MJ: Growing up, there were years when you were
financially poor, but always family rich. How did you/
your parents afford canvas and paints during those
more difficult times?
Akiane: My parents saved a little each and every day.
They used what they earned from cooking and teaching to
buy me supplies. When I was around six years old, I also
started to teach to earn extra money for my canvases.
MJ: Teaching at six? How did you do it?
Akiane: My mother and I worked together. We wanted
to do two things: make money for my painting supplies
and incorporate the community into various artistic
endeavors. We invited other children and teens to our
home to explore painting, sculpting, dancing, and
singing.
MJ: Are there any artists (living or dead) whose work
you admire?
Akiane: There are many extraordinary artists
around the world like Vermeer, Caravaggio, Utagawa
Toyokuni, Banksy and Peter Paul Rubens. But I try not to
compare myself with other artists.
MJ: What medium do you currently work within?
Akiane: Always acrylics!
MJ: The “About” section of your website mentions
that you don’t so much use your paintbrushes as
abuse them. How many paintbrushes do you go
through in a month?
Akiane: Hahaha, yes that’s true. About 70 percent of the
brushes I use don’t survive for long, and I go through
about four detail brushes every two weeks or so.
MJ: Your site also says that the “survivors” are given
as gifts?
Akiane: Hahaha, oh my. Well, yes. Some of them are
given to art collectors, but mostly my parents and
brothers hang over me asking to take the “survivors.”
MJ: Music is a large and lovely component of your
videos. Do you paint to music or do you require
silence?
14
ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE