Akiane Kramarik’s atheist parents were surprised when their three-year-old began to describe dreams and visions from God. This inexplicable direction in their daughter’s life, combined with a remarkable talent in art and poetry, inspired her family to re-examine their own lives.
An Encounter With God
“My life began in an unusual way,” says Akiane, 17, who spent her early years in rural Illinois. By unusual, she refers to her underwater birth in “a shack” on the edge of a cornfield. “Our family had no money, no friends, no relatives, no television or radio. Our life was quite simple — long walks in nature, open conversations, and hands on explorations of knowledge,” she says.
Her mother, Forelli, is a Lithuanian immigrant educator. Akiane’s father, Mark, is a chef from Chicago with a Catholic background. In her early family life, there was no prayer, no discussions of God, and no visits to church.
Yet in the atheistic environment her parents created – free from media influences or even outside babysitters – Akiane suddenly began to talk about God.
The Face of Jesus
She spoke of colorful dreams and visions about heaven, Jesus, and God’s amazing love. Her stunned parents realized her intense focus on God could not have been inspired by anything in the world they created for her. Indeed, Akiane seemed to be having supernatural encounters with the living God.
“Most of my spiritual experiences I kept secret, so as not to overwhelm my parents,” she says. “When I was four years old, suddenly I started experiencing vivid impressions about different dimensions and a great desire to express them through art,” she says.
At eight-years-old, Akiane decided she wanted to paint the face of Jesus, based on the visions she received.
A Discovery of God
Akiane’s painting of Jesus was a painstaking effort. “The ‘Prince of Peace’ took me 40 hours to paint and another 20 hours of working with model sketching,” Akiane says. She deftly works with light and shadows to create powerful impressions. “The light side of his face represents the truth, the dark side represents suffering,” she notes.
Akiane’s discovery of God seems remarkably personal. “Since nobody told me who God was, I found God myself. He’s been there for me through the years. I don’t belong to any denomination or religion. I belong to God.”
To eliminate any confusion, however, Jesus is first in her mind. “He is the only way to God — the only way to heaven and joy,” she states. “My personal views on Jesus have only matured and deepened since age 4. As I grow I see how vast and unlimited His love is.”
Jesus’ Glory
“Jesus remains my highest authority, love, and God. I pray every day that people will one day follow Jesus, His teachings and feel His love.”
“I alone know how important Jesus is for me. Instead of writing it is best for me to express (this) through my personal connection — art. I portray Jesus how I see him, as human and as divine.
“My art is only a representation of what I see — Jesus’ glory is beyond any description!”
Do you know someone who has an encounter with God like Akiane’s? Please leave a comment below.
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What an inspiration Akiane’s story is! A true blessing from God!
Akiane,
You must know that love is not obsession. I have to tell you that I also had many visions about many things including Jesus. An I did “understand” them very well. for a decent , and meaningful life people must live in truth and not in traditions. They must have their own light and to be able to see the right path for themselves. Jesus was an enlightened man and a prophet who told about the future. He anticipated the whole circus that the Church made about him and all the lies. Jesus is not the salvation of the Humanity.
The truth is the salvation of the Humanity. The painting “I am ” is one of your most valuable painting . why??? Because it tells the truth. “I am” meaning I exist based on my own life’s energy. I am clean and I am healthy and I am up in the light where there is beauty and goodness and divine truth. Even the name Jesus
is made -up from two words. “Je” french “I” and “sus” romanian UP. Or else not in mud , not dirty not delussional but healty mind in a healthy body, rational, strong, logical and free.
Khalvarie.
Arkiane, I believe so much in God and His son Jesus Christ. I also believe your paintings without doubt knowing that these kind of gifts come from God alone.
I encourage you to Keep doing what you do. And I believe that you will someday paint the Throne of the Father and the son and all other components of the Book of revelations that our minds may comprehend better.
Very inspirational
I like her painting and would believe immediately that Yeshua (Jesus) looks like what she painted if she is an African, Chinese or Arab girl. She painted Yeshua as she knows from her surrounding. A Chinese girl would paint Yeshua like a Chinese. An African girl would paint Him like an African. Anyway, His words are much more important than ‘His face’.
Isaiah 53: 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
Her deep connection with God is undeniable and most importantly it is authentic. Thanks, Bob, for connecting me to this story.
I had encounter with God and Jesus, can confirm he looks exactly as she painted Him.
In her 2017 painting of Him, she quite brought His appearance to Life.
I can confirm that her Jesus is not the real Jesus from scripture but a counterfeit. In none of her interviews, sin is mentioned nor the necessity of the cross.
Her God is new age…the fact that she claimed to have seen him contradicts scripture.
23Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand. 26So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. Matthew 24:23-26
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/42cae670a3482a2cee02b3df328a9b5f8c3c157c53103ffe8522cdd2cf357a08.png
If you dont reconize the truth and feel the love in her words and deeds, you are someone who wouldnt recognize Christ Himself even if you were to see Him.
He wants to be known, and He is known by His own to whom he reveals Himself.
I confirm that it is He, He revealed Himself to me, and I am bold to say that I know Him.
I am His eternal student, servant, brother and friend, in Love and Light, for ever.
Jesus is real and he is alive and doing well!!!. Oh how he loves us!!!. I, too have seen him in visions and he looks just like the painting by Arkiane Kramarik.
Kiana,
I just saw your painting now and I had to Google your works.
Fiat thing that came in my mind I said this is God’s work in your life and when I saw your testimony I just confirm what the Lord told me.
