Meet Illustrator Aino-Maija Metsola

Finnish illustrator and designer Aino-Maija Metsola is known for her bold, expressive work across children’s books, textiles and print. In this interview, originally published in 2016, she talks about island life near Helsinki, her creative influences, her work with Marimekko and Wide Eyed Editions, and the importance of finding your own artistic voice.

Please tell us a little but about where you live and what you love about it.

I live on an island with about 900 inhabitants just out of Helsinki. I love many things about the place, the sea and the shores, the fact that it’s so close to the city but you can feel close to nature there. I love that you can see the stars in the sky.

If you could live anywhere else in the world where might it be?

I can imagine living in so many places for a short period of time but at the moment I wouldn’t actually want to move anywhere permanently from my home. Last spring we stayed in Paris for two months which was very nice, but I think two months was enough for us then. We have lived in our current home for seven years so we are quite settled here.

Your ideal weekend is spent...

My ideal weekend would be a sailing trip to some little island, I would swim in the sea and just observe nature. But in Finland there are not that many months in the year when you can actually do that, so in the spring, autumn and winter I would do something else outdoors with my family, and maybe meet some friends.

Can you describe your interior style to us?

Natural, functional, simple, a bit rough. We choose new things carefully but we don’t like our home to look too designed, and I don’t like to think of decorating as a hobby. The interior can progress slowly while our needs and ideas take shape. We have quite a few things that my husband and I have made, for example ceramics and furniture.

As a creative person do you do any other crafts aside from print design and illustration?

I do ceramics, I knit, sometimes I sew.

You must be asked about what inspires you all the time, we want to know WHO inspires you in your work and life?

My family. And I also have very inspiring colleagues who are my friends. My husband is a graphic designer and illustrator and we share our studio, so we constantly inspire, motivate, criticise and comment on each other's work.

Tell us where it all started and how you felt at the time.

I’m a freelance illustrator and designer and I think it all started when I was a very little child, I have been drawing ever since I can remember. I just kept drawing and in the end turned it into a profession.

Your last project was...

I usually have many things going on at the same time. I think the most recent projects I finished were some prints for Marimekko and a new book for Wide Eyed Editions that will be called First Words, Art Charts.

What do you love about designing/illustrating?

I love being able to challenge myself, I love to evoke feelings and thoughts in people and I just love drawing and painting.

Does children's illustration interest you in particular?

Yes, I remember dreaming of illustrating children’s books when I was quite young. I love good children’s books, I think it’s extremely important that there are well designed books available for children.

How did your work with Wide Eyed come about?

My publisher Rachel Williams contacted me and asked if I would be interested in making books with them.

Do you have advice for aspiring illustrators or designers?

I believe you can achieve a lot if you work very hard, don't look at or think about what others do too much and find your own way of doing things. Being original is important.

Thank you to Aino-Maija Metsola for sharing her time and creative world with us. Images courtesy of Aino-Maija and Georgi Eremenko.

Looking for books that celebrate brilliant illustration and design? Explore Smallprint’s carefully chosen children’s books for every age.