Globi cartoonist Peter Heinzer dies
Globi illustrator Peter Heinzer has died. The Schaffhausen-based graphic artist passed away on November 1, as his family informed the *Schaffhauser Nachrichten* on Tuesday. Heinzer became known throughout Switzerland as the author and illustrator of 20 Globi books.
Heinzer's first Globi book was published in 1980 under the title "Globi in the Wild West". It was an instant success, selling 20,000 copies. The last Heinzer title to be published was "Globi für alle Fälle" in 2003. The Schaffhausen artist also created four "Papa Moll" volumes. The Globi stories drawn by Heinzer with verses by publishing director Guido Strebel are among the most popular and successful Globi books. Looking back, Strebel said that it was not sufficiently recognized that Heinzer had saved the Globi publishing house.
Heinzer was born in 1945 in Stein am Rhein SH. He attended the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts and completed an apprenticeship in graphic design in Schaffhausen. He became a freelance illustrator in 1972. He created comic figures such as the Redi bird, cartoons and animated films before becoming the inventor and illustrator of the Globi stories for two decades. In 1932, the Globi figure was created by advertising manager Ignatius Karl Schiele and illustrator Robert Lips for the 25th anniversary of the Globus department store: A blue bird with checked trousers and beret. The image has changed slightly over the years, but the most important trademarks have remained the same. Globi became the most successful Swiss children's book character.
Fascinated by the forest
In 1996, Heinzer and his wife moved to Hemmental near Schaffhausen, where he devoted himself entirely to painting. Far away from the hustle and bustle and noise, he explored barren plateaus and forests in the gorges and on the steep slopes and captured them on canvas. Heinzer's oil paintings are characterized by an almost photorealistic depth of field. (SDA)
