In 1987, Sieb Posthuma graduated from the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, and immediately found work as a freelance illustrator. His editorial and commercial work ranges from political cartoons, to books, lifestyle drawings, animated films, logos, postal stamps, telephone cards, CD covers and charity campaigns.

Posthuma has illustrated numerous books, such as works by William Shakespeare, Isaac B. Singer and the complete works by Thomas Mann. He has also enjoyed much success illustrating children’s literature and poetry. Sieb for instance makes animations for Sesame Street. His drawings for Feodoor won the Silver Penseel Award 2007. Another milestone in Posthuma's career was the commission for the highly prestigious Children Stamps 2000. Sieb’s illustrations for a picturebook with CD of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf received an honourable mention from the Penseeljury 2005 and became a bestseller.

In September 2001 his first self-written picture book was published: Rintje, based on the adventures of his own dog. The book (which was also translated into English, Italian and Japanese, click for reviews)received an honourable mention from the Penseeljury 2002 and has since become a character with its own weekly storyboard in the Dutch quality daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad. Querido re-published a collection of forty stories, Rintje ruikt avontuur. Since then Rintje Maakt Muziek, Waar Is Rintje? and Rintje en zijn vriendjes have been published. The first German Rintje-book will be published Spring 2008 by Boje Verlag. Rintje also has his own selection of postcards and a series of animated Rintje-stories for TV is currently in pre-production by Lemming Film.

Another picture book for which Sieb wrote the story is Mannetje Jas, published in 2006 and very well received. Sieb is currently preparing a music theatre production based on the story. On the occasion of the opening of the new public library in Amsterdam in July 2007, Sieb was asked to write and illustrate a book to celebrate the occasion. Sieb is currently working on the set designs and costume concepts for Delibes’ Coppélia, the new production by the Dutch National Ballet. The production will open in Amsterdam February 2008, and coinciding with the premiere, Querido will publish a picture book based on the production.

In 1997, Posthuma won the Silver Award from the American Society of Newspaper Design, and in 1998 his work was included in an international exhibition at London's OXO-Tower of political drawings, The Great Challenge.

Sieb Posthuma lives and works in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

"Posthuma is a magnificent illustrator. His picture books excel in expressiveness, atmosphere and use of colour." (Het Parool)

THEMED ONLINE PORTFOLIOS (note: all drawings copyright Sieb Posthuma)

for children

ink and colour
watercolour
cut outs
various techniques

click here for a list of clients, exhibitions etc.