Art has the power to awaken our deepest feelings and remind us of what truly matters. In this interview, artist and teacher Olena Fedii shares her vision of a world full of beauty that 'many of us fail to notice.' We'll learn how she uses her creativity and teaching talent to inspire people to 'wake up,' remember their childhood dreams, and find their inner light.
You mentioned that your passion for art was born in childhood thanks to nature. What moments or memories from your childhood have particularly influenced your creativity?
I grew up in a small town with my great-grandmother, and it was she who instilled in me a love for creation. We lived very close to an orphanage, only about a 20-minute walk away. Every day, my great-grandmother would cook or bake food for the children. I would always walk with her to the orphanage, and she would tell me stories about flowers and trees. She gave me a love for nature and a passion for helping others to grow.
Floral motifs and natural themes take center stage in your work. Why has nature become your main source of inspiration?
Mother Nature is our mother; she gave us life. Nature represents life, and flowers represent love. Do you know why people give flowers as presents? Because flowers contain the true meaning of love. A flower is part of the evening and the sunset, the smell of the earth, and the clouds on the horizon.
You say that your creations "speak of the abundance of beauty in the world that, unfortunately, many of us fail to notice." What emotion or message do you hope to evoke in viewers when they look at your work, and how do you strive to help them see this beauty?
I hope that when people see my work, their hearts will open to the world. I want them to feel the light inside themselves—the light of creation. All humans have a unique light, a power, an energy that can turn their wishes into reality.
You believe that dreaming big means realizing your potential. How does this philosophy reflect in your art and teaching?
I’m a Year 3 class teacher, and I’ve been teaching my students an essential life value: resilience. To me, “dreaming big” means achieving your potential in life. It means not giving up and using your resilience to work hard to reach your goals. I often tell the children my story about studying and graduating from Kingston University—how many times I took exams, the obstacles I faced, and how I used my resilience to succeed.
You are both a teacher and an artist, and you aim to encourage children to develop their creative side. What specific methods or exercises do you use to help children unlock their creative potential?
I truly believe that children need to travel and discover new places. I take them on many trips to galleries, museums, and gardens in London. They love to observe and draw.
Last year, we went to the Royal Academy of Arts to see the Modern Art of Mexico. I brought paper and oil pastels with me. The children sat on the floor and began to draw. Guess what happened next? Five security guards came over and told me my children couldn’t use oil pastels because of the mess they would leave. I said, “Please let my children enjoy this. I will clean the floor, but please let them finish.” After an hour, the general manager and all the security officers were there, waiting for us to finish.
The important thing is that my children felt like important artists who could sit and draw in an art academy, and they imagined themselves as being famous one day. You have to create an environment where children feel valued and special to unlock their creativity and imagination.
I tell them every day, “I love you, I love you all. I don’t have a favorite because I treat you all the same way.”
In your opinion, how can developing creative abilities in children impact their future?
Nowadays, it’s very important to be an adaptable and creative person. Creativity gives you a “bonus” or the magic to unlock your potential and achieve your dreams. I truly believe this.
How does teaching influence your own art, and vice versa? Is there anything you’ve learned from your students?
From my students, I have learned to explore different materials and techniques. Children aren’t afraid of a mess; they love to explore. I love it when the classroom is tidy; however, I’ve learned that sometimes making a mess is a good thing.
Your works are published in art magazines. What does recognition of your creativity at this level mean to you?
Honestly, I was doing this for my Year 3 students—just to give them a push and make them more confident.
In addition to teaching, you actively participate in exhibitions, and your works are published in art magazines. Which achievements in your exhibition and publishing activities do you consider the most significant for yourself?
To stay on track as an artist, you have to participate in exhibitions and build your network. However, for me, the most significant part of my experience is when my students win a competition. Seeing the children happy gives me the biggest award.
How do you find balance between teaching, creating your own works, and participating in exhibitions?
That’s a very good question. It makes me smile because sometimes I feel overwhelmed when everything happens at once, and I just wish there were more hours in a day, lol.
My muse comes unexpectedly, and I can’t explain it, but believe me, art corrects my well-being and gives me a sense of balance.
What would you like people to feel or understand when they look at your works?
I just want them to “wake up.”
I want to remind them that they were once children who had a dream, and I want them to ask themselves if they are still following that dream
Your desire is to inspire people to create their own happiness and follow their dreams. What new projects or directions do you plan to explore in your art or teaching to continue this mission?
I have started a new collection called “Lights.” I want to show people that they have a special light inside them—the light that is a lover of creation. Each of us has a flower field. If you achieve a dream, you get a flower for your field. But the most important thing is to find the light inside you; only then will your field always have beautiful blooming flowers.
The Global Talent Confederation team thanks Olena Fedii for this wonderful interview. This is more than a story about an artist’s creative journey; it's a reminder to all of us about the power of our inner light. Through her nature-inspired paintings and her daily work with children, she teaches the most important lessons: to dream, to have resilience, and to see the beauty in the world. Her mission is not just to create art, but to ignite the spark of creativity in others, helping them “wake up” and cultivate their own “flower garden” of realized dreams.
