Everything changed during the pandemic, when restrictions in Moscow were extremely strict and even a trip to the supermarket had to be scheduled. She spoke with her friend, who lived in Burgau in the Algarve, and he suggested for Alisa to come for a few weeks and work from home. Restrictions were also in place in the Algarve, but they were nothing compared to Moscow.

Alisa also held a European passport, which made things easier, and she was able to travel to Europe. She liked the idea and decided to give it a try.

After just a few weeks in the Algarve, she realised that this was the place where she wanted to live, and she returned to Russia to just collect more things for her new life.

Alisa is very adventurous and never stays in one place for long. In Portugal, she has already tried living in different locations, including Serra da Estrela, Aljezur, Monchique, Burgau and Ferragudo.

A different path

At first, she continued working as an interior designer remotely but once she finished her projects, she decided to take a different path. Coming from an artistic family and holding a diploma, not only in architecture but also from art school, she chose to pursue art professionally.

Art had always been present in her life. She had painted back in Russia, but it was just an occasional hobby for her. As an interior designer, she also sometimes painted murals for her clients. The Algarve is a huge source of inspiration for her artwork, especially the beautiful streets of Ferragudo. The atmosphere of daily life began to be visible in her art; seascapes and beach motifs frequently appear on her canvases. Wanting people to recognise the Algarve in her work, she started adding Portuguese Azulejos (tiles) on the side of the canvas and now everybody can identify the locations from her paintings.

Many visitors buy her art to have something to remember from their holiday. For this reason, she often works on 30x30 canvases, which are easy for people to take back home. She also creates larger format paintings, all of which can be found on her website alisaaidarova.com, along with prices, upcoming exhibitions information and direct contact details.

Experimental

Alisa enjoys experimenting with multiple techniques, with oil and enamel among her favourites. Her work spans landscape, portraits, allegory or abstraction.

Over the past years, she has exhibited in various locations throughout Portugal and in several locations in Spain.

Her upcoming exhibition will run from 17 October until 16 November at the “Real Compromisso Maritimo” in Ferragudo. Another exhibition will take place from 19 November to early January at “Arco Iris Papelaria” in the Sudoeste Retail Park.

Selected works are also on display at Moldopoli framing shop in Lagos and in Kanuck Coffee Roasters in Armação de Pêra.

Alisa believes the Algarve is a great place for an artist to live. She doesn’t have a single favourite spot, as she enjoys both relaxing on the beach and walking through the forest of Monchique.