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About Akiane's Paintings


The following questions have been asked many times by people interested in Akiane: the celebrities, television show producers, media personnel, journalists, editors, university teachers, art dealers, collectors, artists, writers, and museum curators…


Questions about Akiane's Art

How did you learn to paint?

Through a lot of work, study, and observation.  When I was 4 years old, I was taken to heaven, and from then on I started having visions and I felt inspired to draw.  I enjoyed working by myself.  I drew many faces mostly from my head and at 6, I started painting in pastels.  At 7, I received my first acrylic set.  At 8, I was ready for oils.  And at 10, I switched back to acrylics.


What visions do you remember?

I forgot almost all the visions and dreams, but you could see them in my art and poetry.  My mother still remembers them, because I shared with her all of my experiences.  A few of them are included in my book that is available in bookstores.


Why do you think you received the artistic gift at four years of age?

God thought that I was ready, and it was His timing.


Has anyone taught you?

I am self-taught.  In other words, God is my teacher.  I really like working by myself without any distractions, learning from my own mistakes.  I even get up at 4:30 in the morning, so I can start painting, when it is still silent in the house, before my three brothers get up.


How do you decide when and what you will paint?

I pray and wait for an answer in pictures, words or ideas.  When I have a picture in my mind, then I think for a while how I can put it on the canvas.  If it is a portrait, I search for a model or study many people wherever I go.  If it is a landscape, or an animal I research the resources or work straight from my memory and imagination.  For example, when I was flying on the airplane I decided to paint birds above the islands.  Then I studied how islands and birds had to look correctly from above.  Since one of my favorite birds is swans, I studied hundreds of them sketching them in different positions.  I often go to the library to study gardens, plants and farm animals.  I enjoy observing for myself the behavior of wildlife in the nature.  By the lake or river we see many eagles, ospreys, and swans.  I watch them move, fly, land or play.  Then I observe the shadows and the light on their bodies and take many pictures or sketch.


Where do you find the models?

I have noticed that I find the models when I am not looking for them, or, in other words, when I cannot find them, they come to me.
 

How many days a week do you paint?

Six days a week in my studio.  I usually don't paint while I travel, and I travel a lot.


How many hours each day do you usually paint?

Four hours.


How long does it usually take you to complete one painting?

It varies.  The planted eyes took me 15 hours.  It was my first and quickest oil portrait.  I have no idea why.  The Journey - 100 hours, and Jesus...the missing years - 200 hours, The Dreams - 300 hours.  Between my big projects I do color studies.  These take only a few hours.


How do you usually feel when you have to work on a painting for a long time?

To me, it is normal to stop and continue for days.  When I was younger I wanted to finish my work in one day, but now I am older and I got used to working for many days before I see the finished painting.  It takes a lot of self-discipline.


Is anyone else artistic in your family?

My brothers, my parents and relatives are all talented in art, but, as far as I know, I am the only professional artist.


Have you been asked to demonstrate how you paint?

Yes, many times. We have a few paintings and drawings that have been videotaped from the beginning to end to show the progression.  When the television crews come, I end up painting in front of the cameras for a long, long time.  I am most inspired, though, when I am by myself.


Which color is your favorite?

I love all the colors.  Each gives me a different feeling.  For example, yellow is the color of energy.  Violet is the color of visions.  Green is the color of peace.  Brown is the color of rest.  Pink is the color of trust.  Gold is the color of providence.  Grey is the color of old age.  Sand color is the color of waiting.  Orange is the color of listening.  Red is the color of love.  White is the color of truth.  Blue is the color of the mind.

Do you always sketch out before you begin a painting?

I usually sketch for portraits, and you should see how many sketches are thrown out before I start the painting.  You should see how many times I erase just to make composition and proportions right!  But there are many paintings of animals, landscapes, and flowers that I painted without any sketching, like, for example, ''The evening swan'' "The Hourglass", The Antlers“, “The Forbidden Fruit“ and many others.


What do you like painting most?

Faces.  They are more meaningful to me than anything I see.  When we are born, the first thing we see is a face of a mother, father, sister, or brother.  We can live without seeing a landscape or an animal, but we can not live happily without seeing or touching faces.

 
What types of expressions do you like to paint the most?

I like thinking expressions.  They make you think and imagine.

 
Are you proud of your work?

If God is proud of it, I am proud.


How can you know, if God is proud?

How do you know if someone loves you?  You just know it.


Do you teach other children?

Sometimes.  I simply teach them how to see.


Share your thoughts about your self-portrait?

I wanted to show my relationship with God.  Once when I could not get the right color of my skin, I just smeared the paint right on my nose to compare, if it matched.  Oprah was laughing when I told her that, and she said, ''Oh, yes, I do the same.''

 
What is the most difficult part of the painting for you?

Of course, the beginning and the end, because at the beginning the proportions must be accurate.  That is why my first sketch tries are quite sloppy.  Then they get better and better, and maybe the 15th time I start making progress toward the likeness.  One line too short and it is a disaster.  The beginning is the key, but it takes hours to get it right.  Sometimes I feel that I have to be as accurate as a surgeon.  When I do proportions I think, when I color, I feel, and at the end I have to really focus, because my eyes look at the painting for such a long time that it is hard to see mistakes.

 
When do you know when to sign?

Sometimes I sign twice - before the painting and after.  When I sign before, it gives me confidence, and it makes me imagine that the painting is already completed.


Have you sold any of your paintings?

Many.


Right now how much are you selling your paintings for?

Originals paintings are sold for between $50,000 to $1,000,000.  We donate a portion to different charities.  My goal is to help many poor children around the world.

We also sell limited edition canvas giclees-- reproductions of my work.  They cost about $2000.  I go every week to the printing house to proof the prints and make sure they match my originals.


Do you think people will keep collecting and buying your paintings?

It is all in God's hands.  I don't worry about the business.  I focus on creating art and my desire to help as many people as I can.


What do you think of all this publicity and fame?

Only God is famous.  My gift to God is what I do with my talents.  I thank him every minute for all the blessings in my life.

We each have a different gift, and this is our responsibility to share them with others.