CHRISTER NUUTINEN HAS WON THE KAIKU AWARD!

Christer Nuutinen has been granted the Kaiku award for a breakthrough as an illustrator. 5000 € award is administered by Kuvittajat – The Association of Finnish Illustrators. Kaiku is one of the most significant illustration awards in Finland.

Kaiku is awarded every second year and last time it was given to an other Napa’s illustrator - Jussi Kaakinen!

Other winning illustrators were Seppo Polameri for his lifetime work (Kieku award) and Salla Savolainen for educational book illustrations (Kukko award). An exhibition will be held at the Helsinki Central railway station on May 23 - June 1.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!!

2:34 pm  •  22 May 2013  •  3 notes

JUSSI KARJALAINEN’S WORK EXHIBITED AT VISU GALLERY

Jussi Karjalainen is not only a talented illustrator but a renowned graphic designer as well. He is specialized in book design and album covers. He has designed album covers for several well-known Finnish bands e.g. Circle, 22-pistepirkko, Tuomari Nurmio, just to name a few. His book designs were awarded in The Most Beautiful Book of the Year competition in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, and this year his album design for the Finnish band PMMP was nominated for the Best Album Cover of the Year 2012 at Emma Awards.

Jussi’s works will be now exhibited at Visu gallery in Kokkola, Finland. A retrospective exhibition showcases the album and book covers which Jussi has brilliantly designed in the past 10 years. Make sure you see this one because Jussi’s work is rarely seen in exhibitions!

Jussi Karjalainen: Sana ja sävel, 17.5. – 29.6.2013
Visu gallery
Pormestarinkatu 2,
67100 Kokkola
Finland

(Source: facebook.com)

12:48 pm  •  15 May 2013  •  4 notes

“KENKÄHULLU - THE HIGH HEELS HIGH” ANIMATED DOCUMENTARY

Kenkähullu – High Heels High is an animated documentary about a young Finnish woman and her passion for high heels. Good looking artwork is done by Elina Minn who has been the art director of the project.

Free screenings are taking place at Turku Art Museum, starting on Friday!
Turku Anikists present: Sand in Ice Cream 17 May –15 Sep 2013.

https://www.facebook.com/Kenkahullu

1:08 pm  •  14 May 2013

PAULIINA MÄKELÄIS ONE OF THE FINALISTS IN THE ILLUSTRATION DIAMOND 2012 COMPETITION

Pauliina Mäkelä’s illustration for Yliopisto magazine has been chosen to be one of the three finalists in the Illustration Diamond 2012 competition. The illustration “Eläin meissä” (“Animal in us”) was made for an article about sexual behaviour and mate choice. The illustration was published in the cover of Yliopisto magazine (Helsinki University’s magazine)

Illustration Diamond competition is organized by Kuvittajat (The Association of Finnish Illustrators). The winner will be chosen by the audience of illustration seminar to be held on the 22nd of May at Kiasma Art Museum. 

All three finalists:

* Ekroos Ture, “Syvyyksissä”. Published in Tähtivaeltaja magazine
* Mäkelä Pauliina, “Eläin meissä”. Published in Yliopisto magazine
* Tietäväinen Ville, “Loppuun palanut”. Published in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

10:44 am  •  3 May 2013  •  2 notes

KATI NÄRHI JOINS NAPA AGENCY

Just February, emerging illustrator Eero Lampinen joined our roster, and today we’re proud to announce that illustrator and comics artist Kati Närhi has also joined our fold!

Kati Närhi is a Helsinki-based illustrator, graphic designer and comic artist. Graphic Designer Närhi graduated from The School of Arts, Design and Architecture Department of Media in 2001. From 2002 to 2012 she worked as an Art Director in the marketing department of the Stockmann department store and fashion chain. Her published works include three graphic novels and a book of illustrations. Närhi’s latest graphic novel Mustasuon mysteeri (“Mystery of the Black Swamp”) was a nominee for the national Sarjakuva-Finlandia comics award in 2013.

Check out Kati’s portfolio and read more about her in the interview below.



Could you please tell us a bit about your background. How did you become an illustrator?

I have always drawn a lot. As a child I entertained myself by drawing pony and vampire comics. I was also interested in literature, so after high school I studied literature and aesthetics in the University of Helsinki. All through my studies I drew comic strips to my hometown’s newspaper. In the University Drawing School it finally dawned to me, that I wanted to express myself through visual arts rather than literature, so I applied to the School of Arts, Design and Architecture to study Graphic Design. In the art school I was most excited about illustration courses.

Please describe your technique. Do you have specific methods and what stage do you like most?

