Johanna Harma is a Finnish illustrator now based in Leeds, who was recently commissioned by Leeds Inspired to help promote their fabulous cultural listings site. Wendy Denman chatted to Johanna about Moomins, Yorkshire pudding trees, Leeds colours and the joy of silliness. You can win one of her lovely posters too, if you’re lucky.
The plant you’ve drawn for Leeds Inspired is going crazy in a ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ fashion. Is it as friendly as it looks?
When I did the initial sketches for the Leeds Inspired poster it was still summer, and I got a lot of inspiration for it visiting parks and gardens around Leeds (like the gardens of Harewood House), and long Sunday walks on the canal. The plant represents all the fun and inspiring things going on around Leeds, it’s very friendly and exotic – but not carnivorous.
It’s clear to see you’re a big fan of nature. If you could grow anything on a tree, what would it be?
I’d like a tree under my window in Leeds that would grow all Finnish foods that I miss, like salty liquorice, ryebread and lingonberries. But then when I go home on holiday I’d take it along and it would grow English treats, like Yorkshire puddings, Cornish pasties and rhubarb crumble.
You’ve been based in the UK for a few years now. Have you found many similarities between Yorkshire and Finland?
People in Yorkshire are lovely, very down-to-earth and honest like most Finns. When I was a kid my mum used to watch Emmerdale, so I got used to the Yorkshire accent a little. Leeds has a great creative vibe and a lot going on to get inspired by, but a lot of my work is still influenced by what’s happening in Finland as well as Yorkshire. I love the simplicity and functionality mixed with a quirkiness that you see in Finnish design and illustration.
I love the bold colours you’ve used on the poster. If you had to describe Leeds as a colour, which would it be and why?
When I first came to Leeds what I loved instantly were the old red brick buildings around Leeds University campus, there was something romantic and very English about it. So a ‘Leeds colour’ that comes to mind would be a brick colour, burnt orange?
Your illustrations have a very dreamlike feel to them. Have you ever drawn a character you’ve fallen in love with, or a place you feel you just have to visit?
I had a phase a little while ago when I drew a lot of strange, sort of abstract worlds, mountains and patterns. I think the dreamlike style comes from watching the Moomins constantly when I was a kid! I’d like to visit one of these valleys between huge purple mountains, because around my hometown the landscape is quite flat, surrounded by lakes and forests.
Tell us about something exciting you’re involved with!
Last year I got into screen-printing at Inc Workshop in Leeds. It’s a great place to go print some of my illustration work. I’ve got a poster design and some cards that I really need to go screen print soon! I’m always covered in ink afterwards, but the whole process is so satisfying and suits my bold and colourful illustration style well. I’ve also recently taken up learning cinema4D (3D software), which is mind-boggling but will be great when I know it better.
Friendly Finn, Double Gin, Silly Grin or Identical Twin?
A friendly-doubley-silly Finn. Double gin could be good too after a long day, but what’s more relaxing than being silly?
Johanna is on Twitter @jojo_harma and you can see more of her work at www.johannaharma.co.uk
*****
For your chance to win one of ten of these inspiring A3 posters, please answer the question about the picture in the comments box below.
Q: Where’s the best place in Leeds for a roof garden and why?
The closing date for entries is Wednesday 20 February at midday. Winners will be announced later that day on the website. Good luck!
By the canal in town, with a good view and sunchairs!
The best place for a roof garden in Leeds was… and still would be Temple Works in Holbeck. We could regrow the grass but instead of just Sheep we could have Antelopes and Zebras too.
I’m sure there was a proposal to put a roof garden on top of the Broadgate Centre (the old Lewis’s) and that would be a great place. That part of the city is high up so you’d have a fab view.
The best in place in Leeds for a roof garden would be above the outdoor and indoor markets at Kirkgate Market.
http://goo.gl/maps/ueoKg
While the views wouldn’t necessarily be far reaching it may solve two issues. Firstly, it would provide a massive city centre park in the shopping district. Secondly, it would act as a magnet for masses of footfall so helping the market economically through additional custom.
Somewhere away from the noise of the city centre, on the outskirts of Leeds with a great view of hilly Yorkshire countryside.
On top of Leeds Train station, people could spend sometime up there before heading to their work to have their morning coffee or to say goodbye to their friends. The greenery absurd all the pollution, but please no pigeons allowed!
Got to be the Rose Bowl. The Leeds University building near Millenium Square. Have a look at the roof of the building, a perfect space for a roof top garden, great views of the city and the name!!!!
http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/860911_10151430407039726_1217678842_o.jpg
For the most daring, a roof garden on Bridgewater place, and a zip wire from the top, across the canal to the skyline bar at the top of the Double Tree Hotel. That would be completely amazing and bring lots of people to Yorkshire to try it!
Use the whole of the tops of the buildings that make up the Merrion complex. Loads of room, multi level, with walkways between them. Opportunity for a small woodland, a meadow, a playground, an allotment and probably a pond. Just think what a difference it would make to that ugly aspect of our beautiful city.
There’s a great big flat roof on top of the Royal Armouries. Could get lovely views of the Leeds skyline, and overlooks the river too for tranquility vibes. Would lend itself to the chilled out atmosphere at Clarence Dock (though think it has a new name now???) and hopefully attract some more visitors to the very nicely done development there.
On top of a First Leeds double decker. Perhaps the Leeds to Skipton X84 to enjoy a mixture of our vibrant city, suburbs and countryside. You couldn’t beat a bit if the Yorkshire dales
On top of Monsoon there’s a lovely old, yellow balustrade. You could stand there leaning against it, watching the flow of people down below. You’d have to be sipping something like a Disaronno and the garden would be full of wonderfully scented flowers. Perfect.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if all the buildings in town had roof gardens and interconnecting bridges?
Must agreed the best place for a roof garden has got to be the market buildings which are such a valuable historic feature in Leeds – you will get a fab view now from the new Leeds Eye of our city. Well done to Johanna for such great poster.
Best place for a rooftop (beer) garden would have to be the new arena. What better place to get a pre gig drink whilst gazing across the rooftops of Leeds.