Welcome to my creative world!
I am Odetta, a Finnish-American artist, visual designer, early childhood educator, and a mother of four wonderful boys. In my online shop, you will find my heartfelt artwork for the home as well as children’s stories designed for early childhood education professionals and families alike.
Background and Pedagogical Heart
I hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Psychology from Brown University in the United States, and I have completed specialized studies in Early Childhood Social Work and Pedagogy in Finland. Since then, I have spent several years working as a Finnish as a Second Language (S2) educator in early childhood and pre-primary education in Uusikaupunki. In this role, I have developed language- and culture-conscious educational materials on a city-wide level. Furthermore, I have had the privilege of creating pedagogical, science-play-based content for organizations like Kide Science, and served as a visual designer and illustrator for the University of Helsinki's Matikkasurina (Math Buzz) project.
Something very dear to my heart is the traditional Japanese storytelling method known as Kamishibai, or paper theater. Kamishibai stories are children’s tales presented in a story card format. Typically consisting of 12 to 16 cards, they are placed inside a wooden frame called a butai. The person reading the story stands behind the theater, while the children watch the illustrations unfold on the front side.
You can read more about Kamishibai stories and their research-backed benefits inside the product descriptions. The story cards I create are designed to spark children's imagination, support language acquisition, social and emotional skills, and serve as an accessible pedagogical tool, whether you are working with a large group of children or enjoying a cozy one-on-one bedtime story.
The Turning Point That Awakened My Art
In 2023, my life came to a sudden halt when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. While terrifying, this life crisis gave me a completely new perspective and clarified what truly matters to me.
I have been drawing since I was a little girl, but this profound experience became the true turning point for my creativity: art became therapy and a way to process emotions. Out of the diagnosis grew a passionate love for life that shines through my work today. Through my illustrations, I want to convey gratitude, warmth, and joy above all else.
Follow My Journey!
Thank you for being part of my journey. You can follow my creative process, get a glimpse into my daily life, and see my latest artwork on Instagram: @designsbyodetta
