The first house – it is not even a room box, but a large playhouse made from boxes, has been repaired and supplemented many times, and is still in demand for play. Now Maria simply does not want to part with her hobby. At that moment, she wanted to please her little girl, and now her works evoke admiration from the townspeople, who literally line up to order such houses. Room boxes are small copies of rooms, so everything here must look realistic. Everything is almost real: handles on doors, lamps, and even books with colorful pages. Today, the incredibly talented master Maria Rubtsova will tell us what exactly amazes people about her work and how difficult it is to create such a masterpiece.
- There are many interesting and good memories associated with childhood, and I would like to return there as often as possible. It is very pleasant that other people, seeing my works, also return to that wonderful time, - says Maria Rubtsova.
- Maria, have you ever thought that you would become a master?
- Not at all. My father is a geologist, and I always thought I would become a biologist or a geologist. After getting an education, I could never have imagined that I would end up doing what I do now. I traveled a lot around Kyrgyzstan, visiting the most remote corners of the country, and over time became a guide and now work in a tourist company. On weekdays, I am an ordinary office manager, on weekends – a guide, and in the evenings – a master. Fortunately, long winter evenings are ahead, and I will diligently start creating new room boxes. From childhood impressions, I remember a similar house made from a box that my mother made for me; for some reason, the balcony made from colorful markers stuck in my memory the most.
- How did your passion begin?
- My creativity started with an ordinary kit that is sold in stores, which needed to be assembled by hand. It was assembled, put away somewhere far away, and when I was cleaning up later and was about to throw it away... I couldn't bring myself to do it. So, I redesigned it, made a fireplace, a chair, and installed lighting. I looked at many similar works on the internet and became inspired to create a whole collection. These houses look incredibly like real ones, only the difference is that they are very small, and I realized that I needed to strive for this "realness," and then I began to pay more attention to tiny details – plaster, tiles, and interior items. The decor in each house I create primarily pleases me, and I always think about how comfortable I would feel living in it. Many people tell me that they would also like to live there. I am often thanked for the fact that these rooms are without inhabitants, so everyone who looks at them can imagine themselves in the owner's place.
- Share how such tiny masterpieces are created?
- In fact, it is very painstaking work. It all starts with a box, which is filled according to my vision of what should be inside. For making furniture, I use thick cardboard; it is very easy to glue and then paint. I print wallpapers from the internet or use real wallpapers that match in color and texture. From a week to a month, I painstakingly work on various small details. When I make a new house, the process brings me incredible pleasure. After all, I put my soul into every piece of furniture and want each bed, lamp, or teddy bear to primarily bring me joy. In this little room, I am both a carpenter, a painter, and an electrician. I have mastered almost all construction specialties. Using special clay, I add various toys and small details to the house, baking them beforehand. After filling the interior, I work on the exterior finishing of the house; I even cut and paint the tiles by hand. I buy small details in specialized stores for crafters, where such tiny items are sold that add even more realism to the room boxes. Here, you can even buy tiny forks, spoons, and cups.
- What attracts you to this process?
- I used to felt toys from wool, and it was a very monotonous process; now I have a vast field of activity, I am either gluing or sculpting, constantly engaged in different tasks. I am very inspired by the reaction of people who like it. And every person can mentally find a place for themselves here and can come up with a story for this house.
- Are room boxes meant only for aesthetic beauty and creating coziness in the home?
- Of course, they primarily delight people, create a mood, but to make them functional, I made them illuminated, and now they even serve as nightlights. Room boxes are eagerly taken by parents as gifts for their children. And now I dream of creating those houses that I have in my head; I just need to find free time, then all my ideas will come to life!
Creating coziness in a home is not so difficult. It requires a loving attitude towards each element of the decor. It is worth noting that the master believes that in the house where her works appear, happiness will surely settle, as the room boxes hold a piece of her soul.