I start by drawing with Illustrator. Then I create different surfaces with watercolours, acrylic paints, pastels and such. I scan the surfaces and paste them to the Illustrator images. Finally I finish everything in Photoshop. What I enjoy most, is coming up with something new, whether it is a strange but effective new colour combination or a pattern.

What do you like most in being an illustrator and what do you find most challenging?

I’m allowed to use my imagination. That is the best. Keeping one’s inner critic at bay is for me the most challenging part of the job.

You have published 3 graphic novels. Is there a common theme in you comics?

There’s perhaps a certain mixture of black humour and naivety in all of them. However, my comics aren’t really one-dimensionally comical, and there’s usually a grave undertone present. For some reason the style of my comics is darker and more gothic than the style of my illustrations.

What kind of surroundings do you work in?

Me and Helmi Sirola share a studio in Kallio neighbourhood of Helsinki.

What are your interests and do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy reading and watching films. I have this useless talent of being able to remember actors and actresses – even minor ones – from age old films. I’m also interested in music and fashion. I’m a kind of a serial beginner of sports: I have tried out for example boxing, adult ballet, yoga and horseback riding, and my latest fling is fencing.

What would be your dream job?

I’m a candy maniac, so I would love to illustrate candy boxes or wrappers.

Would you like to see illustrations used more commonly in some context?

There could be more illustrations in packaging. When abroad, I always collect nice cookie, tea and chocolate boxes. Back home they end up gathering dust in the corner, but I don’t dare to throw them away.

Kati Närhi’s 6 current favourites:

Record: Kate Bush: Hounds of love
Writer: Haruki Murakami
Exhibition: Fashion photographer Tim Walker’s Storyteller exhibition in Somerset House, London Film: Singin’ in the Rain
Artist: Yoshimoto Nara
City: London, England

11:42 am  •  25 April 2013  •  14 notes

“Planning the Bothnian Sea” book won a silver prize in the Best of the Year 2012 competition (Vuoden Huiput) organized by Grafia – Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland. Illustrations by Napa’s Jukka Pylväs, designed by Tuomas Siitonen and Johannes Nieminen!

Riikka Sormunen’s illustrations for “Big Mother 3” book were victorious as well! Riikka was awarded with a distinction in the category of Young Creatives.

Congrats to all the winners of the competition!
http://www.vuodenhuiput.fi/

4:53 pm  •  22 April 2013  •  4 notes

RIIKKA SORMUNEN SHORTLISTED AT THE BEST OF THE YEAR 2012 COMPETITION (VUODEN HUIPUT)

“An illustration sample that is art. Made the jury gasp and fall on their knees.” - The Best of the Year 2012 jury.

Exhibition of shortlisted works with jury’s comments can be seen at Virka Gallery until the 26th of May.

(Source: riikkas.com)

4:06 pm  •  17 April 2013  •  26 notes

KAIVOPUISTO ANIMATION BY ILJA KARSIKAS AT ANIMATRICKS FESTIVAL

Animatricks animation film festival is presenting lja Karsikas’ short animation Kaivopuisto as a part of the New Finnish Animated Shorts 2: Experimental screenings. The festival is organized in Helsinki this weekend (Fri-Sun 19. – 21.4.2013).

The animation was done in co-operation with an esseist Antti Nylén (text), a musician Samae Koskinen (music) and Jaakko Torvi (animating). You might remember the work from our World Design Capital project Yellow City – Illustrated Stories from Helsinki organized last year.

New Finnish Animated Shorts 2: Experimental screenings on Saturday at 19.45 and on Sunday at 19.30. Tickets à 7 €.

(Source: iljakarsikas.com)

3:36 pm  •  17 April 2013  •  1 note

JANNE HARJU FOR RAY

Janne Harju made these and a whole bunch of other logos for RAY (Finland’s Slot Machine Association). Logo’s can be seen at RAY’s casino games playing points situated in restaurants, bars and casinos. Aren’t they pretty cool?

(Source: napaillustrations.com)

3:50 pm  •  5 April 2013

KASPER STRÖMMAN “THE GRAPHIC DESIGNER OF THE YEAR” FEATURED IN MAGAZINES

The media has shown interest in Kasper Strömman, the Graphic Designer of the Year 2013. Lately Kasper has been interviewed by M&M magazine, Kotivinkki magazine and Voima magazine (you can read the interview in Finnish here).

Kasper’s illustrations can be seen at the pages of Blue Wings magazine and at Lily.fi website.

Go Kasper!

4:27 pm  •  4 April 2013  •  7 notes