Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry [Hardcover]

Akiane Kramarik (Author), Foreli Kramarik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2006

Ten-year-old prodigy Akiane Kramarik shares her artwork, poetry, and the fascinating story surrounding her talent.

Growing up in a home with an atheistic mother and a non-participating Catholic father did not stop four-year-old Akiane Kramarik from finding God. This girl's dreams began a conversation in the home that has eventually brought them all to Christianity and the world's attention. Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry is a collection of the best of Akiane's full-color paintings and poetry created from ages 4 to 10, along with details of her family and the amazing stories that surround each unique artwork.

Already a media professional, Akiane has been interviewed on programs such as Oprah, World News Tonight, Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN, and Schuller's Hour of Power. Akiane will be one of twenty visual artists participating in the October "Listen" event raising money for the world's needy children. Today Akiane's art is available online at www.artakiane.com.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though 12th-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen began receiving visions at the extraordinarily young age of five, she was in her early 40s before she revealed them to the public in her writings, artwork and music. Not so for Idaho-born Akiane, a media star who, at the age of 10, confidently reveals her divinely inspired artwork and poetry to the wider world. The book is divided into three parts, the first section being the story of Akiane's life and her visions (which first began at the age of four) as told by her mother—a kind of hagiography of sorts. It's well meaning, but generally stilted and flat in its prose. Most interesting are parts two and three, the second section devoted to full color depictions of Akiane's paintings (vivid, fantasy-like portraits in color and scene), and the third a selection of her poetry. Even more interesting—yet unfortunately left unexplored in any real depth—is the question of how to understand Akiane in the context of Christian spirituality. Is she a mystic? A precociously gifted child? The product of smart agents and advertising? All of the above? Readers will have to decide those questions for themselves. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Though 12th-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen began receiving visions at the extraordinarily young age of five, she was in her early 40s before she revealed them to the public in her writings, artwork and music. Not so for Idaho-born Akiane, a media star who, at the age of 10, confidently reveals her divinely inspired artwork and poetry to the wider world. The book is divided into three parts, the first section being the story of Akiane's life and her visions (which first began at the age of four) as told by her mother a kind of hagiography of sorts. It's well meaning, but generally stilted and flat in its prose. Most interesting are parts two and three, the second section devoted to full color depictions of Akiane's paintings (vivid, fantasy-like portraits in color and scene), and the third a selection of her poetry. Even more interesting yet unfortunately left unexplored in any real depth is the question of how to understand Akiane in the context of Christian spirituality. Is she a mystic? A precociously gifted child? The product of smart agents and advertising? All of the above? Readers will have to decide those questions for themselves. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --Publisher's Weekly --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849900441
• ISBN-13: 978-0849900440
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.6 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (222 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Inspirational & Religious
  • #43 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Artists, Architects & Photographers
  • #82 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > American

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing artist! March 23, 2006

By John W. Brandkamp

Format:Hardcover

Akiane Kramarik has captured my coworkers and myself at our bookstore from the first moment we saw her book. The imagery is stunning and quite evocative. She is clearly mystically inclined and is hard to understand at times. Her mother's story of her young life, from birth to eleven years old, is compelling, even if not very professional. She's a mom and not a professional writer after all. The poems are breathtaking and profound, taking several readings to begin to "get" them. Though I suspect that if Akiane has gotten these from God, then they may not be "gotten" until we share her heavenly perspective. It seems that she is a prophet of sorts. We'll have to await what comes to pass in the coming years to see if she is really of God or not. One thing is for certain however, and that is her talent. Whether it's her painting, sketching, or poetry, it's no overstatement to call her a genius. I just hope she can stay humble in such an environment. I look forward to what her future will bring to us!

70 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another review February 12, 2007

By T. Gunby VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great thing to see. We are seeing someone who is born with this talent and we get to see her progress with this. I think people get caught up in the "Christian" aspect of it and seem to be negative about her.

What is she? She's an 11 year old who paints what she sees in her mind. Does it matter if it not stylized as people think it should be? Again, when you hear this artist talk, she paints her dreams and what she sees in her mind. I think that's true of a lot of artists.

And for the people who are negative about her, it has drawn their attention too.

Is this artist looking to be taken seriously in the "art world?" It does not seem that way. This artist is painting what she wants to paint and seems to love it.

Children, even those called "prodigies", have something to teach us and we put them off because they're "just kids."

I love this and take it for what it is.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry June 30, 2006

By B. Bentley

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A truly inspirational book! A young girl with a beautiful spirit and blessed with amazing gifts from God. I have shown this book to all my friends and they too are inspired by Akiane's story, art and poetry.