Vera The Mouse
The "Vera The Mouse" childrens' book series is Bastin's most well-known literary work. The series focuses on Vera the mouse and her animal friends. Many of the books detail the different times and activities in Vera's daily life.
Characters
Vera the Mouse: The main protagonist of the series. Vera is a female anthropomorphic mouse who lives a simple, peaceful life in a cozy country cottage with her friends. Vera is a kind, mild-mannered and optimistic "everywoman" and a motherly voice of reason to her friends. She was voiced by Mary Kay Bergman in "Vera The Mouse: Mr. Mole's Surprise".
Dolly: Vera's sentient mouse rag doll. She is spunky, bubbly and loves to dance and juggle. In the animated movie "Vera the Mouse: Mr. Mole's surprise", She is shown to be flirty around Fritzi and did a dancing/singing routine with Ladybug.
Ladybug: A witty, talking ladybug who sings and plays a tiny guitar.
Chicky: A soft-spoken wren who lays colorful eggs. She is voiced by Russi Taylor (the voice of Minnie Mouse) in "Vera the Mouse: Mr. Mole's Surprise".
Sarah: Vera's pet jack russel terrier who can speak. She has a tomboyish, playful personality and is very acrobatic.
Fritzi: A male shrew who shares a platonic relationship with Vera. He is something of a handyman, carpenter and "jack of all trades" who loves inventing strange new contraptions.
Mr. Mole: Vera's neighbor. He is a prim and proper mole, who is very verbose. While he can be long-winded, Mr. Mole doesn't like to draw attention to himself and can be private. Being a mole, he has very poor vision to the point where he comedically mistakes an objects as people and is put off when they don't respond to his greetings.
Bianca: Vera's eccentric and vivacious cousin who lives in a city far away. She is a white mouse who is often seen wearing pink, fashionable clothes. Bianca can be selfish and easily offended, but she means well and apologizes when she is wrong.
Mr. Postbird: A black bird postman who delivers Vera's mail.
Works
1985 – My Name Is Vera (Vera the Mouse Series)
1985 – Vera's Special Hobbies
1985 – Vera Dresses Up
1985 – Vera and her Friends
1986 – Vera the Mouse
1988 – Games With Vera
1988 – Vera in the Garden
1988 – Vera in the Kitchen
1988 – Vera in the Washtub
1991 – Nature Diary
1991 – A Little Dog for Vera
1994 – Flowers A to Z
1994 – From My Window
1994 – Nature's Sketchbook
1995 – Gardener's Companion
1995 – A Walk in the Woods
1996 – Seasons of Friendship
1998 – Butterflies - Winged Miracles of Nature
2004 – View From a Sketchbook: Nature Through the Eyes of Marjolein Bastin (with Tovah Martin)
In 2000 Vera starred in a 30-minute animated movie called "Vera the Mouse: Mr. Mole's Surprise".
References
External links
Official Website
Marjolein Bastin Artist Biography