One of the ERA Scholarship 2025 recipients, Larisa’s artistic instinct has been with her since childhood, when she would ask her mother to draw fairies and mermaids for her to color. Though she didn’t start in art school, that early creative spark never left her side and later flourished in communication strategy sessions and, most recently, on her iPad where she creates and sells digital illustrations inspired by nature. Her digital art is designed specifically for prints and products – proof that art, when nurtured, can grow into livelihood.

Guided by a deep sense of empathy and emotional awareness, Larisa dreams of a gentler world where brands offer comfort and compassion, not just products. Her story reveals a soul that sees the world not as it is, but as it could be, if we learned to listen to nature and speak with purpose.

1. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

I feel truly happy when people are happy and all animals are loved and protected. For me, happiness means living in an empathetic world, where understanding comes through communication, not force or power. Sadly, this is not the world we live in, and that often makes me feel deeply sad. To cope, I try to find joy in life’s small details: watching pigeons drink from puddles, bees gathering pollen, or butterflies dancing across meadows. These moments ground me, and I often draw inspiration from them in my art.

2. A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY

As a child, I loved making handmade cards and would ask my mom to draw mermaids and fairies for me :) — she had a gift for drawing, not so developed, but visibly there. I took part in creative writing competitions and even joined a painting workshop at a young age.

I used to play “store” with other kids, turning nature into my own little market (like a long stone into a roll of salami). In high school, I was the only one passionate about drawing, always asking the art teacher for tips.

Although I later focused more on strategic communication, I never lost that creative spark. My boyfriend, one of the most inventive people I know, inspires me daily — he can create something wonderful in minutes using whatever’s around. Being close to such energy reminds me of who I’ve always been at heart.

3. BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION WAS

Nature is my biggest muse. I feel most inspired when I’m illustrating or painting flowers, animals, landscapes, or architecture. Whenever I receive a bouquet, I like to turn it into an illustration, so it can forever live on in my art. The same happens when I travel: I always take pictures of beautiful places, knowing they’ll later become part of my paintings. That’s why my camera roll is full of flowers, trees, birds, houses, marine life and scenic views :).

4. THE PROJECT YOU LOVED MOST

After being rejected for a full-time job, I decided to take the entrepreneurial path and explore how I could turn my art into a source of income. That’s how I launched my Etsy shop, LarisaNatureJournal, where I sell nature-inspired illustrations turned into stickers or seamless patterns. These are designed for crafters to print them onto their items like pillowcases, mugs, stationery, wall art or wrapping paper. It’s a project I truly love because of how complex and fulfilling it is. It was a self-taught process and an opportunity to apply all the knowledge I’ve been gaining in business, marketing, copywriting, social media and promotion throughout my Communication studies at university.

5. THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED MOST

Definitely the “Renew Romania: A New Mania, A Better Idea” campaign, which I worked on with my team as part of the 20 Years of Private Diplomacy brief initiated by The Alternative School. It was one of the most complex and rewarding projects in university — a campaign designed to challenge the cliché that Romanian youngsters are conservative, and instead show they are inventive, creative and open new paths toward modernity.

I had a team I truly resonated with and our brainstorming sessions were incredibly productive. My teammates came up with ideas, and I became our mini creative department — bringing those visions to life through illustration and design. The result? They loved it. I earned their trust to take over the visuals in our future projects, and most importantly, it was my very first encounter with The Alternative School.

6. THE BEST THING ABOUT LOCAL CREATIVITY

What I love most about local Romanian creativity is the way it draws inspiration from our roots — from folklore to the everyday things that make us who we are.

Some artists capture this essence exactly as it is, helping us rediscover and admire it — like one of my favourite painters Lucian Prună, who captures the iconic Romanian essence: “mici” with mustard, cabbage rolls in sour cream boxes, or watermelon with bread and cheese. Others reimagine our rich culture in fresh, modern ways — whether through music, fashion, communication campaigns or design. It’s a beautiful blend of past and future.

7. BEST STATEMENT OF LOCAL HUMOR

"A face din rahat bici" – literally, “to make a whip out of shit” – is one of the funniest and most telling Romanian sayings. It reflects the core of Romanian creativity: the ability to create something out of almost nothing. It’s about making the best of what you have, even when resources are scarce. This kind of humor comes from a long history of having to be resourceful, adaptable, and incredibly inventive, and it’s still very much part of how we navigate the world today, with resilience and a smile on our face.

8. ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTERS, RELATED TO LOCAL CREATIVES

Romanian creatives are incredibly hardworking. If you want to understand how driven they are, just look at their determination and problem-solving abilities. They are always eager to learn, improve, and apply new knowledge. Give them a challenge and they’ll show up with solutions, adaptability and ambition.

9. BEST PLACE IN BUCHAREST

The Botanical Garden is my favorite place in Bucharest. Especially in summer, it feels like stepping into a fairytale – lush, peaceful and full of life. It’s a hidden gem filled with beautiful flowers and rare plants, and I often go there to recharge, read, or find inspiration for my art.

