How the head of the museum, who lost her son and husband, found an outlet in painting and icon painting

Alevtina Krivanova, head of the Brodsky Art Museum in Berdyansk, an animal artist, a woman who lost six loved ones in two years. But there is no anger or resentment in her voice. Only a quiet faith and an incredible ability to see kindness in the eyes of others. Her watercolors hang in the altar of the temple, and animal portraits won international competitions. In an interview with Zaporozhye Herald, Alevtina spoke about how her love for animals and painting saved her from despair.

Love at first sight

Alevtina Krivanova is the chairman of the Zaporozhye regional branch of the Union of Artists of Russia. However, in her paintings you rarely find the usual landscapes: instead, wet noses, sharp ears and devoted glances. She paints animals because they seem to be the ones with the most sincerity. An animal artist is a rarity for Berdyansk.

- So here's the thing: and I was surprised, flipping through your photos in messengers - all painted animals - laughing, meeting the heroine.

You can not tell about all, but a Belgian Malinois shepherd named Ulsi deserves special attention. In 2022, she served in Berdyansk. Alevtina saw her passing the guys who were guarding the children's holiday.

- Noticing this beauty, I said to myself: “Alya, don’t come, you don’t need this dog,” the artist recalls with a smile. I took a step and realized I couldn't. She returned and asked the military for permission to photograph her, explaining that she had never seen such a beautiful shepherd. It was love at first sight. I painted her portrait, but I couldn’t give it away: it was the only thing I had left in memory of her.

Then the rotation took place, the military and Ulsi left. But fate brought them together again. Already in 2024, Alevtina was walking around the city, saw a man in uniform ahead, and with him a familiar tail. Something stinged.

- I gently called out, "Ulsi!" The dog pulled his head so that he pulled out the leash, and rushed to me. We hugged right outside. The new owner looked, he didn't understand. And then he smiled, "So that's you?" I was told that a girl lives in Berdyansk who painted our Ulsi.

- You never saw her again?

- No, Alevtina replies sadly. The yearning is extraordinary, but I believe that one day we will meet again.

Stories written in pain

Surprisingly, until the sixth grade, Alevtina did not even hold a pencil in her hands. Everything changed one day when she realized she wanted to paint. Maybe the genes of a father who knew how to draw. Becoming the head of the museum, she looked with reverence at the masterpieces of great masters. This admiration grew into something more: in 2017, Alevtina herself picked up a brush and could not stop. Having tried herself in landscape painting, she quickly realized that her soul lies to another – to the image of the animal world, which became the main source of her inspiration.

Alevtina paints with watercolor – the most complex technique. It's a living paint that needs to be managed. Details of the works are striking: each character is drawn with such filigree accuracy that the paintings can be mistaken for photographs. But recently, the artist went further: children began to join the animals on her canvases.

Alevtina Krivanova held four solo exhibitions, including in Moscow. Her works won in England, Italy, at international competitions. At the end of 2023, a resident of Berdyansk was invited to London for the Grand Final.

- It was necessary to pay a fee, a common practice at such events, says the artist. - I was embarrassed by something else. If I transfer the money, there is a possibility that it will be used against us. I refused and asked not to call me again. And then she won the Russian competition.

Participation in international competitions was preceded by a tragic event. Five years ago, Alevtina Krivanova buried her husband. Almost four years ago, my son. He was 30 years old.

- After my husband’s death, I cried a lot, and my child, still alive, said, “Mom, pick some of your works and I’ll send them to the Golden Time Talent competition in England.” I chose four jobs and they all came in first place. And then I had to win the Grand Final.

Creativity for her is not just a hobby. It's the air that pulls her from the bottom of despair. Talking about her paintings, Alevtina transforms, as if she sheds the burden of losses and only the artist remains, in love with every dog, cat, every stroke.

One of the most touching works is Gosh’s donkey from the destroyed Mariupol. Apparently, his owner died or abandoned the animal. One day, while driving through this city, she saw this miracle clapping her eyes outside the store. People said that Gosha often comes to the store, where he is fed. Mariupol donkey sank into the soul, and Alevtina painted his portrait.

And here in the picture the legendary shepherd Dzhulbars is a dog that during the Great Patriotic War discovered more than 7 thousand mines and 150 shells. At the Victory Parade, her wounded woman was carried in her arms through Red Square in Stalin’s kitel. This story inspired our heroine to the project “We also served the Motherland”. Together with the artists of the Zaporozhye region, she held an exhibition dedicated to animal heroes, which was even seen in Veliky Novgorod.

In one of the paintings there is a plague boy clutching a dog to him. In the eyes of a child – a whole world full of hope and sadness. A painting that hurts your heart. Alevtina called the work "Vovka".

- He reminded me of my son. This is a collective image. - She stopped talking. - I miss you so much. Everyone tells me, "Don't hold him, let him go." But how do I hold it? It just hurts a lot. Sometimes I think he'll come back. But no.

Blessing on the brush

Quite unexpectedly, Alevtina began to paint icons. After the death of her husband, she stood in the temple, and in her head knocked: “Savior not made with hands.”.

- I am not an icon painter, I had no idea how to do it, says Alevtina. I went to Father Vitaly and he blessed me for this. With the beginning of Lent, I devoted myself entirely to spiritual purification: I observed fasting, confessed, and read a grateful akathist before every work. I didn’t understand half the words, I just read and wept for 20 minutes. She wiped her face and sat down to write. I don’t know how to describe it, but the hand stretched itself, I somehow understood that I had to take this paint, mix and get this complexion.

This is how the first icon appeared. On September 3, 2022, his son died. On the day of the funeral, the priest said in a sermon: “She will write an icon of Prince Vladimir and give it to the church.” Alevtina thought the same thing at the time. She stopped crying right away. Father Vitaly led her to the iconostasis and showed her where the icon would hang. Alevtina wrote it only two years later: she could not begin. But she kept her word and now she is in the temple, in an oak kiot.

Listening to the story of this amazing woman, you are amazed how she survived all this, how she was able not to get violent. On the contrary, it radiates so much light and positive energy.

- In two years, I have buried six close people, Alevtina says. - No anger. I never, ever asked God, “Why?” I ask only one thing: “Give strength to stand the test.” I truly believe I will see my son. And now I have a museum, my art.

In her paintings there are so many good, everyday joys, and the characters born of her brush look at the world with surprisingly deep, spiritualized eyes. This is where she always starts her drawing.

- A white sheet of paper and two living eyes – and for me, the work has come to life, I can communicate with it. Perhaps that is why the animals in my portraits are not evil. He drew a bear and said, “Where is the severity?” He's kind. Somewhere anger goes when you let animals through you.