Daily Life Inspiration

Olga’s white room

A weekend of blinding white snow didn’t slow down New York City. I lie awake each night, unable to quiet my thoughts and drift to sleep. One of those evenings, I wrote to Olga and asked her to tell me a story about her tranquil White Room.

Olga Inoue is an artist and blogger based in Saint Petersburg. When I first encountered her work, I was drawn to the way she collected leaves, stones, and flowers to make tiny wearable jewelry and sculpture. Perhaps inspired by her background as a montessori teacher, Olga often makes watercolor paintings of delicate animals and young figures on solitary adventures. Her blog is full of daily life still shots and observations that read like poetry. Her answers to my questions were just as full of poetic details.

Come, take a break with Olga in her White Room:

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“As long as I remember, collecting was an essential part of life.
When I was three, I had this big elephant tote with me all the time
for colored glass, pebbles, and screws. Since then, nothing has changed.
It only got bigger with my experience teaching in montessori school,
where small things mean a lot and details are so important.”

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“I love to start my day in silence, get things ready for orders and letters,
set up drawing supplies, and then I turn on some music, loud enough just
to hear it. And this new day itself is what makes me feel creative.
Sometimes I do not even have breakfast, only a glass of water, because
all the ideas and thoughts feed me fully.”

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“We moved a lot for the last three years.
Near my table, I stand there and put small parts together.
I think this table is like a home to me.”

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Goodnight, moon! I think I’ll sleep well tonight…

* All images by Olga

16 Comments

  • Reply
    Vivika Vain
    February 12, 2013 at 4:06 am

    Amazing cards, awesome work.

  • Reply
    catarina
    February 12, 2013 at 6:42 am

    so so beautiful! thank you for sharing 🙂

  • Reply
    Lucy
    February 12, 2013 at 6:52 am

    Honestly so beautiful. The little wooden house necklace is just so simple but so eye catching.

    • Reply
      Sewon
      February 16, 2013 at 10:18 am

      I really love her wooden works, too! 🙂

  • Reply
    olga
    February 12, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    dear sewon, once again
    thank you for sharing my
    small works with your readers,
    )

  • Reply
    kelly zarb
    February 12, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Thanks Sewon for introducing us to Olga’s delicate work its so beautiful.

  • Reply
    Winnie
    February 12, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Wow, her jewellery is so delicate and gorgeous. I love those watercolours too and that peek into her little work staton.

  • Reply
    Crystal
    February 12, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    The images and words are so beautiful! Thanks for introducing me to Olga’s work.

  • Reply
    Rina
    February 13, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Sewon I’m glad that nasty storm did not cause you any discomfort.
    Of course, I think New Yorkers are much more tougher than me. So, of course you were just fine!
    Oh, Ms. Olga’s blog is indeed as lovely and poetic as you said. I very much enjoyed that mini interview,
    thank you Sewon.

  • Reply
    Krys
    February 14, 2013 at 4:17 am

    Awesome! Thanks for sharing more artwork…it’s the food for the eyes at this hour, really xx

  • Reply
    ねこちゃん
    February 14, 2013 at 3:01 pm

    love the pictures and the illustration of the little girl at the end is so cute! it reminds me of some of my childhood books (:

  • Reply
    Katie
    February 14, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    All your photos are so pretty! Really love the mood!

  • Reply
    Dayna
    February 15, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    so much pretty ♥

  • Reply
    WSAKE
    February 17, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    she is so wonderful, ich love her work! her cards and drawings and little things are so beautiful und such an inspiration. i really cherish everything i got from her…

    thank you for this post!

  • Reply
    Amelia
    February 17, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    These photos, much like the jewelry highlighted, have such a delicacy to them.

    I really enjoy seeing little photos of people working, it’s so lovely.

  • Reply
    Ceri
    February 17, 2013 at 11:52 pm

    God, I never get tired of looking at your photographs, Sewon. Especially when you take such beautiful shots of such beautiful art.

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