New talent: Wilma Harju

 

 

You know that feeling you get when you discover a new young talent? Whether it’s a designer you haven’t come across before, or a new blogger that gets you so excited your toes curl and you can’t sit still. I’ve been getting that a lot recently- I swear there’s been such an influx of talented people at the moment it’s hard to keep up!
I generally put it down to social media- what better way of getting your work out there when you’re still unknown… I have a lot to thank blogger, instagram and twitter for, both in terms of my own work and for finding others.

One of my recent discoveries is 16 year old Wilma, art textile student from Sweden. I was introduced to her beautiful delicate illustrations via instagram; her style is something I haven’t really come across before, and her hand is already so developed and unique for someone so young. Plus, not only is she hella talented she’s also extremely sweet and agreed to let me interview her about her work.

H: You have a really unique style of drawing, how did you get started?

W: Thank you very much!

Well, I have drawn and painted my whole life and I’ve used different techniques and drawn in different ways all the time, however it wasn’t until a year ago I found my own ‘style’. I don’t really know how I ended up drawing the way I do, but I’ve never been much good at drawing realistically with right proportions etc, so I guess that’s why I started out with a more abstract and I guess ‘weird’ style of drawing.

H: Why exactly do you draw?

W: Well, I think I draw because it appeals to me and satisfies me

H: Your characters always have a mysterious presence about them. I’m not sure whether this is intentional, but I sense a feeling of melancholy around some of them. Are these pople of you imagination, or are they based around people you know?

W: I‘ve always been drawn to people with different- some might say weird- appareances, and I’m not particularly attracted to the typically ‘beautiful’. Maybe this is because I’ve always felt weird and different myself, and I guess why my drawings depict quite odd looking characters.

Most of my drawings are created from imagination. I start with an eye, then a nose, mouth and so on… You noticed that some of them looked melancholy, and I’d say that’s probably right. I draw what I feel and take inspiration from my own emotions. I’m not a very happy person, and I often end up with quite sad looking drawings.

 

H: What inspired you, and what drives you to create?

W: Everything and nothing inspires me. I don’t really know what drives me to create, but I always want to create something all the time. Sometimes I even have to force myself to create, but when I do it usually just turns out crap..

H: The majority of your work is created in black pen, is there a reason for this? Are there any other mediums you’d want to experiment with?

W: The reason I use black fine liners isn’t particularly deep, I just like it. Before I found the pleasure of a black pen I was in a wate rcolour period and painted in it all the time. That was before I started to draw the way I do now. I think a simple black pen fits my style best. Since I go to art school, I experiment with different methods all the time and really enjoy it! However, when I get to choose exactly what I want to draw with, it usually ends up with my dear black pen.

H: As you’re still studying, is illustration/art something you’re considering furthering throughout your career. If so, how do you want your work to be recognized? What do you want to be known for?

W: I love what I do and that’s why I do to art/ textile school, and would absolutely love to have a future career in it, but I’m always doubting myself and thinking I’m not good enough. I also hate thinking about the future, it scared the hell outta me! For the moment though I’m just thinking about starting up a little webshop where I can sell my stuff- not only illustrations, but I make jewelry and other things too.

One thing I’m sure of is that I’m always going to continue to create things. It might sound like a cliché, but what kind of life would you have if you stopped doing the things you love?

H: Are you ever stuck for inspiration, and how do you overcome any creative blocks you may face?

W: I often run out of ideas and inspiration and when I do, I just put the pen away for a while. I hate those moments but it never turns out well when I force myself to do something, so even if I don’t want to face the fact that “right now I can’t create something good”, I know I have to.

H: And finally, could you try and sum yourself in three words?

W: Absent, strong (mentally) and shy

Wilma was such a joy to interview- I know for a fact that answering questions about your own work isn’t easy. You tie so much emotion to your work that explaining it to an outsider is one of the hardest things to do, but she managed it so well, and it feels so good to have so much more insight into her work.

I also know exactly how it feels to think you’re not good enough- I don’t know why this happens so often with creative people- but we all do it. I can say now though that Wilma has unbelievable talent, and no matter what she chooses to do in the future I’ll always be excited to see what she does next. Until then though, I’ll continue to wait in anticipation for her new illustration snaps…
You can see more of Wilma's work on her Instagram or check out her Photography blog.