Akiane Kramarik - Child painter who paints God and her parents.

[greyleonard]

http://www.artakiane.com/home.htm

I think it sucks for the 12 year old artists who have more talent than her but don't exploit faith to make a buck. I first saw her on Oprah about a year ago, and searched for some skeptical info about her and found nothing. I still find nothing.

Here's my email communication with them:

Hi, I'm wondering if there is evidence to share that shows that Akiane painted the pieces attributed to her on artakiane.com.

THE BEGINNING TO END OR IN BETWEEN VIDEOS TELEVESION SHOWS AND DOCUMENTARIES USE ALL THE TIME.

AKIANE HAS BEEN WATCHED AS SHE PAINTS BY MANY.
IN THE FUTURE A FEW OF THEM WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE

AKIANE GALLERY
208-773-2090

Can you tell me where I can find a beginning to end video, please?

AT OUR GALLERY

Where is that?

PRIVATE ARCHIVES OF AKIANE GALLERY, IDAHO

You said "TELEVESION SHOWS AND DOCUMENTARIES USE" the beginning to end videos all the time. Which television shows and documentaries have used them?

IT IS CONFIDENCIAL

The name of the television shows and documentaries is confidential?
That doesn't make sense.

WE WRITE A CONTRACT OF CONFIDENTIALITY WITH TV SHOW SABOUT MANY THINGS

[RSLancastr]

I have my doubts that she paints the pictures. And in fact, here are a couple of interesting letters (particularly the second):

http://fagistan.blogspot.com/2006/11/more-people-who-need-to-learn-to-pray.html

[CFLarsen]

Take a look at this photo of Akiane. (http://www.artakiane.com/akiane_art.htm#)

How old is she at this time?

More like 11 than 8, right?

Yet, she painted this painting when she was 8...

[Haywire]

When the local news did a story about Akiane and her art, I thought "that's one creepy kid."
I don't know if it's normal or not, but you would have to pay to get into her gallery, just to look around. It might have been open just for the holidays. I'll try to find out more Tuesday during the day.

[CFLarsen]

When the local news did a story about Akiane and her art, I thought "that's one creepy kid."
I don't know if it's normal or not, but you would have to pay to get into her gallery, just to look around. It might have been open just for the holidays. I'll try to find out more Tuesday during the day.

No, that's not normal. The galleries are usually dying to get people to come in. Paying to get to see her paintings is not a gallery, that's an art exhibition.

What do you think about the photo? How old is she?

[Darat]

(She's been discussed from a different angle in this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=51173).)

[Darat]

I hadn't looked at her work chronologically before - however (and I have to stress that this is based on the rather low res and small images on her site) there does seem a huge leap in both technique and a change of style between the pictures from Age 7 to age 8 - for instance look at the lion at Age 7 and the tiger at age 8.

Nothing that makes me leap-up and shout "cheat" or "fraud" especially given the changes in ability children do go through.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

I predict this story will not have a happy ending.

~~ Paul

[Amapola]

I predict this story will not have a happy ending.

~~ Paul

I'm afraid Paul is right.

The criticisms of this girl I have read are true - you need time to develop your skill. By the time you have lived to be 9, there just hasn't been enough time go by to get in all the practice you need. I know, I am an artist, and started drawing when I was 2. My abilities were always far beyond my peers - but still. A lot of it has to do with skill.

I have a feeling the mother is involved, as the link that RSLancaster supplied says.

[Crazycowbob]

I won't discount the possibility of her being quite gifted, as I've had the privilege to meet children in the past who have been remarkably talented in certain artforms. However, it being such an extraordinary claim, I would expect some sort of proof, such as the supposed beggining to end taped sessions. (And why would those supporting this not make those tapes readily available? It would settle things fairly quickly...)

Regardless of whether she paints them herself or not, I think it's safe to say her mother is playing the major role here, and if/when it all comes crashing down, it's Akiane who's going to be the victim.

[grayman]

Easy enough to prove.

Put her in a secure room with credible witness (and a video camera) and have her create a painting without any outside influence.

Of course there's the possibility that her creative talents may freeze up under pressure similar to what happened to Uri Gellar on The Tonight Show. :rolleyes:

[ChristineR]

She can't drive, and she isn't old enough to have a credit card, or live alone, so she can't buy paints! Of course her parents help her. The whole "locked room" test would be pretty much pointless. What would you say if Mom told her what to do? Mixed her colors? Made suggestions? Touched up sloppy brushwork? Sketched? Made comments? She obviously learned to paint by copying Mom's technique exactly.

I wouldn't be shocked if Rembrandt and Da Vinci had "help" also. Yeah, it's probably a lot more help in this kid's case, and maybe someone with a calculator and a stopwatch might declare the paintings are more than 50% mom, but that's sort of beside the point. All I see is a lot of crummy art. The child exploitation angle is pure ick. :stone006:

[DiskoVilante]

I hate how Oprah is so uncritical of people on her show. Heck...most TV is like that. It's so annoying. Espeically with Montel having Sylvia Browne on etc. etc...

Anyone find out if Akiane's mom, dad or relatives are artists? I think that'd solve this rather quickly.

[RSLancastr]

Anyone find out if Akiane's mom, dad or relatives are artists? I think that'd solve this rather quickly.According to the emails quoted in the blog I linked to above, her mother was known to have painted very similar works.

[I'll_buy_that]

so, a kid can paint a velvet painting of Barry Manilow, big deal, I've known a few talented youngsters before.

Doesn't make it art, though.

[Skeptic Guy]

She can't drive, and she isn't old enough to have a credit card, or live alone, so she can't buy paints! Of course her parents help her. The whole "locked room" test would be pretty much pointless. What would you say if Mom told her what to do? Mixed her colors? Made suggestions? Touched up sloppy brushwork? Sketched? Made comments? She obviously learned to paint by copying Mom's technique exactly.

I wouldn't be shocked if Rembrandt and Da Vinci had "help" also. Yeah, it's probably a lot more help in this kid's case, and maybe someone with a calculator and a stopwatch might declare the paintings are more than 50% mom, but that's sort of beside the point. All I see is a lot of crummy art. The child exploitation angle is pure ick. :stone006:

I'm sure we could provide her with some paints before locking the door.

But seriously, as Mr. Randi would say it would be up to her to tell us what she can do and under what conditions she could do it. I think touching up sloppy work and sketching might be problematic. Where does the responsibilties of the assistant end and those of the painter begin? Well before 50%.

[The Mad Hatter]

Anyone find out if Akiane's mom, dad or relatives are artists? I think that'd solve this rather quickly.

Yeah, according to one of the accounts in RSL's link:

Firstly, her mother is a painter in very much the same vein. In fact, one of the paintings on Akiane's website is virtually identical to a piece which was hanging in their living room, and was represented to us as being created by Ferelli. Also, Ferelli was avidly searching for a model for a portrait of Jesus that SHE wanted to paint.I don't see how it solves it though.

Edit: whoops, RSL beat me to it.

[Ladewig]

I hate how Oprah is so uncritical of people on her show.

She did have one of those ADCers on and the performance went so badly that Oprah has never had another one on her show.

[CFLarsen]

According to the emails quoted in the blog I linked to above, her mother was known to have painted very similar works.

Noooooooooooooooooooo.............

Really????

[CaptainManacles]

The first time I heard of her I recall thinking that it sounded like she wasn't painting them herself. Something about her making reporters leave the room because she couldn't paint while someone was watching, even though she supposedly paints while non-reporters are watching all the time. The cheesy stories are a bit over the top too; about how she, when she was nearly still a todler, converted her family over to Christianity. And if they're willing to tell a lie like that to boost sales then their obviously scam artists.

[Haywire]

Well, I called the 208 area code phone number in the OP and the downtown Boise "gallery" was open just for the holidays. If she has any more shows in town I'll let everybody know.
Also, I was told to have "a blessed day," which I think is also creepy.

[Cuddles]

I was in school with someone who could draw that well, although probably not aged 8. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she really did paint the pictures, especially if she has had support from artistic parents. They may be religious nuts, but she seems to be a very talented artist who deserves recognition a lot more than most of the modern artists around.

[Elizabeth I]

"Akiane - The Girl Who Paints God and her parents."

Doesn't it irritate them to be painted?

[Spektator]

"Akiane - The Girl Who Paints God and her parents."

Doesn't it irritate them to be painted?

I guess it depends whether she sands between coats.

[Raphael]

If the paintings are authentic..ie created by the daughter, not the mother, then the skill and technique are amazing for a child.

Beyond the technique, the works, as seen through my eyes, are hollow, sentimental, and just plain crappy.

Compare the portrait of Jesus below with a couple of Rembrandts. It could be argued that her ability to mimick reality is on par or better than the celebrated Dutch master; but as works of art...

edited to add-I picked the portrait of Jesus because I think it is the painting that comes closest to being good art.

[kedo1981]

She did make him look like Barry Manilow

[Ladewig]

If the paintings are authentic..ie created by the daughter, not the mother, then the skill and technique are amazing for a child.

Beyond the technique, the works, as seen through my eyes, are hollow, sentimental, and just plain crappy.

Compare the portrait of Jesus below with a couple of Rembrandts. It could be argued that her ability to mimick reality is on par or better than the celebrated Dutch master; but as works of art...

edited to add-I picked the portrait of Jesus because I think it is the painting that comes closest to being good art.

A good illustrator is not equal to a good artist. She does, however, seem to be exceptionally skilled example of the the former - if she really painted them.

[Marc L]

Of course, the other question is, even if she did paint these herself, so what? Just because she's a prodigy doesn't mean Gpd exists, or there's any reason to worship him.

Marc

[lolurigeller]

She is not a prodigy espeicially later on when other gifted artists will catch up in technical skill. Technical skill if you're in teh art world is a dime-a dozen but there is somethign that separates the best from the mediocre. And her work looks like stale paintings taken from photos and added with wrong color choices to make any more appealing anywhere close to a Rembrandt.

At her age her art lacks any kind of expression that is her own, other than what is indoctrinated to her by her parents and dogmatic belief system, and it is not really visually impressive to me at all, now the type of work I would consider impressive owuld come from most of hte classical masters ex: Degas, Michaelangelo, and other I forget. For example my favorite would be the work of Craig Mullins.

http://www.goodbrush.com

Sorry for sounding snooty, but i'm kind of an 'artist' myself.

