Art Chowder March | April, Issue 26 | Page 11

MJ: When you began drawing/ painting your visions, you said your mother was the only one who believed in them and that she was an atheist. Has your artistic journey changed her mind?   Akiane: Not only my mother’s but my whole family’s perspective on spirituality has changed. To date, each and every one of my family is on their own spiritual journey inspired by my visionary paintings and experiences.   MJ: Are all of your paintings derived from visions? If not, do you work from memory, or do you take pictures to work from?   Akiane: A vision is like an oasis in a desert. You can’t have it all the time, as you need to keep on continuing your journey through the desert of life experiences … I am not so concerned about waiting for a vision to appear, because I know it will come to me when I least expect it … I still have visionary inspirations. To me, inspiration is everywhere. I love recording my inspiration through sketching, photography, and film.   When I do experience a vision, I process the information I am given very calmly by analyzing it and applying it on canvas or sketchbook that same day. My creative process varies for each and every project. Before I start, I always project a positive outcome, no matter the situation. I never predict the journey of the painting, but envisioning the finale helps me reach the finish line. By committing myself to work through challenging times the inspiration now comes to me when I least expect it.    March | April 2020 11