Cartoonist Ulla Donner wins the Wooden Hat Award – themes are born out of concern and irritation

Illustrator and cartoonist Ulla Donner comments sharply on the problems of modern man and society.

– I am grateful for the recognition, although in the cultural field, of course, the idea of rewarding one is a bit absurd.

The Wooden Hat Award is a lifetime achievement award, so usually the winners have been comic artists with long careers. This time, the jury wanted to reward a young, accomplished artist with a high quality output.

Finnish-Swede Ulla Donner has only published three comic albums, but she has also won the 2020 Comic Finlandia with *Skiten* (S

Donner’s works are strongly different from each other, but they all make sharp comments on contemporary society and the life course of young adults.

– Often the topics arise from such a big cloud that is full of worries and irritation. They always crystallize into a subject that I want to work with for a long time.

The latest comic album *Natural Play* (2023 S

The idea for the main character was born on a car trip, when a birch leaf got stuck on the windshield wiper. Donner had to stop and let go of the magazine.

– I thought that if I feel that much empathy towards one birch leaf, then maybe it would work as a main character.

Usually Donner starts making a comic book by writing. When the story is ready, the sketching of the pictures begins.

– I always think I know exactly how I make the pictures. But when I start drawing, everything changes and the pieces change places.

Dogs on the desktop

You can’t make a living by making comics, so Donner, trained as a graphic designer, makes illustrations and book covers. The daily life of a freelance artist is a balancing act between commissioned work and artistic work.

Currently, Donner has two of his own projects in the works.

A comic about failed artists is in the script stage. The texts are hidden in the computer screen.

On the desktop, instead, there are dog figurines. They are related to Donner’s children’s book, which he does from start to finish himself. The book is aimed at very young children.

The story is already pretty much ready, now you just have to find the right expressions and characteristics for the dog group.

– I want to make this quite simple. It seems that children’s books these days are very colorful and full of everything.

Cartoons for the inattentive

Ulla Donner’s next cartoon deals with the challenges of living as an artist and the problems of self-esteem. The topics are also familiar to Donner himself. He reveals that he is embarrassed every time a new work comes out.

– I find mistakes and points that could have been done differently.

The upcoming album also addresses the Finnish art scene, whose future does not look good.

– The current situation with surgeries scares and frustrates. I’m afraid to wait to see what our country’s cultural scene will look like in ten years. It seems that the decision makers do not care about the consequences.

Although comics often remain in obscurity, Donner believes in the future of comics.

– It’s hard for people to concentrate these days. If you can’t read a whole novel, maybe you can read a comic book.