[greyleonard]

It's good to know there's more skepticism on the record out there that I wasn't aware of.
I'm an artist, and the corny nature of the pics bothers the hell out of me, too.
It's infuriating that people are spending so much money on this crap.

[Garrette]

It's good to know there's more skepticism on the record out there that I wasn't aware of.
I'm an artist, and the corny nature of the pics bothers the hell out of me, too.
It's infuriating that people are spending so much money on this crap.Why wouldn't they? They spend money on this crap (http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.home.web.tk.HomeServlet), don't they?

[greyleonard]

Why wouldn't they? They spend money on this crap (http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.home.web.tk.HomeServlet), don't they?

No reason. That's damn infuriating, too. ;)
(someone at DU also pointed out the "painter of light" thing)

[Paul]

I am also sceptical about the artistic claims but also the claims that she is the "only known child binary genius, in both realist painting and poetry". Having read some of her poetry, at least the small amount they don't want money for, and the descriptions of the paintings it seems highly unlikely.

Much of the painting seems more likely to end up on a collector's plate than in an exhibition of artistic genius.

It certainly seems that despite Akiane's alleged comments that she wants to "share her love for God and people around the world" the main point of the site appears to be generating revenue for her parents.

[CaptainManacles]

I am also sceptical about the artistic claims but also the claims that she is the "only known child binary genius, in both realist painting and poetry".

I would highly doubt that, even if you were to call her poetry "genius", many modern techincal definitions of genius don't count you as one unless you can excel in more then one area.

[Paul]

many modern techincal definitions of genius don't count you as one unless you can excel in more then one area.Hence their claim that she excels in both painting and poetry.

[CaptainManacles]

Hence their claim that she excels in both painting and poetry.

Hence it's idiotic that the website suggests she's somehow the only child on the planet ever to be a genius in more then one area.

[Paul]

Hence it's idiotic...Quite, and yet another reason to err on the side of caution in regard to the totality of their claims.

[Malachi151]

I hadn't looked at her work chronologically before - however (and I have to stress that this is based on the rather low res and small images on her site) there does seem a huge leap in both technique and a change of style between the pictures from Age 7 to age 8 - for instance look at the lion at Age 7 and the tiger at age 8.

Nothing that makes me leap-up and shout "cheat" or "fraud" especially given the changes in ability children do go through.

There is nothing odd about that, especially if she is a prodigy. I'm not saying that she is, but this wouldn't indicate anything.

A rapid growth in ability would be par for the course, and from my own experience as an artist, I remember rapid improvements and variation in my artwork from one piece to another, withing weeks.

[wahrheit]

There is nothing odd about that, especially if she is a prodigy. I'm not saying that she is, but this wouldn't indicate anything.

A rapid growth in ability would be par for the course, and from my own experience as an artist, I remember rapid improvements and variation in my artwork from one piece to another, withing weeks.

Having done some realistic paintings in my youth, I'd agree.

However, her webpage regarding that Jesus portrait (http://www.artakiane.com/akiane_painting.htm) makes me wonder.

Let alone the ridiculous story how the model, "a humble carpenter" (!!), came to their house, I wonder why someone would make "dozens of sketches" and then produce nothing but the exact copy of a photograph?

Also, look at the amateurish sketch in picture #2. The quality of that sketch in no way matches the final painting.

There is something fishy about this, imho.

[LostAngeles]

(She's been discussed from a different angle in this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=51173).)

I love that Tragic Monkey in post #2 says exactly what I thought when I first saw the paintings.

She can't drive, and she isn't old enough to have a credit card, or live alone, so she can't buy paints! Of course her parents help her. The whole "locked room" test would be pretty much pointless. What would you say if Mom told her what to do? Mixed her colors? Made suggestions? Touched up sloppy brushwork? Sketched? Made comments? She obviously learned to paint by copying Mom's technique exactly.

I wouldn't be shocked if Rembrandt and Da Vinci had "help" also. Yeah, it's probably a lot more help in this kid's case, and maybe someone with a calculator and a stopwatch might declare the paintings are more than 50% mom, but that's sort of beside the point. All I see is a lot of crummy art. The child exploitation angle is pure ick. :stone006:

Actually, from the art history I've studied, just about all of the, "masters," had help. You were trained to be an artist by studying under a master artist. I forget the degrees to which the assistants would help, but at the very least, you can pretty much be guaranteed that not every single brush stroke was done by the master. I actually think that in certain cases, the work done by the assistants was much more substantial, however, I can neither quite remember nor can I find a source right now. Someone with a more substantial background in art history (I think the main thing I learned was that there are far, far, too many works of art about the Annunciation) might be able to clarify this better.

[Stellafane]

I don't know whether or not Akiane's painting ability is genuine. (I hope so, because I think it would be cool, but for reasons others have cited I have my doubts.) But for all her gifts, my 8-year old son can spell a lot better that she can (or whoever it is that answers the email on her site). You would think that a family that produced a poetry genius could spell and write a little better than that, but whatever.

[fuelair]

Well, I called the 208 area code phone number in the OP and the downtown Boise "gallery" was open just for the holidays. If she has any more shows in town I'll let everybody know.
Also, I was told to have "a blessed day," which I think is also creepy.

"Blessed Be!!"

[Diamond]

The whole thing is creepy, but lets wait for the female hormones to kick in and THEN we'll see some art. ;)

[fuelair]

No reason. That's damn infuriating, too. ;)
(someone at DU also pointed out the "painter of light" thing)Never forget the first rule of Art (sales of):

"I don't know art, but I know what I like!" Remember also the second rule:

"Any chance the guy will kick the bucket soon so I can unload this thing for a bundle?"

[greyghost]

Having done some realistic paintings in my youth, I'd agree.

However, her webpage makes me wonder.

Let alone the ridiculous story how the model, "a humble carpenter" (!!), came to their house, I wonder why someone would make "dozens of sketches" and then produce nothing but the exact copy of a photograph?

Also, look at the amateurish sketch in picture #2. The quality of that sketch in no way matches the final painting.

There is something fishy about this, imho.

The fishiest thing about it is that the humble carpenter appears to have been actor John Caviezel...Did these folks think Gibson's movie was a documentary?
Seriously, to those who haven't seen the movie--that's who the paintings look like.

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I attended prestigious arts high school and I can tell you that the girl, at the technical level, paints like some of the teachers at my school.

I think that's a trained artist doing those paintings. The most talented seniors at my school might have done those.

[cloudshipsrule]

think that's a trained artist doing those paintings. The most talented seniors at my school might have done those.

You're forgetting. She's a PRODIGY!

[Tamarillicent]

I found this (http://kielas.lkb.lt/2007/03/05/akiane-vunderkindas-ar-apgavyste.htm) doing a search on her mother's name. I think the blog entry is in Polish, but the CNN video is in English. Akiane and her mother talk about Akiane's art, she plays the piano, and she even pokes at a painting with a paintbrush!

[LawnOven]

Ugh those pieces of "art" remind me of the old adage about the dancing bear.

I hope for the mother's sake the daughter is the one painting them because there may still be still be some hope for her to someday actually be good at painting.

Hmm, I wonder if that's what michelangelo's paintings looked like when he was 11.

I guess my point is, I hope her family enjoys the novelty of a mildly talented child painter, because there's going to be a point when she reaches the age where she just another mediocre "inspirational" religious artist.

[fuelair]

Ugh those pieces of "art" remind me of the old adage about the dancing bear.


I guess my point is, I hope her family enjoys the novelty of a mildly talented child painter, because there's going to be a point when she reaches the age where she just another mediocre "inspirational" religious artist.Just like her mom.

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

Hey, hey, hey- stop beating on the kid. It's not her fault her parents pushed her into this scam.

Two, whoever is doing those is mildly talented. Well, atleast good enough to get into, say, SVA.

[Crazycowbob]

Also, look at the amateurish sketch in picture #2. The quality of that sketch in no way matches the final painting.

There is something fishy about this, imho.
I agree that something just doesn't sit right with me about the pictures, something's missing, they're technically really good, but I think they're missing something in composition, though for an 11 year old, that's not bad at all!

But don't count the sketches against her, as you're comparing apples to oranges. My ex couldn't sketch to save her life, but is an excellent painter, while me, I can draw fairly well, but my paintings still bear the mark of an amature.

While everything does seem rather suspect, I wouldn't dismiss her completely, as we all seem to have a tendency to underestimate the abilities of children. I know a few 11 year olds, and I'm fairly sure that one or two, with enough coaching, and the desire for it on their part, could achieve similar results.

[wahrheit]

I agree that something just doesn't sit right with me about the pictures, something's missing, they're technically really good, but I think they're missing something in composition, though for an 11 year old, that's not bad at all!

But don't count the sketches against her, as you're comparing apples to oranges. My ex couldn't sketch to save her life, but is an excellent painter, while me, I can draw fairly well, but my paintings still bear the mark of an amature.

While everything does seem rather suspect, I wouldn't dismiss her completely, as we all seem to have a tendency to underestimate the abilities of children. I know a few 11 year olds, and I'm fairly sure that one or two, with enough coaching, and the desire for it on their part, could achieve similar results.

I agree, and let's not forget that for many of us the whole thing appears strange is in part simply due to the religious "mission" of that girl and the media hype.

Though even if she has done all those paintings herself, I would call her a good decorative painter at most, and not an artist. The quality of her paintings and the subjects of her paintings barely go beyond the stuff we all saw air-brushed on car hoods in the seventies and eighties. ;)

[Aepervius]

I would not be surprised if she painted that good at age of 9. I know somebody (well the daughter of somebody) which with only craydar (kraydar? the colorfull plastic stuff) did a wonderful job of making anime character (and ONLY anome character) at the ripe age of 12/13. It was very good, sometimes the girls on the picture were next to photo realistic from a distance of 1 meter, but mostly it was only anime stuff or looking like an anime character. Last I heard she is now in gothic flamboyant stuff, and gothic lollita. She is now 16.

