“Faces are more meaningful to me than anything else, you cannot live without seeing and touching them.” -Akiane
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, 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 four brothers, Delfini 18, Jean Lu 16, Ilia 8, and Aurelius 2 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
At 4, had a life-changing spiritual transformation, bringing the family to God.
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 4-5 hours each day.
Often works over a hundred to two hundred hours on a painting, producing 8 to 20 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, piano, 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.
