Ville

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Comics
Interview : Ville

How did you decide to become a drawer / cartoonist?
I graduated as an architect but I have always considered myself more of an artist. Illustration and graphic design are now my professions. Making comic albums is a passionate hobby.

Was it a difficult choice to make? Why?
I rather drifted into graphics business during the severe period of depression in the early 90s. It was difficult time for architects and especially students. Nevertheless, I'm very happy about my choice in becoming a graphic artist.

Did you go to a school for drawers or cartoonists?
No, I trained my self reading and making real projects enthusiastically.

How do people consider comic strip in Finland?
I cannot say on anyone's behalf but mine: I'm actually not a very keen fan of comic strips, and I haven't done them. My projects in the comics scene have been sized from one page stories to albums (I have made one 64 pages long album and several smaller works).

What comic strip/artists did have a major influence on your work?
I am mainly interested in "serious" graphic literature which I do myself. Names that come to my mind (not in a specific order) are Enki Bilal, Miguelanxo Prado, Dave McKean, Max Cabanes, Hugo Pratt, Tarmo Koivisto...

Has your work been translated yet?
I will have my new album translated to French in the end of this summer. I hope that some French publisher will be interested in it.

Do you think that internet is the future medim for comic strip?
I like books and magazines as artifacts. I need to flip the pages, feel the material and the weight of it. I think it will take a long time when laptops achieve that kind of tactile values. I'm also afraid of copyright issues in the web.

Do you still work with a pencil and a paper or have you replaced them by a computer?
I work with the aid of both hands and computers.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2002