So I do not disbelieve that she made all the stuff herself, but as much as my colleague daughter work, I find it technically beautiful but that is it. It would be a nice decoration, but it is missing something I can't pinpoint, but which is present in work of lesser technical habilities.

Heck my own sister did some nice "innocent" style painting (you know the one with child in various play looking like 5 years old with rosy checks). Now she works as an audit controler. But most of her painting were also as empty. Pretty but empty.

[aries]

She can't drive, and she isn't old enough to have a credit card, or live alone, so she can't buy paints! Of course her parents help her. The whole "locked room" test would be pretty much pointless. What would you say if Mom told her what to do? Mixed her colors? Made suggestions? Touched up sloppy brushwork? Sketched? Made comments? She obviously learned to paint by copying Mom's technique exactly.

I wouldn't be shocked if Rembrandt and Da Vinci had "help" also. Yeah, it's probably a lot more help in this kid's case, and maybe someone with a calculator and a stopwatch might declare the paintings are more than 50% mom, but that's sort of beside the point. All I see is a lot of crummy art. The child exploitation angle is pure ick. :stone006:

As for Rembrandt, we know he at least had help. Back in the 1600's people weren't that obsesses with seeing the artist as the genius on the loft, waiting to get inspired by --- you guessed it --- God. (this came later during the 1800's). Rembrandt had many little helpers. These would usually make the backgrounds, and all the boring stuff :sleep: - under the master's supervision of course ;) . Then he, Rembrandt would come, and paint the portrait and the details in the picture. And that's why it is futile, imo, to discuss, if Rembrandt himself did paint this or that painting, simply because for most of his paintings, he didn't.

I know that da Vinci had pupil/student who helped him for some of his career. And the student took notes, mixed colors etc.

As for Akiane's painting, I'm a bit skeptical about them, but not that much.
I'm a teacher myself, and some of my students obviusly find me a bore ;) as a teacher because they draw during my classes :cool: When I look at their drawings, they look like they have been done by a real artist - at least in detail. But I would tend to agree that she, at her current level (or niveau) just is very good decorative painter. Her paintings looks to me to be to nice, to crisp, to clear, as it looks like photographs to me. Some people have a very talented gift from drawing the exact same thing they have seen in a photograph or someone else - as a perfect remake. (of said photo).

I miss seeing her work or her personality in the paintings. Even in 9-10 year old's drawings or 15-16 year old's paintings, you can see at least some of the personality being transferred onto the paintings. Not so here, but that may change.

As for the sketching, my sketches are usually meh & bland, but my paintings are pretty good, if I do say so myself... I just use the sketches to give me a rough idea of what I'm going to paint, comtemplating how I'm gonna paint my motif.... ;) :D

Only time will, I guess, if Akiane is a good a painter as her parents claim her to be...

[Rrose Selavy]

As an artist and teacher of art (to adults) and from my limited research on the subject - child prodigies (younger than say 10 years, in representational art are very rare, (if not unknown) compared to say maths , music or languages -

Picasso made a big deal about painting like an adult very early , while he was certainly extremely competent - witness his "First communion" painting made at 16 -- his early drawings eg of Doves and bullfights are still child like though promising. However his encouraging father was a painter and teacher. The Pre Raphaelite John Everitt Millais was the youngest ever student of the Ra school at 11, known as "the Child".


There is the autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire but his work , though remarkable, follows a very set distinctive pattern.

It seems to me this type of conventional "religious" realist painting is very much something that is "learnt"- and no doubt Mum or Dad play a big (if not possibly fraudulent) part .

[wahrheit]

As for the sketching, my sketches are usually meh & bland, but my paintings are pretty good, if I do say so myself... I just use the sketches to give me a rough idea of what I'm going to paint, comtemplating how I'm gonna paint my motif.... ;) :D

But would you make rough sketches of an idea you want to paint if the final painting is an exact reproduction of a photograph? In other words, what's the purpose of that sketch on the left of the canvas (the Jesus carpenter thing), when in fact a photograph is the original?

[Crazycowbob]

But would you make rough sketches of an idea you want to paint if the final painting is an exact reproduction of a photograph? In other words, what's the purpose of that sketch on the left of the canvas (the Jesus carpenter thing), when in fact a photograph is the original?

Not all painters put paint onto a blank canvas. Many will sketch the rough idea out before hand (even if copying), so as to get everything in place and proportioned before laying down oil or acrylic. This is certianly the way I do it when I break out the paints, but I primarily work with pencil and pen, so I'm probably not a good example :D

The sketch you mentioned could have been any number of things, and probably was a practice run to make sure she could get the features in place before committing to the canvass version. (assuming, of course, she did the work)

[Haywire]

Well, I just caught the last day of her recent art show Saturday in downtown Boise. There was about two dozen of her paintings on the walls, and a TV in the corner playing clips of her appearances from various shows.
I didn't feel like buying a $2000 picture of the big J-Man, but I did get a program for five bucks. If anybody wants it...

[Ashles]

This painting of hers is entitled "Jesus The Missing Years"

http://www.artakiane.com/images/home_Jesus-New-World.jpg

He hung around in a Planetarium?

[Ladewig]

I just looked at the website again. I can believe that some of those paintings were done by a child less than 12, but I cannot believe all of them were. There are huge differences in layout and subject matter. If all the paintings were mixed up I doubt that anyone, even professional art teachers, could put them in anything close to chronological order.

[RSLancastr]

He hung around in a Planetarium?You mean plane arium."

[Kilgore Trout]

I'm more skeptical of the website than the paintings. Not to say her paintings aren't suspect, but some of her answers do not seem like they were written by her. She decided to home school? Her favorite food is ... food she shares because people are starving? She goes every week to the printing house to ensure the quality of the reproductions? She wants a house with 1000 rooms so anyone without a home can stay with her? About her poetry, she understands what she writes "from a child's eyes". Oh, come on. And this was a good one, "A few of them are included in my book that is available in bookstores." Now available at fine retailers everywhere, for the low cost of just $35.

The oldest two brothers, Delfini,15, and Jeanlu,13, decided to open the “Akiane” gallery for me and run it.

And the youngest, Ilia, 5, decided to run in it. Ha ha.. Somehow that doesn't sound like it was written from her perspective. But it's a damn good thing Ilia is such a shrewd businessman. That family is probably raking in the bucks.

I also have trouble with the idea that she grew up in an "atheistic" family, then turned them all to God when she was 4. Was it god that told her which church to go to or did they just settle on the closest? Maybe she drew them a map.

[calebprime]

The site is loading, but all I see is a grey screen.

Anyone else having this trouble?

All other 'Net functions ok....

??

[LawnOven]

Try praying.

;)

The background is gray... so thats where that color is coming from anyways.

Try a different browser maybe?

[XBoxWarrior]

Here it is in a nutshell.......I was "married" (and divorced after 6 weeks) to a Lithuanian home schoolin' jesus freak artist.......If Goratillia ever had half the imagination of this Mom, I'm sure I would be seeing my daughter's pic's here.......

However, my daughter made it out of the cult, and is now enrolled at NYU......I am happy!

peace

p.s. interesting thread

[calebprime]

Try praying.

;)

The background is gray... so thats where that color is coming from anyways.

Try a different browser maybe?


yeah, that's it--it loads ok on another computer using Firefox.

Doesn't seem to like an old iBook G4 with Safari.

IMO, her art peaked around age 8.

Hideous, awful stuff.

[Ron_Tomkins]

I think there´s nothing I loathe more than people who, because they realize they have highly developed skills in a given field, they have to inflate their ego by claiming themselves to be a ¨messenger of God¨ who want to ¨comunicate to people and bring them closer to the Almighty Lord¨. Again, another human tendency to not only take things too seriously (An art is a beautyfull thing but in the end it is nothing more than an abstraction, like any game), but also get too loaded with ideological BS and load other people´s minds with BS as well.

Just do your thing and be happy. No one needs another Messiah.

[luchog]

As for Rembrandt, we know he at least had help. Back in the 1600's people weren't that obsesses with seeing the artist as the genius on the loft, waiting to get inspired by --- you guessed it --- God. (this came later during the 1800's). Rembrandt had many little helpers. These would usually make the backgrounds, and all the boring stuff :sleep: - under the master's supervision of course ;) . Then he, Rembrandt would come, and paint the portrait and the details in the picture. And that's why it is futile, imo, to discuss, if Rembrandt himself did paint this or that painting, simply because for most of his paintings, he didn't.

Which is why most historians and critics are careful to distinguish between paintings where all the important work was by the artist himself, and paintings which were merely "school of" the artist; that is, they were painted predominantly by his assistants/students.

[ZamuBa]

Has anybody actually seen her painting?

[Ron_Tomkins]

Has anybody actually seen her painting?


I haven´t, but what´s your point?

[Alice Shortcake]

OMG - another Thomas Kinkade, as if one wasn't bad enough. :wackyarghh:

[RSLancastr]

I haven´t, but what´s your point?I think ZamuBa's point is, if nobody has actually seen her painting these pieces, perhaps she is not the one who is doing the actual painting.

[Kilgore Trout]

I took the point to be that the paintings stink.. But maybe I'm cynical that way.

[Explorer]

This a form of commercial art, the sort that you would get from a good illustrator but nothing more. If she has crafted the paintings herself, then she is has a talent and will make a good living from house furnishing paintings, and from the novelty of her youth.

Personally, I wouldn't give them house room. The over the top use of colours and compositions are far to commercial for me. You can pick this sort of stuff in any high street art shop from the far east, for flumpence, if it is to your taste.

[Soapy Sam]

Does a kid this age have art classes in school?
Wouldn't her teacher be in a position to comment?

[sophia8]

Does a kid this age have art classes in school?
Wouldn't her teacher be in a position to comment?
She's home-schooled, so no art teacher. There is, or was, a paragragh on in her biography on the site that described how she was once sent to an art class; she came home in disgust and announced she was never going again, because the teacher had the temerity to tell her how to paint.

[ZamuBa]

a paragragh on in her biography on the site that described how she was once sent to an art class; she came home in disgust and announced she was never going again, because the teacher had the temerity to tell her how to paint.

It could be that she really sucked at painting. Or that she was really good.