At certain times of the year, the garden becomes The Garden of Lights, and it is literally transformed into a storybook world, with themed light installations inspired by fairy tales. The last time I visited, it was turned into Alice in Wonderland: magical and surreal, felt like stepping into a dream.

10. BEST PLACE IN ROMANIA

The most special places in Romania, in my view, are Suceava, Maramureș, and Bucovina, with the villages in the Northern part of the country, where traditions are still a living part of everyday life, unlike the big cities where tradition slowly starts to fade. On Sundays, people wear their traditional folk costumes to church and children are taught from kindergarten how to decorate eggs for Easter using time-honored methods.

In Săpânța, Maramureș, you’ll find the Merry Cemetery — a truly unique and creative place where death is approached with humor and a sense of storytelling. Because that’s who Romanians are: deeply creative, often humorous, and always able to put soul and meaning into the little things that make life (and even death) more beautiful.

11. MOST DISTURBING CLICHE ABOUT ROMANIA, IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD IS

The stereotype that Romanians are thieves and they don't like to work. It’s an unfair and outdated narrative that overlooks the kindness, talent and creativity of an entire nation. Romania is so much more than this label — it’s full of hardworking, imaginative people who constantly prove the opposite, this being the reason for why they leave the country: to strive for a better life.

12. ROMANIA SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR

Romania has so much to offer, but I'll go with highlighting three things: first, our mountain landscapes are breathtaking. We have vast mountain ranges, but also many bears, so it’s important to stay cautious.

Second, the legends of Vlad Țepeș and the country’s link to vampire stories and the launch of so many books, movies and cartoons on this subject are fascinating — even though Vlad’s image has been somewhat exaggerated over time. Finally, our uniquely Romanian traditions continue to thrive, especially in rural areas like Maramureș and Bucovina, where these customs remain beautifully preserved.

13. YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY

I believe one cannot be truly religious without first being spiritual. To me, loving God means loving His creation — people, animals, and nature, which makes me a very empathetic person. I became a vegetarian because I love animals, and I feel a deep connection to the nature: hugging trees, talking to my plants or drawing flowers.

As someone passionate about science - especially biology and astronomy - I believe science and faith are interdependent. If God created the Universe, than science is the way we understand His creation.

I resonate with the idea of the Anatomical Zodiac, where each sign corresponds to a part of the body — Aries to the head, Pisces to the feet. It’s believed the soul reincarnates through all signs, and Pisces, the most spiritually mature sign, marks the final life of the cycle, focused on spiritual over material values. As a Pisces, I feel it's my mission to bring more compassion into the world and help make it a better place.

14. YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY

As a spiritually-driven person, I see money as a tool for survival, not as the goal of life. I believe we should learn to live our lives, understanding that money isn’t everything and we can’t take it with us when we’re gone.

That’s why I don’t see myself working in commercial communication, especially for brands I don’t believe in. If I had to create high-budget campaigns for a company that goes against my values, I would rather walk away — even if it meant losing a high amount of money.

15. AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE

Personally, I think a great source of inspiration for creatives are dystopian movies and cartoons. There's something fascinating about how these people are able to build complete new worlds. They are extremely imaginative and this genre always inspires me to push boundaries and reimagine reality in unexpected ways.

I know everybody is talking about Black Mirror series, so I would strongly recommend something else: Love, Death + Robots. Each episode is short, visually stunning, packed with bold concepts that spark your imagination from unconventional angles.

16. A LOCAL BASED FEMALE TALENT TO BE PROMOTED ABROAD

A local female talent I truly believe deserves international recognition is my friend Roxana Minuță. She's incredibly multi-talented: an artist, writer, founder of her own publishing house and a creator of beautiful handmade jewelry, personalized objects and mărțișoare (traditional Romanian symbolic talismans, given on March 1st to celebrate the arrival of spring). Her creativity knows no limits: she’s painted full artworks using only soda can wrappers and even transformed her car’s dashboard into a hand-painted masterpiece.

BIO

I grew up in the small town of Câmpina, where creative opportunities felt distant and access to specialized education was limited. I went to a theoretical high school, then moved to Bucharest to study Communication and Emerging Media, drawn by the promise of something broader, something that could connect people and ideas. I didn’t know much about communication when I started, but along the way, I realized how much it overlaps with what I love: storytelling, meaning, empathy.

Even though I chose a strategic path, I never gave up on art. I’ve been painting since I was little and my passion has always been there, quietly shaping how I see the world.

One month ago, I decided to take that part of me seriously and started learning digital illustration on my own. I now create artwork inspired by nature and calmness and I sell my illustrations to crafters who use them for their own products. It’s still the beginning, and I’m learning every day, but for the first time, I feel like I’m merging both sides of who I am: the communicator at work and the artist in my spare time.