12-YEAR-OLD IDAHO GIRL CREATES STUNNING ART
KTVB
Friday, November 17, 2006
Original LinkBOISE - People across the world are willing to pay millions of dollars for the profound paintings of a 12-year-old Idaho girl.
Now, those internationally recognized paintings are on display in Boise.
At first glimpse,
Akiane Kramarik looks just like any other 12-year-old.
"She's a girl with braces who likes many things that other girls like," Akiane's mother Foreli said.
But unlike most girls her age, Akiane is up at four each morning, so she can devout at least five hours to a gift -- a gift that has led many to call her a prodigy.
Her parents first noticed her talent at four years old, and now her pieces fill a large warehouse.
She says God is her inspiration and each of the paintings holds a story full of wisdom far past her age.
Akiane described what inspired to her to create the painting at right. "The real meaning behind this painting is whatever we are, we will still wither even if its in an expensive vase if we don't have light," she said.
Psychiatrists that have spent time with Akiane can't explain why she is a linguistic genius. They call it a miracle.
Akiane's mom recognizes her daughter's gift, but she also says it takes a lot of effort.
"People don't realize that there are three or four paintings beneath each of these paintings, that she has to, she doesn't like it, she works, she struggles, she cries, and it's blood and sweat in her paintings," her mother said.
As for her poetry, Akiane and her mom say that part is effortless.
Akiane calls it a privilege to be regarded as a prodigy but she says everyone has a special gift.
But it takes only one look at this remarkable collection to see the gift she possesses.
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CNN VIDEO REPORT------------
THE LIFE OF AKIANE, ARTIST & POET
http://www.artakiane.com/akiane_life.htm- Born underwater at home, on July 9, 1994, in Mount Morris, Illinois, to the atheistic stay-at-home Lithuanian homemaker mother, and an American father, culinary arts instructor, chef and dietary manager.
- Lived in Illinois, Missouri, Colorado and Idaho, experiencing poverty and affluence.
- Having attended both public and private schools, now is home-schooled with her three brothers, Delfini 14, Jean Lu 12 and Ilia 3 years old.
- Began drawing at 4, and painting at 6, teaching herself and learning mostly from her own keen observation and study.
- Speaks four languages: Lithuanian, Russian, English and Sign Language.
- Heritage: Lithuanian, Jewish, Polish, Hungarian, Slovakian, Russian, Bohemian, Chinese, French, Danish and German.
- At 4, had a life-changing spiritual transformation, converting the family to Christianity.
- At age 7 began writing poetry and aphorisms.
- Her poems often arrive fully conceived.
- The inspiration for her art and literature comes from her visions, dreams, observations of people, nature and God.
- Paints from imagination, reference materials and models.
- Favorite size canvases: 48 x 60 inches.
- Considers her style: Akianism -- a universal blend of realism and imaginism
- Wants people to find hope in her paintings.
- Has the same goal with each painting: to be inspiration for others and to be the gift to God.
- Favorite medium: acrylics for full figures, and oil paints for large portraits.
- Rises at 4 a.m. five-six days a week to get ready to paint in the studio and write; works for about three hours a day.
- Often works over a hundred hours on a painting, producing 8 to 10 paintings a year.
- Usually makes many sketches before painting.
- Works on one painting at a time.
- Favorite subject: people and spiritual subjects.
- Has "start-to-finish" demonstration videos of her painting.
- Favorite activities and hobbies: art, poetry, chess, trampoline, piano, dancing, reading and helping people.
- Likes about herself: "sensitivity to people".
- Does not like about herself: "impatience".
- Assesses her own character: "daring heart and cautious mind".
- Her biggest wish: "that everyone would love God and one another".
- Her life goal: to share her love for God and people around the world.
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Poetry Example:
The Prince Of Peace
Oil on canvas, Age 8 (2003) 36" x 48"
It's Not Too Late
Perhaps I wanted to catch it
perhaps not
But one morning
an eagle dropped a diamond
And right then
with my faulty brush
full of my own hair
I wanted to paint
I wanted to paint the wings -
Too late - they flew away
I wanted to paint a flower
Too late - it withered
That night the rain
was running after me
Each drop of rain
showed God's face
His face was everywhere
On homes and on me
I wrung out the love
to make the red
I wrung out the stumps
to make the brown
I wrung out the trust
to make the pink
I wrung out my own eyes
to make the blue
I wrung out the seaweed
to make the green
I wrung out the nightly pain
to make the black
I wrung out my grandmother's hair
to make the gray
I wrung out my visions
to make the violet
I wrung out the truth
to make the white
Today I want to paint God's face
IT'S NOT TOO LATE !
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QUOTES FROM AKIANE KRAMARIK'S WEBSITE
http://www.artakiane.com/press.htm"We are meeting the world's most talented kids. Our guest is already earning a lot of money for her work and she is only 9. We discovered Akiane Kramarik in a small town in Idaho…" "Akiane, 8 was a big year for you, a busy year! Oh, my goodness, I don't know, what 9 is going to bring, but this is huge!... I love your self portrait – it is gorgeous, but I think the African lady is my favorite! I don't know, if it's because she's African and I am African-American, but her eyes are extraordinary! I think the depth and the color of the eyes are full of real richness and soulfulness, and the light feature is so great in the Jesus painting. You picked up so nicely the texture of his hair. That is amazing! You do faces very well! You obviously are gifted!"
-- Oprah, The Oprah Winfrey Show
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"Akiane is a gifted and seasoned artist who is totally focused on her work. She is a renowned prodigy in the arts world!"
-- World News Tonight with Peter Jennings/ABC
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"To say that Akiane has extraordinary talent is a gross understatement. She is a young genius and a spiritual young lady with an amazing gift who is changing the lives of all who have come in contact with her."
-- Fox Magazine/Fox News
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"What a amazing and talented young girl!!!"
-- Craig Ferguson The Late Late Show
.......
"All of the young people of 'Americas bright Future' we have met have been remarkable in their passion and their achievement, but nothing has prepared us for this 9-year-old who has mastered the art of realist paintings and signs her paintings simply "Akiane." "Now what sets Akiane apart from other child prodigies is that her paintings are so realistic and so full of emotion. It is much more common for child prodigies to produce abstract art . Realism of this quality in a child is quite unusual. To see this kind of detail, the flair is just incredible! It is a gift! Amazing gift! What a remarkable young lady!"
-- Lou Dobbs, CNN
.......
"We are all in total awe here, at this Russian television station! We compared Akianes's extraordinary painting Prince of Peace with the computerized image taken from the Shroud Of Turin, that was hanging in my office. To our complete shock and marvel we found virtually an exact match! It is a miracle and it must come from God! There are no words to describe how a little 8-year-old girl could portray such wisdom, compassion and love in the eyes she painted. The technical and emotional details along with the visual strength in her paintings are astounding and stupendous! When I have a difficult day, all I need to do is to look at her paintings. In her striking self-portrait the light literally comes forth from her… What a mission on earth she carries! Bravo!"
-- Jurij Sizenov Nikolaevich, Shabolovka (Russian television and mega radio network)
.......
"Akiane is hoping to use her amazing gift to help feed needy children around the world. When asked why she thinks she received the gift, Akiane thinks that she has been blessed by God for one reason and one reason only, and that is to help others."
-- "Dream Child" Today's Christian, Illinois
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"…an 8 year-old prodigy's paintings and poetry attract experts' attention. We are not aware of any other expert who has been able to offer a plausible explanation for how a person is so accomplished to master this, when never afforded years of experience. Akiane is probably the only visual arts prodigy to have mastered realism. Every other prodigy has mastered forms such as either cubism or abstraction. Which means, frankly, that you don't know if they made a mistake. But realism is considered the most difficult to master. Akiane's art is only one facet of what makes her so special. Her poetry is as much in her heart and soul as are her paintings. You can justifiably call her an old soul in a young person's body. One sees the expression on the face she has brushed on the canvas and then realizes where it is coming from."
-- "The fine arts phenomenon" The Press, Post Falls, Idaho
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Wikipedia On Child ProdigyNHNE Extraordinary Human Capabilities