Either way, it proves nothing until we actually see her pick up a brush and put some paint on the canvas. Photos don't count.

[Ron_Tomkins]

I think ZamuBa's point is, if nobody has actually seen her painting these pieces, perhaps she is not the one who is doing the actual painting.


I don't see why that is so hard to believe. I have no problem believeing that a child can do amazing things at an early age. It happens all the time. It's what we usually call "geniouses" or "skillfull individuals" or "child prodiges".

I do have a problem believeing and/or accepting that the reason she can do those things is because she is a messenger from God with a divine message for mankind.

[ksbluesfan]

Wow, if she's this good at 12, I can't wait until she's 30 or so. She should develop into the best painter ever by that time, shouldn't she?

:p

[Haywire]

In the lower right hand corner of the paintings, where she signed her name, she also put her age at the time she did the painting. "Akiane, age 7."

[tek]

I very highly doubt she is actually painting those paintings. Those are simply way too clichéd to have come from a child. I mean, come on, she's a 12 year old, interested primarily in Jesus, but she has taken the time to insert a passing, new agey reference to the search for a unifying theory of the 4 primary forces(http://www.artakiane.com/paintings/age_12/age12_10.htm)? Somehow she understands, at this age, that painting pictures of babies playing with galaxies appeals to people with not a lot of taste? That makes me... a bit incredulous. Combine that with the evidence that her mother is a new agey painter with big aspirations for her daughter, the financial and religious incentive to lie, and the unwillingness to paint in front of a camera. Yeah, I'm giving 10 to 1 odds this kid probably dabs mom's paintings a few times then gets coached on what to say on the next talk show.

[CaptainManacles]

I very highly doubt she is actually painting those paintings. Those are simply way too clichéd to have come from a child. I mean, come on, she's a 12 year old, interested primarily in Jesus, but she has taken the time to insert a passing, new agey reference to the search for a unifying theory of the 4 primary forces(http://www.artakiane.com/paintings/age_12/age12_10.htm)? Somehow she understands, at this age, that painting pictures of babies playing with galaxies appeals to people with not a lot of taste? That makes me... a bit incredulous. Combine that with the evidence that her mother is a new agey painter with big aspirations for her daughter, the financial and religious incentive to lie, and the unwillingness to paint in front of a camera. Yeah, I'm giving 10 to 1 odds this kid probably dabs mom's paintings a few times then gets coached on what to say on the next talk show.

Yeah, combine that with all the obvious BS they push to sell her "we were an athiest family and she converted us at age 4" and it's pretty obvious she's not doing these herself.

[ExMinister]

I think the anonymous writer who used to live next door to Akiane's family, from the link RSL posted, is hard to ignore. If what that person says is true, there is little reason to believe Akiane is doing the paintings herself. First, he or she claims that when Akiane was little, the mother was a painter, that a painting suspiciously similar to one now being attributed to Akiane was at that time displayed in the home as having been done by Akiane's mother, and that the mother was at that time searching for a Jesus model - the same story they now attribute to Akiane. That, plus his or her statement that the mother was involved in the Urantia organization when Akiane was small, which is a New Age organization (the Urantia Book is "channeled" New Age material) helps explain the New Age tone to the paintings. Third, the mother now claims that before Akiane "converted" them to Christianity, they were atheists with absolutely no talk of God in their home, which would make no sense in light of her having the New Age/Urantia background. So, why would the mother now lie and state she was "atheist" with no mention of the New Age beliefs? To listen to this poor child speak about God and Jesus, she sounds to me a lot like the average young girl who has grown up with a New Age mom. Being a former New Age type, I am well familiar with these things.

It would seem that the paintings are most likely the mother's. I also find it interesting that the paintings are so big. In my experience, most children (and younger artists) tend to draw things fairly small. I took art classes in college and I recall that most of us needed help in learning to "loosen up" and draw things on a larger scale with easels, etc. She may have talent but simply had the bad luck of having a mother who has decided to involve her in a money-making scam.

[jkaram]

this was an e-mail sent to me through an art blog:

Blessing to You:


I seen your blog today and thought you might be interested in products utilizing the art of Child Prodigy Akiane whose visions of God and heaven are the inspiration for her art...she is internationally know and considered one of the top realistic painters in the world. Originals of her work sell for up to $1,000,000 in US currency. Akiane is now age 13 her, however, her first master piece of Jesus titled "Prince of Peace" was painted at age 8!

Art & SoulWorks is the only source for Akiane Gift products some of which can be seen at akianegifts.com

Even if you have no interest please visit our web site and be blessed by the face of Jesus as seen by this blessed child artist in
"Prince of Peace" or "Father Forgive Them".

We look forward to your comments
brandy@artnsoulwrks.com


----

umm...maybe I'm missing something, but if her paintings are truly selling for a million dollars, why would they need to spam random art bloggers to promote her work?

'scuse me while I go wretch some more.

[AnnoyingPony]

Apparently she's a child painter prodigy her brought her family to Christianity when she was 4. Anyone else heard of her? I'm having trouble finding too much info on her.

She claims to be inspired by God, and that she channels God while painting.

Personally, I think it's very possible that she is a fraud, exploited by cynical parents to sell to the faithful New Age-y crowd. Think about it: Realistic art inspired by the faith of a photogenic kid who turned her atheist family to Christ.

Here's her website. (http://www.artakiane.com/home) I think it reeks of self-promotion, and even through the work is skillful, it's not original at all. I've seen the same stuff on Hallmark greeting cards. Once her family was asked if they could videotape her painting, and they refused because it wouldn't be an accurate representation of her work. That, and the use of light and color, makes me think that she's probably not the only one doing the paintings.

[Kuko 4000]

I haven't thought of her as a fake. Just a gifted (this word needs an update...I think many others could do that as well, given similar surroundings when growing up) painter with a strong faith. I remember having videos of her doing a few paintings (time-lapse style) somewhere on my hard drives. Think I'll have another look. I also remember seeing interviews of her parents talking about their faith, one thing to remember is that many atheists have not really thought much about their non-belief or disbelief, so something like this (rare skill of their child) could easily sway them to the other side of the fence. Many people just don't care much about careful thinking.

Edit:

Oh, there's at least one video on her homepage:

http://www.artakiane.com/video/


Btw. a great documentary about a similar topic is 'My Kid Could Paint That':

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912592/

This seems more like a fraud, but I haven't followed the case since I first saw the film in 2007. Interesting film, nevertheless.

[Kuko 4000]

They are making a big case about his brother too, this is getting interesting, thanks for the OP:

http://akiane.com/blog/?p=190

After returning from my trip to Canada I decided to share about my younger brother Ilia not because he is the youngest philosopher in the world, but because of his connection to life.


I saw life fall in search of me,
but it could not find me,
because I was hiding in the box waiting
for my extraordinary destiny.
***
I own the most special thing — the galaxy itself.
Then for me no one is a thief.
***
For prosperity of this day and for prosperity of the human eye
it is better to see than to seek.
But for prosperity of eternity and prosperity of the infinite eye
it is better to seek than to see.
***
Misery does not recognize choices.
Bravery does not recognize difficulties.
***
Every monster wants to be a hero.
But no hero wants to be a monster.

Ilia, age 7


Ouch, it seems to me that he's imitating new age gurus:

GxR8zJA61kM


At this point I have to question the motivation of the parents (or maybe they just don't see the connection...) :(

http://iliapoetry.com/home.html

[Captain_Swoop]

There are other child painters without the woo. I don't think it's a fraud

This kid was on the TV News and in the papers earlier in the year.

http://www.geekosystem.com/kieron-williamson-painting-child-prodigy/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1203226/Pictured-Incredible-watercolour-paintings-boy-aged-just-SIX.html

[Aepervius]

My sis painted as well as girl is painting at the same age 14-16, albeit I have seen only painting from age 14-16 from my sis (nothing before). What this girl paints, is very well painted , but I am unqualified to say if it is genius , derivative, or just plain average.

Far more interesting is the subject that she paints. Starting with puberty it seems some of her subject of painting is quite clearly leading toward romanticism/sexuality.

[CurtC]

Many people just don't care much about careful thinking.

That should be the subtitle to the JREF Forum.

"The JREF Forum - because many people just don't care much about careful thinking."

[Skeptical Greg]

They are making a big case about his brother too, this is getting interesting..[/url]

.....he makes a decision to donate both of his kidneys to a total stranger on the phone who is terminally ill.


Kid's a genius, I tell ya' ...

[Schrodinger's Cat]

I found this interesting quote on her blog:

Trying to remain modest and pure around the bombardment of global moral indecency is getting harder and harder for many young people, but I believe there is a solution once we find out the cause and affect:

Nowadays inappropriate adult materials are so widely circulated, it is virtually impossible to control them. Our civilization permitted this to happen—many countries would not even consider such repulsiveness to be displayed anywhere. Even though in those conservative value cultures a few addicts do obtain degenerate and decadent sources through illegal means, the masses, especially children, in general, remain protected.

Ah yes, if only we could be more like Saudi Arabia and make any expression of sexuality illegal. Then all our problems would be solved.

Also, anyone who looks at pornography is an "addict?"

She's just a kid, so I won't judge her too harshly. I was a card carrying member of PETA at that age :blush:.


Also, from her art website:

considered one of the most versatile and accomplished fine artists of all time

Oh come on now. She is very talented for her age, but her work is very unoriginal, they look like what you'd see on greeting cards, as someone already pointed out. Which hey, again, she's a KID, just because her stuff is very derivative now doesn't mean she won't have plenty of time to come into her own and develop her own style. I still find her very impressive. Also, "versatile?" Her stuff all seems to be the same kind of work done in the same mediums.

It's funny too, because on her blog she makes mention of vanity and how awful it is...yet she's being schlepped around from talk show to talk show, and her website bills her as one of the greatest artists of all time??

Still, she has the raw talent and technical skill. We may be seeing great things from this kid in the future, even if her talent is being overblown now by parents with questionable intentions.

[Philosaur]

...one thing to remember is that many atheists have not really thought much about their non-belief or disbelief...

Really? Where did you get this little factoid from?

