Stefan de Groot was born in Belgium to Dutch parents. He started to draw at an early age. Fascinated by the world of Disney, he learned English at age ten from reading biographies and all books related to Walt Disney. Later on, he had to choose between his two talents: music and drawing. He decided to study drums at the conservatory of music. At the same time. he began illustrating books. He stopped his music studies due to a wrist injury, and started concentrating on comics.
Influenced by artists such as Walt Kelly, Marten Toonder, Yves Chaland and Will Eisner, he started creating the epic 'Kwab en de Wereld van Watals?', about the cartoon character Kwab the Brave Hippo, which his grandfather created in the late twenties. In January 2000, 'De Retroflits,' the first part of this epic, was published. It was the first comic to be published purely on demand from orders over the Internet. In the summer of 2000, Gopher Publishers released the English version, 'The Retroflash: Kwab and the World of Whatif?'
Stefan de Groot is also working as a freelance illustrator and (Flash) animator. He has done assignments for KLM Airlines and Stiching Kinderpostzegels (children's stamps), while also creating 'Okiodoki' cartoons. He lives and works in Haarlem.
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