You are blessed and a blessing to the whole world and keep sharing the Gospel through your works. Thia is a tool that the Lord has given you for evangelism and soul winning.keep it up!
May God bless you and protect you in Jesus’s Name
And a child shall lead them.
Amen. Wonderful
@ Beskulmo: Explain Akianes Gods given ability to paint as she does
Can you pray for me, for God to come in my heart, and to not doubt his existence. To not live in fear, with lies and deceit. Please pray to give me the strength and know how, to recognize the word of God and his path for me. I say I believe, but my actions and accountability are far off from what I learn in church every Sunday. Please pray for me.
Thank you
In 1980’s Cape Cod, Roy Schoeman a Jewish atheist had an encounter / vision on the beach. He knew immediately that God existed and loved him and that there was purpose to life. He now evangelizes around the world for Jesus Christ!
I have been following Arkiane’s story for some years now. She is amazing and she gives us a wonderful glimpse of our beautiful, amazing Lord, not only in her paintings but in her character. Thanks for posting that interview.
Yes i have a vivid enconnter with Jesus when i was 19 years old in 1994. He spared my life because i was planning to kill myself that day. He called my name 3 times while He was knocking on the door. He led me to a man, a total stranger and found out to be a pastor of a local congregation. That’s when i understood that it was Jesus who spoke to me and directed me to His servant, the Pastor. Now, i am a Pastor too in response to the the divine encounter i had with Jesus on October 28, 1994. – Pastor Vince dela cruz
What a wonderful story, Vincent. Thank you for leaning in and joining the conversation.
Very interesting. From a religious family, I have yet to have proven to me that there is a God.
Hi Mark. Thank you for joining the conversation and sharing a bit of your perspective. I don’t do well trying to prove God’s existence to others. My experiences have informed me that God exists. Microscopes and telescopes tell the story of an ever expanding universe as well as how much of what exists is made of dark matter and so much is unknown. What is your experience like?
My grandma passed October 8th this year 2023. She told me her encounter when I was very young. It was some time before “Heaven is For Real “ came out. My grandma read the book to my sister and I shortly after it was published and we couldn’t believe how the description was just like hers in the barn when she was little. We lit up every time the same thing was mentioned. This became my favorite memory and I often asked my grandma to tell me this memory. When she was no longer to walk and speak I would tell her about her memory and she would smile the same way she did when she was able to tell me. The way she lit up about his eyes and how they brought peace and comfort will always be my favorite.
My mother asked me to speak at the memorial about my grandmas time in the barn with Jesus. I cried but I was able to get through it. My friend told me this morning how she saw Jesus the exact same as my grandma described and it was during a very hard time in her life. During the funeral I found out that my grandmas family was very secluded on the farm in North Dakota and her daddy had been paralyzed and times were very tough. They were literally dirt poor. Grandma could have asked for Jesus to give her family food or clothing or heat or even heal her daddy. She didn’t ask for these things because in the presence of Jesus you only feel comfort and peace all you desire is him.
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your Grandma’s experience with Jesus. God’s comfort to you as your continue to grieve her passing. So good that you have this memory that inspired her and now helps you in your grief. God bless!
What a beautiful testimonial. Her art is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing this, Mr. Jones.
Just AMAZING!! How can you not be a believer!! Blessings and prayers to all.
Just AMAZING! I don’t know how anyone can’t be a BELIEVER!! Blessings and prayers to all.
What a special gift to meet Christ Jesus – angels and heaven. How God used her to hopefully save her family and others who haven’t believed thru the gift God has bestowed upon her art and her words!!
God chooses those who He will save- if you open your hearts , ears and eyes.
I too was bestowed that special gift also- an Angel came to me at 3 and Jesus came to me at almost 10 at church and walked me down the aisle to accept Him as my Lord and Savior- but He looked differently.
Jesus is the visible of the invisible God. Just as He looked differently after His resurrection I’m sure He can take many different looks – He is God.
This is the first time – exactly 51 yrs later I’m telling this story- because of the naysayers- Jesus is Real and every knee shall one day bow to Him.
And if you don’t seek Him now- when you end up bowing- it shall be too late.
And I can’t wait to see the new world!! I can’t wait to see heaven!! Oh what a blessing this child has had!!
Jesus is the Christ! This I know as I sit here recording these words! We all can gain a testimony of Christ if we are humble and have faith as small as a mustard seed. The Holy Ghost is a revealer of ali truth and will let you know. We all may not have visions, but we all have access the Spirit of God who will testify of Christ and His Atonement.
WOW THIS IMAGE GAVE ME CHILLS! After my experience I googled images of Jesus and it was the same person!!! A few years back I decided to meditate with my wife. We don’t meditate ever but decided to try it. My experience was unlike anything I have experienced before. I wasn’t thinking about anything particular and this experience just happened? I was on walking down a beautiful river with trees along the sides and open fields on each side. That’s when this man from the painting appeared! He didn’t tell me who he was because I already new it was Jesus. He was smiling and told me that when the time comes I will lead you back home where everyone will be waiting for me. Total serenity!
There are some great stories shared here. I can’t imagine not being a believer. I do not look down on anyone who doesn’t believe I just pray for them and hope they feel the comfort and joy I do. This young girls story is amazing and beautiful! She was able to witness to her parents along with many others. She donates a lot of her earnings to charities. God bless her!
Me and my family are L.D.S. I am not as faithful as I should be. I just lost a son, Raymond who was very faithful in our church. This young lady who had no religious background and sees Jesus and paints his liknes is an inspiration to all of us . Jesus is real. I know my son is now in his presence.