[AnnoyingPony]

They are making a big case about his brother too, this is getting interesting, thanks for the OP:

http://akiane.com/blog/?p=190







Ouch, it seems to me that he's imitating new age gurus:

GxR8zJA61kM


At this point I have to question the motivation of the parents (or maybe they just don't see the connection...) :(

http://iliapoetry.com/home.html

Is it just me, or does the whole family just really really creepy? Akiane and her brother are frakking scary.

On a side note, don't "Akiane" and "Ilia" sound like names a vaguely New Age person would give their child? I checked on a baby naming website. "Ilia" is a Russian name, and "Akiane" seems like it was made up. Which is strange, since the family likes to hone in on the girl's Lithuanian heritage and homeschooling. Also, I've read that she was "born underwater".

At best, Akiane is a talented girl, but her parents are using just her and Ilia.

[AnnoyingPony]

Oh come on now. She is very talented for her age, but her work is very unoriginal, they look like what you'd see on greeting cards, as someone already pointed out. Which hey, again, she's a KID, just because her stuff is very derivative now doesn't mean she won't have plenty of time to come into her own and develop her own style. I still find her very impressive. Also, "versatile?" Her stuff all seems to be the same kind of work done in the same mediums.

It's funny too, because on her blog she makes mention of vanity and how awful it is...yet she's being schlepped around from talk show to talk show, and her website bills her as one of the greatest artists of all time??

I also recall an interview where she says that she gets her ideas from God, and she improves on them.

Still, she has the raw talent and technical skill. We may be seeing great things from this kid in the future, even if her talent is being overblown now by parents with questionable intentions.

I'd be interested to see where she goes as soon as she moves out. If she's actually an original prodigy, she'll keep going, and hopefully produce better art.

Also, her paintings of Jesus show him as white. Shouldn't he be more Middle Eastern-looking and darker-skinned, because, y'know, Jesus is from Bethlehem and stuff?

[Professor Yaffle]

Previous thread on this subject:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=71646

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Really? Where did you get this little factoid from?

This describes every single atheist/ agnostic I know in real life except for one person. Before I discovered skepticism and JREF, I'd actually never encountered an atheist or agnostic who CARED that they were, or put any thought into the matter. They just didn't really care about religion one way or the other, and their lack of faith was as significant to them as my lack of stamp collecting is to me.


The post wasn't claiming an exact percentage, or even stating that a majority of atheists think this way, only that "many" do. As I personally know many people this describes, I agree with this statement. It seems rather absurd you find this unbelievable.

Hate to break it to you, but just because you care about being an atheist or came to that conclusion after careful research and thought doesn't mean that's true for everyone. Just because someone agrees with you doesn't mean they think like you.

[AnnoyingPony]

Oh, there's at least one video on her homepage:

http://www.artakiane.com/video/

Just something I noticed when watching the video - I had no doubts that she was the painter until 22:20 to 22:30. At that point, the camera is zoomed in. We see the baby's face in cool tones. When we zoom out, it is in warm tones. Maybe it's just lighting, though.

How long does it take acrylic paint or oil paint to dry, and which one do you think she is using? The time stamp at the beginning of the video reads 6:42 AM, Mar. 11, 2008. When she continues at 42:51, it is 8:00 AM, Mar. 12, 2008. This means that it took a day for the paint to dry.

Also, the video is obviously not a complete representation of work. Compare the image at the end of the video to the finished work from her gallery (http://www.artakiane.com/gallery). The baby now has a body, the background is brown, and there are butterflies in front of the baby's face. The colors are much more refined and vivid. Obviously, something happened between the end of the video and the finished product. We see her talking with some people off-camera at the end of the video (guessing from how she is addressing them and looking up, I assume it is her parents). Then she continues to paint a little while longer, walks away from the incomplete work, and the video ends.

[AnnoyingPony]

Previous thread on this subject:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=71646

Thanks for sharing that, Professor Yaffle. The comment about talented seniors reminds me of a girl at my old school who was an absolutely amazing cartoonist. She could draw incredible caricatures of anything, and from what I can tell, had little formal instruction and had a very unique manga/American pop-art style. Unlike our friend Akiane, she wasn't a Jesus freak... :p

[ria_rokz]

I also recall an interview where she says that she gets her ideas from God, and she improves on them.



I'd be interested to see where she goes as soon as she moves out. If she's actually an original prodigy, she'll keep going, and hopefully produce better art.

Also, her paintings of Jesus show him as white. Shouldn't he be more Middle Eastern-looking and darker-skinned, because, y'know, Jesus is from Bethlehem and stuff?

Ah, you beat me to it! I was thinking that IF she is inspired by God, wouldn't she paint Jesus as he (supposedly) was? Although I guess maybe she just improved on it... would God be cool with that? He doesn't seem like a guy who would want somebody *********** with his schtuff.

[AnnoyingPony]

Ah, you beat me to it! I was thinking that IF she is inspired by God, wouldn't she paint Jesus as he (supposedly) was? Although I guess maybe she just improved on it... would God be cool with that? He doesn't seem like a guy who would want somebody *********** with his schtuff.

In my opinion, the fact that she doesn't paint Jesus as Middle Eastern shows that if she is really receiving visions from God like she claims, it is certainly in her head. White people tend to visualize Jesus as white. Middle Eastern people visualize Jesus as Middle Eastern. Black people visualize Jesus as black. (I saw a Christmas ornament of a black santa once.)

I mean, AT BEST, that Jesus she paints looks to be of Mediterranean European descent. He'd still be the palest-skinned Mediterranean guy I've ever seen, though.

In fact, he should look more like this (http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/forensics/1282186): http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/nD/tb_jesuslead-lg-mdn.jpg

[whatthebutlersaw]

In my opinion, the fact that she doesn't paint Jesus as Middle Eastern shows that if she is really receiving visions from God like she claims, it is certainly in her head. White people tend to visualize Jesus as white. Middle Eastern people visualize Jesus as Middle Eastern. Black people visualize Jesus as black. (I saw a Christmas ornament of a black santa once.)

I mean, AT BEST, that Jesus she paints looks to be of Mediterranean European descent. He'd still be the palest-skinned Mediterranean guy I've ever seen, though.

In fact, he should look more like this (http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/forensics/1282186): http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/nD/tb_jesuslead-lg-mdn.jpg


Like Fidel Castro?

[Howie Felterbush]

this (http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/forensics/1282186): http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/nD/tb_jesuslead-lg-mdn.jpg


That's not Jesus!

That's the homeless guy from State Street that's always hitting me up for change or a cigarette. Thought he looked familiar; I just didn't recognize him without his parka.

[Cainkane1]

She has talent. I wish her well.

[headscratcher4]

The not representaitonal art isn't particularly good and the representational/realistic stuff isn't particularly interesting. She has skills but lacks imagination and true creativity...its all very route...like Thomas whatshisname "painter of light" ...she'll make a living from it but it is hard to see that 50 years from now someone will pay big bucks for that an art auction...of course, it could be like Sleeper where in some plastic future trite hackery is thought of as real art.

BTW, if you want to see prodegy in art, go find a book of what Picasso was doing at her age... of course, he was learning his craft, going to art school, etc. But his youthful work is still marvelous. This stuff could hang quite comfortably next to a black velvet Elvis or a 3D winking Jesus.

[The Gnomon]

No! It DOES prove God Exists! Because I say it does, that's why!
Repeated assertion is the BEST PROOF (that the true believers can come up with). Especially if there's no grounds for the assertion, but even better, if the argument they bring actually proves the opposite of what they assert.

[SheepDip]

The brother, Ilia Kramarik has ideas of Quantum philosophy, but cannot read or write?

[Cainkane1]

She has a pretty smile. I wish her well.

[Philosaur]

This describes every single atheist/ agnostic I know in real life except for one person. Before I discovered skepticism and JREF, I'd actually never encountered an atheist or agnostic who CARED that they were, or put any thought into the matter. They just didn't really care about religion one way or the other, and their lack of faith was as significant to them as my lack of stamp collecting is to me.


Ok, so you know some atheists who haven't thought about their atheism. Furthermore, in your personal sample of atheists, the majority don't care that they are atheists. That about sum it up?


The post wasn't claiming an exact percentage, or even stating that a majority of atheists think this way, only that "many" do.

And unless the poster meant this in the most trivial way (like "many people are women" or "many of us breathe air"), I'd like to know the justification for the assertion. Also, the fact that we're supposed to "remember" this indicates that the poster thinks it's common knowledge. Apparently you do too.


As I personally know many people this describes, I agree with this statement. It seems rather absurd you find this unbelievable.


So because your experience tallies with what the poster said, the fact that my experience does not is absurd? I find that absurd.


Hate to break it to you,


So now you're schooling the ignorant newb?


but just because you care about being an atheist or came to that conclusion after careful research and thought doesn't mean that's true for everyone. Just because someone agrees with you doesn't mean they think like you.

And just because you know a bunch of apathetic atheists doesn't mean squat for atheists as a whole.

[Weak Kitten]

Hmm, there's a couple of things that strike me in her work.

First off, the figural images are all done from photograph. They have that flat look to them that I learned to look for years ago when I was watching the representatives from art colleges go through student portfolios. Yes, they are technically very good but with a good photo and a lot of time many young artists could do the same. Some of the landscapes are more interesting but I would like to see her do a cityscape to judge if she actually has perspective down or not.

The other thing I find interesting is the jump in skill level between age 7 and age 8. Up until that point it looked like a pretty natural progression that I have seen in other young artists.

I just do not know if the girl actually has the solid base to build her skills on. If she is just copying and modifying photographs then once she is no longer a "child prodigy" she may find it hard to make an actual living as an artist.

[Skeptical Greg]

Apparently her ability as an artist has little bearing on her ability to make a living..

[mike3]

I just do not know if the girl actually has the solid base to build her skills on. If she is just copying and modifying photographs then once she is no longer a "child prodigy" she may find it hard to make an actual living as an artist.

What do you mean by "solid base", and is that some kind of inborn talent that she just doesn't have, and so just can't get it?

[AnnoyingPony]

Hmm, there's a couple of things that strike me in her work.

First off, the figural images are all done from photograph. They have that flat look to them that I learned to look for years ago when I was watching the representatives from art colleges go through student portfolios. Yes, they are technically very good but with a good photo and a lot of time many young artists could do the same. Some of the landscapes are more interesting but I would like to see her do a cityscape to judge if she actually has perspective down or not.

