Akeem Wayne

An interview with Akeem Wayne

AIL: Akeem, How did you initially begin to paint?
AKEEM WAYNE:~I started drawing and painting when I was 4 as a
hobby....bascially like everyone else I was given paint, a brush,
and some paper and I began to paint....I remember painting a
green stick figure cat. I stayed after class to do it ;D. I painted and
began drawing more later on as hobby.....it wasn''t until i entered
the 10th grade where I thought of it as a career. I remember
learning about art and art history, and I fell in love...especially
with van Gogh''s work...he is my favorite to this day. I lived and
breathed art all through high school. I actually sold my first piece
of artwork, a painting called "Shades of Black" when I was 16.
For only $33, and I was named Art Honor student for the Class of
2002 at my high school.

AIL: Have you attended art school? Who have you studied with?
A.W.:~ No, but I REALLY want to. I can''t afford to go. During my
senior year I looked to a couple of art schools, but was too
intimidated by the tuition and fees to ever apply. I ended up going
to a local college, where I still attend...and am majoring in Studio
art.

AIL: Tell me more about your subject matter? What has inspired
you to pursue images of the human element?
A.W.:~The subject matter of my work is focused on women...I
think that women are the most beautful thing that GOD has
created, and I respect women so much because of my mother
and sisters. I have a lot of females in my life and everyone of
them unique. A lot of them feel insecure about themselves in
their bodies, and I don''t see anything wrong with the way they
look, so I am inspired by women with a lot of curves and shape.
I''m also inspired by anything that can cause and emotion. Usually
with me I create a piece after something devastating has
happened like a natural disaster or war. Racism, AIDS, and
Cancer also inspire some of my pieces, because I want to show a
brighter more vibrant side to something that is tragic. I also like to
think of my subject to be color, because for me that is the life of
my work.

AIL: How do you choose your subject matter?
A.W.:~I get inspired easily, and it''s not just by women. If I see a
shape I like, a color, a figure, hear a song, see a movie, anything
that has life to it, I get inspired by it. I''m moved easily!

AIL: One of your works are a tribute to the battle against A.I.D.S.,
what inspired you to do this tribute?
A.W.:~A.I.D.S. is a big epidemic in Africa and America, and
African Americans have the highest percentage of people with
A.I.D.S. in America. In African American culture that''s a lot since
about 22% of America is Black. I was moved by the epidemic a
few years ago while watching a documentary on it, and I have
always wanted to dedicate one of my works to the battle against
AIDS, not only amongst African Americans, but Africans, and
everyone world wide battling the disease.

AIL: Tell us more about your medium? Do you prefer oils or
acrylics? Why?
A.W.:~ I started out using colored pencil and pencil, and most of
my works, for a long time, were only realistic...I hadn''t found my
own style or niche yet..... When I got into college, I was introduced
to Conte'' Crayon and Pastel, and fell in love with them. It was like
I''ve been using them all along. I haven''t put pastel down since. It''s
been about 4 years that it''s been what I''ve used. I also like to
work in Oil and Acrylic. I prefer Acrylic over Oil!
AIL: Have you ever explored other mediums, photography or
sculpture?
A.W.:~I''ve recently gotten into photography! I love it. With
everything I''ve learned in my art classes, I''m catching on fast I
guess. I want to get more equipment and study it more...Take a
few classes as well!

AIL: Do you have any new exhibitions or shows that our visitors
should see?
A.W.:~I''m actually going to be a show with 2 other artists in
December in Jacksonville, FL. Right now the details are still being
worked out, but I will definitely be updating in a few days. I''m also
planning a solo show for early next year in Northwest Florida!

AIL: What is the best way for our visitors to see more of your
available portfolio?
A.W.:~Go to www.vibrancebyakeemwayne.com. My whole
portfolio is available for view there. It has all of my most recent
works.
AIL: What is on the horizon for the future of your work?
A.W.~Wow...I have recently acquired a rep, so I''m planning on
doing a few more shows next year. I have signed on to be in a
show in Jacksonville in Dec., I am going to be in the next issue of
"The Culture Lounge" an art/politics magazine based in Lincoln,
Nebraska, and I think I''m going to start selling my first line of
limited edition reproductions soon. I want to do a lot next year, so
I''m going to make myself busy! 2006 was just the start for me.
I''m excited!

Tom McGeady is a staff writer for THE BLUE REVIEW<a/>