The other thing I find interesting is the jump in skill level between age 7 and age 8. Up until that point it looked like a pretty natural progression that I have seen in other young artists.

I just do not know if the girl actually has the solid base to build her skills on. If she is just copying and modifying photographs then once she is no longer a "child prodigy" she may find it hard to make an actual living as an artist.

That's a good point. On second examination, they do look very flat. The highlights are perfect, but it's not like you ever see something overlapping another thing in perspective.

I had a jump in skill level between 10 and 11, which was the first time I could hold a pencil correctly and not throw something against the wall when I was dissatisfied with my drawing. In another interview, she said she used to go to a public school, but was pulled out when she was about 6 or 7.

She said in an interview once that she likes to make a bunch of sketches of the work before she begins. If her talent really is on the level of a savant, then she'd probably be able to paint without sketching over nine thousand times. The fact that she has to do many sketches and carefully plan out her piece probably shows that she's like me, but with more formal instruction. (Maybe that's why she's so unoriginal, too.) She may have some raw talent, but it was definitely refined over time. I've read that Picasso's work shows a progression in natural skill, but there is also an obvious leap when he begins more formal instruction.

[AnnoyingPony]

like fidel castro?

LMAO! Now we know for sure Jesus was a Communist!

*FUN FACT: Heaven and Hell are both communist paradises. In Hell, the fire worms and misery are split up equally between the mass murderers and the non-Christian philanthropists.

[AnnoyingPony]

That's not Jesus!

That's the homeless guy from State Street that's always hitting me up for change or a cigarette. Thought he looked familiar; I just didn't recognize him without his parka.

Jesus must be a cigarette-smoking, homeless Communist. :D

[Skeptical Greg]

LMAO! Now we know for sure Jesus was a Communist!

*FUN FACT: Heaven and Hell are both communist paradises. In Hell, the fire worms and misery are split up equally between the mass murderers and the non-Christian philanthropists.
Actually, I think most mass murderers, accept Jesus as their savior on their death bed, and end up in heaven with their victims..

[AnnoyingPony]

Actually, I think most mass murderers, accept Jesus as their savior on their death bed, and end up in heaven with their victims..

But everyone is equal in Communist Heaven! :p

/derail

[Weak Kitten]

What do you mean by "solid base", and is that some kind of inborn talent that she just doesn't have, and so just can't get it?

I mean the basics of art. The skills that artists are taught when they are first starting out about shape and form and how to block in your image. Often when someone is a child prodigy they don't get enough of the basic training because people assume they already know it. They skip the early steps so no one realizes that they never learned them. It works fine for a while and then they just hit the wall and can't get any farther in their craft. It can be really sad and some even give up in frustration.

[AnnoyingPony]

I mean the basics of art. The skills that artists are taught when they are first starting out about shape and form and how to block in your image. Often when someone is a child prodigy they don't get enough of the basic training because people assume they already know it. They skip the early steps so no one realizes that they never learned them. It works fine for a while and then they just hit the wall and can't get any farther in their craft. It can be really sad and some even give up in frustration.

^^This. The fact that Akiane is able to blend and do art mechanics perfectly is not inborn talent, it is the result of training. Also, look at her work at age 4. Doesn't that seem like the line control is too good for a girl her age? Most four-year olds are tracing stuff or drawing sloppy stick people, and in general prefer to do flat two-dimensional landscapes with people and houses on them instead of a zoomed-up picture of someone's face.

And they probably don't write sappy poetry either.

[sophia8]

I mean the basics of art. The skills that artists are taught when they are first starting out about shape and form and how to block in your image. Often when someone is a child prodigy they don't get enough of the basic training because people assume they already know it. They skip the early steps so no one realizes that they never learned them. It works fine for a while and then they just hit the wall and can't get any farther in their craft. It can be really sad and some even give up in frustration.I don't think she's had any formal training apart from what her parents have taught her.
When we had that thread about her a couple a years ago, I read her bio, which stated that she had only had one proper art lesson and she quit that because the teacher kept telling her how to draw! :eek: She/her parents (there doesn't seem to be much difference between them) apparently believe that formal teaching will crush her creativity and turn her into a drone. In which case, they should look up some art history - there's never been a famous artist who didn't have a long period of teaching and apprenticeship.
I used to work in art colleges (as a life model) and I've yet to meet an art tutor who recommended using photographs for anything but reference. They were adamant that drawing from life was the only way to learn their craft; they all frequently sent their students outside to draw random street scenes - not to produce perfect gallery-ready drawings, but simply to learn the mechanics of depicting overlapping and moving objects.
As somebody has pointed out, Akiane's pictures hardly ever feature big overlapping objects, and they're all pretty static. You don't see the type of movement and active interaction that you get in, say, Carravagio's paintings. I'd guess this is all down to her parents' teachings - Akiane's type of pictures are very likely the type of art they like. And it's pretty obvious that they started instructing her from an early age, you can see it from her early drawings "No no, darling, that's not how you draw a bird. Look, I'll show you..."
If she ever did go to art school it would do her the world of good - and I'm not talking just about her art. During my time at art schools, I watched students blossom as people as well as artists, time after time. Unfortunately, she never will go to school and learn from others, not when her 'velvet Jesus' stuff sells so well.

[AnnoyingPony]

I don't think she's had any formal training apart from what her parents have taught her.
When we had that thread about her a couple a years ago, I read her bio, which stated that she had only had one proper art lesson and she quit that because the teacher kept telling her how to draw! :eek: She/her parents (there doesn't seem to be much difference between them) apparently believe that formal teaching will crush her creativity and turn her into a drone. In which case, they should look up some art history - there's never been a famous artist who didn't have a long period of teaching and apprenticeship.
I used to work in art colleges (as a life model) and I've yet to meet an art tutor who recommended using photographs for anything but reference. They were adamant that drawing from life was the only way to learn their craft; they all frequently sent their students outside to draw random street scenes - not to produce perfect gallery-ready drawings, but simply to learn the mechanics of depicting overlapping and moving objects.
As somebody has pointed out, Akiane's pictures hardly ever feature big overlapping objects, and they're all pretty static. You don't see the type of movement and active interaction that you get in, say, Carravagio's paintings. I'd guess this is all down to her parents' teachings - Akiane's type of pictures are very likely the type of art they like. And it's pretty obvious that they started instructing her from an early age, you can see it from her early drawings "No no, darling, that's not how you draw a bird. Look, I'll show you..."
If she ever did go to art school it would do her the world of good - and I'm not talking just about her art. During my time at art schools, I watched students blossom as people as well as artists, time after time. Unfortunately, she never will go to school and learn from others, not when her 'velvet Jesus' stuff sells so well.

I remember in my Advanced Art class there was a lesson on how the drawing skills of children develop. Children begin by drawing simple shapes and lines in different angles and curves. When their parents ask them what they're drawing, they have several different answers. A picture can evolve from a dog to a person to a cup. It's only when an observer points out, "Hey, that looks like a bird/cat/house/etc." that they begin to connect the shapes with the symbols they represent.

[AnnoyingPony]

They are making a big case about his brother too, this is getting interesting, thanks for the OP:

http://akiane.com/blog/?p=190







Ouch, it seems to me that he's imitating new age gurus:

GxR8zJA61kM


At this point I have to question the motivation of the parents (or maybe they just don't see the connection...) :(

http://iliapoetry.com/home.html

I just got around to reading the blog post (I'm a bit lazy, sorry), and I instantly recognized the blog post not as "inspiration", but as advertisement. It looks like a written infomercial. Nobody writes that kind of stuff unless they have something to sell.

Also, if the part about Ilia not going to school and not being able to read or write is true, then how the heck does he write poetry? Mastering the written word and the rhythm of poetry doesn't come naturally, it has to be taught. (And he still has a lot more to learn.) I fear that the parents might even be keeping their children at home to train them so they can make more $$$.

On a side note, Ilia's art is a freakin' rip-off of Jackson Pollock. SOOOO out of style.

[AnnoyingPony]

There are other child painters without the woo. I don't think it's a fraud

This kid was on the TV News and in the papers earlier in the year.

http://www.geekosystem.com/kieron-williamson-painting-child-prodigy/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1203226/Pictured-Incredible-watercolour-paintings-boy-aged-just-SIX.html

I think I know an elderly woman who once showed me her watercolor paintings she did in her 20s, which looked a lot like the work of Kieron.

However, I think Kieron is definitely a prodigy, but he also admits that he took a watercolor class. He seems more like a kid, while Akiane and her brother Ilia try as hard as they can to sound mystical and inspired, while their scripted lines just come across as forced and hollow.

This is what a child should act like in an interview. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2DRhovPlD0)

[ImANiceGuy]

The brother, Ilia Kramarik has ideas of Quantum philosophy, but cannot read or write?

This.

It just so happens that this younger brother is also a prodigy.

These people are clearly liars.....it just makes me hate Oprah all that much more

[AnnoyingPony]

Hey, there's another discussion of Akiane going on in this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=194147). Maybe they should be merged.

[The Norseman]

I think I know an elderly woman who once showed me her watercolor paintings she did in her 20s, which looked a lot like the work of Kieron.

However, I think Kieron is definitely a prodigy, but he also admits that he took a watercolor class. He seems more like a kid, while Akiane and her brother Ilia try as hard as they can to sound mystical and inspired, while their scripted lines just come across as forced and hollow.

This is what a child should act like in an interview. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2DRhovPlD0)


Yes, I'm not very well versed in painting and so on -- but after I read some more insightful posts here of what to look for, it was immediately apparent to my untrained eye that Kieron had an extremely accurate perspective in his watercolors and it really helped explain to me that Akaine isn't quite there yet.

Her parents are revolting, however, to me.

[AnnoyingPony]

Having done some realistic paintings in my youth, I'd agree.

However, her webpage regarding that Jesus portrait (http://www.artakiane.com/akiane_painting.htm) makes me wonder.

Let alone the ridiculous story how the model, "a humble carpenter" (!!), came to their house, I wonder why someone would make "dozens of sketches" and then produce nothing but the exact copy of a photograph?

Also, look at the amateurish sketch in picture #2. The quality of that sketch in no way matches the final painting.

There is something fishy about this, imho.

I'd just like to point out that your link, and a lot of other links in this thread regarding pictures of Akiane's sketches, are broken. I can't seem to find the sketches anywhere on the site.

[AnnoyingPony]

This painting of hers is entitled "Jesus The Missing Years"

http://www.artakiane.com/images/home_Jesus-New-World.jpg

He hung around in a Planetarium?

The moment I saw the background, I felt a sort of deja vu moment. I just knew that I had seen that picture before.

I typed in "Hubble Space Telescope" into Google Images, and found this:

http://www.todayshottrends.net/images/stories/may09/Hubble-Space-Telescope-Images-17.jpg
http://www.artakiane.com/images/home_Jesus-New-World.jpg

Compare.

Also, it looks as if this picture
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t7NugJ9vdjM/TK953QnDxWI/AAAAAAAAAmU/NKFsKY4Sxlc/s1600/hubble.jpg

was added to a composite for Akiane's picture called "Search For Truth" (age 12, fifth from the right).

[MatildaGage]

Jesus looks a bit ruddy.

Either he's got a Satanic look or rosacea. ;)

[AnnoyingPony]

Jesus looks a bit ruddy.

Either he's got a Satanic look or rosacea. ;)

Are you talking about Fidel Castro Jesus or Barry Manilow Jesus?

[MatildaGage]

Manilow. ;)

On another note, I just remembered a weird thing. On a few occasions I've sold my artwork at shows, where you have to actually talk to people. :( The ignorance and oddness is startling....

Of particular confusion to me is when people ask, "Are you self taught?" I always answer no, because I took several years of instruction in high school, and a tiny bit in college. And then they invariably look disappointed.

I started drawing when I was a toddler, for many hours per day (long story). I had a lot of practice, and later, instruction. Why is this story disappointing?:boggled:

Whatever the explanation is for that phenomenon, this young artist is capitalizing on it successfully by pretending she has had no instruction.

[AnnoyingPony]

Manilow. ;)

On another note, I just remembered a weird thing. On a few occasions I've sold my artwork at shows, where you have to actually talk to people. :( The ignorance and oddness is startling....

Of particular confusion to me is when people ask, "Are you self taught?" I always answer no, because I took several years of instruction in high school, and a tiny bit in college. And then they invariably look disappointed.

I started drawing when I was a toddler, for many hours per day (long story). I had a lot of practice, and later, instruction. Why is this story disappointing?:boggled:

Whatever the explanation is for that phenomenon, this young artist is capitalizing on it successfully by pretending she has had no instruction.

It's like they expect all prodigies to be naturally good at it. That's very rare and usually requires at least a little bit of instruction to refine the talent. I am naturally talented too (not nearly talented enough to paint velvet Jesus paintings), but I still needed instruction in basic techniques. I wasn't born with a box of oil pastels and an X-acto knife in my hand. ;)

[mike3]

I don't think she's had any formal training apart from what her parents have taught her.
When we had that thread about her a couple a years ago, I read her bio, which stated that she had only had one proper art lesson and she quit that because the teacher kept telling her how to draw! :eek: She/her parents (there doesn't seem to be much difference between them) apparently believe that formal teaching will crush her creativity and turn her into a drone. In which case, they should look up some art history - there's never been a famous artist who didn't have a long period of teaching and apprenticeship.
I used to work in art colleges (as a life model) and I've yet to meet an art tutor who recommended using photographs for anything but reference. They were adamant that drawing from life was the only way to learn their craft; they all frequently sent their students outside to draw random street scenes - not to produce perfect gallery-ready drawings, but simply to learn the mechanics of depicting overlapping and moving objects.
As somebody has pointed out, Akiane's pictures hardly ever feature big overlapping objects, and they're all pretty static. You don't see the type of movement and active interaction that you get in, say, Carravagio's paintings. I'd guess this is all down to her parents' teachings - Akiane's type of pictures are very likely the type of art they like. And it's pretty obvious that they started instructing her from an early age, you can see it from her early drawings "No no, darling, that's not how you draw a bird. Look, I'll show you..."
If she ever did go to art school it would do her the world of good - and I'm not talking just about her art. During my time at art schools, I watched students blossom as people as well as artists, time after time. Unfortunately, she never will go to school and learn from others, not when her 'velvet Jesus' stuff sells so well.

But if she did go to school, how good do you think she could become as an artist? Up there with the elites? Or what? How much then do you think is being wasted due to her parents not doing that?

[AnnoyingPony]

But if she did go to school, how good do you think she could become as an artist? Up there with the elites? Or what? How much then do you think is being wasted due to her parents not doing that?

I'd say that if she went to school to improve on her skills and did some more varied scenes, then she could be a technically strong artist. But with where her originality is right now and her tendency to copy from photos, she'd probably be more suited to the role of an illustrator. I hear that medical illustration is a good business...

[Rwalsh]

Such a special and unique person. I would marry her
I believe everything she says, and she is living proof of prophetic vision
She is far beyond our pathetic minds- she surpasses everyone of us.

[desertgal]

Such a special and unique person. I would marry her...

Considering she's underage, that's not something to boast about.

I believe everything she says...Of course you do.

, and she is living proof of prophetic visionNo. She isn't.

She is far beyond our pathetic minds- she surpasses everyone of us.No. She doesn't. If she actually drew any of the artwork, she's got some talent. That's all.

[Rwalsh]

Considering she's underage, that's not something to boast about.

Of course you do.

No. She isn't.

No. She doesn't. If she actually drew any of the artwork, she's got some talent. That's all.

Yet she has a Brilliant mind' The kind of talent and nack that would take any painter to his mid 20 or 30s' to create the works she dose at 10.

[Resume]

Yet she has a Brilliant mind' The kind of talent and nack that would take any painter to his mid 20 or 30s' to create the works she dose at 10.

There are prodigies everywhere. So what?

[Rwalsh]

There are prodigies everywhere. So what?

Oh but shes a different breed for sure! A Classified A type- The Spiritual and prophetic one- Indeed A real Class to reckon with.

In essence she derives her spiritual and intellectual thinking with Divinity' Something that the stars cast influence on her mind. Renders her in a Prophetic conciousness when she paints.

She has the ability of sight- foresight. And her inner most ability of soul scaping and placing that onto canvas.
Im a good character when it comes to prophetic writing, and her's contents me. Something that should not be taken lightly.

How would I know? Well... She convinced me, lured me in *********** good.

I have not the ability like hers. or the exact few of many would have or had.
Yet I can assure you when it comes to Prophetic speech- I learn it, and I decipher it. I know how to understand it.
I dont have the ability liker hers.

And to analyze this. I call her the "Oracle of Akiane"

I can assure you she will mount up to be something extravagant, something much more profound and learned when she is much older.

[desertgal]

Yet she has a Brilliant mind' The kind of talent and nack that would take any painter to his mid 20 or 30s' to create the works she dose at 10.

I see no evidence that the young woman created any of the works credited to her.

[Resume]

Oh but shes a different breed for sure! A Classified A type- The Spiritual and prophetic one- Indeed A real Class to reckon with.

That's what they all say.

[Rwalsh]

I see no evidence that the young woman created any of the works credited to her.

She painted me, from her consciousness- A portrait of me when I was 18.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/deathelm/akiane_gallery.jpg

This is the painting about inspiration. When we are inspired, we soar, yet we are focused. That is why inspiration seems so heavenly. The young man is each of us at our greatest inspiration: a poet, a writer, a musician, an artist, a doctor, a scientist, an engineer, or a businessman. He might be a lawyer, a detective, a chef, a speaker, a farmer, an architect, or anyone who is unafraid to imagine, create and to persevere. I painted the clouds to depict the challenges, and struggles in our decisions. The light in the clouds symbolizes enlightenment. I tried to depict effort through the man’s posture and action. Inspiration is just the start, but it is our effort that brings the inspiration to the finish line. Ironically, this painting was one of the most challenging for me. And as I was working at it, at times I felt far from inspired. It took me the whole summer, and five completely different backgrounds. Inspiration and talent, I found out, is not enough. Perseverance, effort, focus and universal blessing determines the end.

If I work, for example, on an idea for a few weeks and have a dead end, a block, that I cannot move at all, I switch to another idea until it works out. If the next idea of a particular image does not work out, I switch again, because I feel it’s meant to be something different and unexpected. When I paint in this mindset, the ending is always a surprise for me. Many tours come from all over the world to my studio gallery and those that come back again and again are quite amazed at how much I change my paintings. Actually, there are at least a few paintings behind most of my finished paintings. And even though it still takes me from a few weeks to about three months to finish a story, the delay is my own experimentation. I stopped experimenting on sketch paper. I do that now right with my paints on the canvas or linen. Even for portraits. If there is a mistake, the mistake is huge, because most of my canvases are five feet long. But I do not mind that. I paint until I think it is right for me. Sometimes that affect is very realistic, for the purpose of conveying the idea precisely as I feel it. And sometimes that affect becomes quite impressionistic, for the purpose of a mystery where other people finish it in their own minds. Once the painting is done, it is done. I usually hang it in my studio gallery and observe it for a few days, changing very little. Usually, just my signatures which I hide throughout many areas of my paintings. -Akiane

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/deathelm/323232.png

[desertgal]

She painted me, from her consciousness- A portrait of me when I was 18.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/deathelm/akiane_gallery.jpg

<gobbledygook snipped>


I see a young woman posing in front of a finished painting with a brush in her hand. That is not evidence that she painted it. Nor do you offer any evidence that the subject of the painting is you.

Fail.

[Rwalsh]

I see a young woman posing in front of a finished painting with a brush in her hand. That is not evidence that she painted it. Nor do you offer any evidence that the subject of the painting is you.

Fail.

Do you have this.. Pop up icon that allows you to track my posts so you can comment on them?

It is her. She painted them. Infact if you wish you can search for videos of her painting. She sits for hours with her mp3 player on, She hardly moves around that much, extremely focused.

[Rwalsh]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/deathelm/33232s.png

[apophenia]

This painting of hers is entitled "Jesus The Missing Years"

[image omitted - newbie rules]

He hung around in a Planetarium?

He looks like a young Luke Skywalker.

[Rwalsh]

He looks like a young Luke Skywalker.


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/deathelm/128744762037257117.jpg

[apophenia]

If the paintings are authentic..ie created by the daughter, not the mother, then the skill and technique are amazing for a child.

Beyond the technique, the works, as seen through my eyes, are hollow, sentimental, and just plain crappy.

Compare the portrait of Jesus below with a couple of Rembrandts. It could be argued that her ability to mimick reality is on par or better than the celebrated Dutch master; but as works of art...


I think some of the criticism of her artwork comes down unfairly upon thematic and stylistic choices which, in and of themselves, are perfectly valid. She paints in a realist style, almost hyper-realist -- so what? Many artists, perhaps most, begin with realism. What I find curious, beyond the contextual issues, are two things. Despite all her (presumed) technical proficiencies, her art has the hallmarks of an artist who has yet to find her voice. For a young artist, this is to be expected, but for one God-inspired? That I'm not so sure about. More telling though is that whomever created these artworks, they have settled into a fairly consistent style and appear to be mining that groove. Where are the experiments with different artistic styles, the impressionism, the abstracts, and so forth? The lack of experimentation is inconsistent with a developing artist. Maybe God only inspires in a stylistically narrow band. Perhaps Monet's works were Satan inspired, and if he'd been properly pious, his lilies would be crisply defined. It's impossible to say, but I doubt that realism is the only school inspired by God. (I personally would argue that the Pre-Raphaelites were more divinely blessed. :D)

I remember my own journey when, at about 16, I came to the realization that I would not do anything "Great". In my youth, I fancied myself a poet, until I realized my poetry wasn't going anywhere beyond the typical work of "young poets". Someone once said of violinists that virtuosity is the beginning, not the end of a great violinist. Many young people start out impressively yet hit a wall beyond which they develop no further. If Akiane truly is the artist involved, at best, she demonstrates technical virtuosity. If there is a wall separating mere technical virtuosity from genius (whether natural or God inspired), hurdling that wall lies in her future; she has not surpassed it yet.

[Rwalsh]

I think some of the criticism of her artwork comes down unfairly upon thematic and stylistic choices which, in and of themselves, are perfectly valid. She paints in a realist style, almost hyper-realist -- so what? Many artists, perhaps most, begin with realism. What I find curious, beyond the contextual issues, are two things. Despite all her (presumed) technical proficiencies, her art has the hallmarks of an artist who has yet to find her voice. For a young artist, this is to be expected, but for one God-inspired? That I'm not so sure about. More telling though is that whomever created these artworks, they have settled into a fairly consistent style and appear to be mining that groove. Where are the experiments with different artistic styles, the impressionism, the abstracts, and so forth? The lack of experimentation is inconsistent with a developing artist. Maybe God only inspires in a stylistically narrow band. Perhaps Monet's works were Satan inspired, and if he'd been properly pious, his lilies would be crisply defined. It's impossible to say, but I doubt that realism is the only school inspired by God. (I personally would argue that the Pre-Raphaelites were more divinely blessed. :D)

I remember my own journey when, at about 16, I came to the realization that I would not do anything "Great". In my youth, I fancied myself a poet, until I realized my poetry wasn't going anywhere beyond the typical work of "young poets". Someone once said of violinists that virtuosity is the beginning, not the end of a great violinist. Many young people start out impressively yet hit a wall beyond which they develop no further. If Akiane truly is the artist involved, at best, she demonstrates technical virtuosity. If there is a wall separating mere technical virtuosity from genius (whether natural or God inspired), hurdling that wall lies in her future; she has not surpassed it yet.

I think she surpassed. while you were still 16 you were working at K-Mart for 9 a Hour.

She makes 9000 a hour.
Thats not surpassing it for ya? lol

Shes a real human being just like you and I. Whats stopping you in achieving things. Your lack of self Devotion and Confidence thats What.

[apophenia]

One final note, without devoting a lot of time to this is an observation on an odd variability among her sketches for age 5. Her mastery of chiarascuro varies dramatically between various drawings -- even controlling for the possibility that some weren't meant to portray realistic shading. There are a number that appear to represent attempts at realism including accurate shading, some are amateurish attempts typical of someone just learning, while others demonstrate proficient acquisition of the technique. This bears all the hallmark of someone with artistic skill attempting to "fake" artistic inability, and doing so inconsistently, or, mixing a young artists actual compositions with those of someone more accomplished (who again may be attempting to feign a degree of incompetence). "Most peculiar, Mr. Frodo!"

[Rwalsh]

One final note, without devoting a lot of time to this is an observation on an odd variability among her sketches for age 5. Her mastery of chiarascuro varies dramatically between various drawings -- even controlling for the possibility that some weren't meant to portray realistic shading. There are a number that appear to represent attempts at realism including accurate shading, some are amateurish attempts typical of someone just learning, while others demonstrate proficient acquisition of the technique. This bears all the hallmark of someone with artistic skill attempting to "fake" artistic inability, and doing so inconsistently, or, mixing a young artists actual compositions with those of someone more accomplished (who again may be attempting to feign a degree of incompetence). "Most peculiar, Mr. Frodo!"

even Sworn professionals in the field of art screw up sometime

[apophenia]

I found a rather interesting quote among the testimonials / blurbs in Akiane and her mother's book. To wit:

"Akiane is a literary phenomenon in the history of poetic art. I doubt there has ever been a literary child genius of such maturity, lyrical virtuosity, and spiritual transcendance! Her rare gift will be engraved forever in the history pages of the world's literature. I see the cosmic hope and meaning of life in her wisdom-saturated imagery. I am speechless!"

Vladislovas Blinstrubas
Distinguished Lithuanian Poet

Just who is Mr. Blinstrubas? He is indeed a Lithuanian poet. He is also Akiane's grandfather. Pardon me if I'm a little skeptical that a grandfather's opinion is unbiased, but I am. On a positive note, atleast they didn't manufacture this quote from whole cloth! ;)

[AnnoyingPony]

I think she surpassed. while you were still 16 you were working at K-Mart for 9 a Hour.

She makes 9000 a hour.
Thats not surpassing it for ya? lol

Shes a real human being just like you and I. Whats stopping you in achieving things. Your lack of self Devotion and Confidence thats What.

So, what great things have you accomplished with your "self Devotion and Confidence"?

Seriously, get off your high horse. This isn't about proving who's better, it's about determining whether this girl is who she claims to be.

[AnnoyingPony]

Do you have this.. Pop up icon that allows you to track my posts so you can comment on them?

It is her. She painted them. Infact if you wish you can search for videos of her painting. She sits for hours with her mp3 player on, She hardly moves around that much, extremely focused.

Somebody already linked to a video of Akiane painting the work "Wonder" earlier in this thread. Except this wasn't a complete representation of her work, she stopped short of the warm tones, the brown background, and the butterflies.

[AnnoyingPony]

even Sworn professionals in the field of art screw up sometime

You're missing the point. He's pointing out that with the motor control in those pictures, it's unlikely that Akiane drew them. He's suggesting that the appearance of those pictures is consistent with an adult artist trying to pretend to be a still-learning girl.

[Alice Shortcake]

What awful, awful stuff! I'm surprised these "masterpieces" aren't painted on black velvet. Akiane needs to incorporate Elvis or a few Thomas Kinkade hobbit cottages into her work.

[desertgal]

Do you have this.. Pop up icon that allows you to track my posts so you can comment on them?

Sure. :D

It is her. She painted them. Infact if you wish you can search for videos of her painting. ONE video of her dabbling at ONE painting is not proof, or even evidence, that she painted all of the ones credited to her from start to finish.

She sits for hours with her mp3 player on, She hardly moves around that much, extremely focused.

Do other artists perform calisthenics while they paint?

She makes 9000 a hour.

Yeah. Right. On paintings that are little better than "Dogs Playing Poker" (or actually worse, since that's a classic). I don't think so, dude.

even Sworn professionals in the field of art screw up sometime

"Sworn professionals in the field of art"? Are artists now required to swear to an oath before they put brush to canvas?

[AnnoyingPony]

ONE video of her dabbling at ONE painting is not proof, or even evidence, that she painted all of the ones credited to her from start to finish.

Actually, there is one video, and it shows her painting the base paint of the baby. But it is not complete, and the painting in question is also one of her flatter works (even by Akiane's standards, there is little depth in it). It's entirely possible that she didn't paint the entire painting, and that she might not even lay a brush on the other ones.

[Rwalsh]

actually, there is one video, and it shows her painting the base paint of the baby. But it is not complete, and the painting in question is also one of her flatter works (even by akiane's standards, there is little depth in it). It's entirely possible that she didn't paint the entire painting, and that she might not even lay a brush on the other ones.

wrong! Ive seen great paintings done by young ones
akiane is 100 percent genuine

Breach of Rule 0, Rule 12 and Rule 10 removed.

[desertgal]

wrong! Ive seen great paintings done by young ones

So? How is that evidence that Akiane painted all the works attributed to her?

akiane is 100 percent genuine

Evidence?

Breach of Rule 0, Rule 12 and Rule 10 removed.

Happy New Year to you too, pal. :rolleyes:

[Sideroxylon]

Happy New Year to you too, pal. :rolleyes:

Charming wasn't it.

[Akhenaten]

wrong! Ive seen great paintings done by young ones
akiane is 100 percent genuine

Breach of Rule 0, Rule 12 and Rule 10 removed.





What's that on your shoulder? It's really big, whatever it is.

[Alice Shortcake]

It's so big I'm surprised it wasn't predicted by Nostradamus!

[AnnoyingPony]

wrong! Ive seen great paintings done by young ones[QUOTE]

That has nothing to do with Akiane's credibility as an artist.

As Wikipedia would say, "Citations needed".

[QUOTE=Rwalsh;6696236]akiane is 100 percent genuine[QUOTE]

As Ceiling Cat would say, "citations pl0x or giv meh mah ch33zburg3rz"

[QUOTE=Rwalsh;6696236]Breach of Rule 0, Rule 12 and Rule 10 removed.

I love you too.