Meet Anton Antokhin

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anton Antokhin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anton, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I learned about Neurographica in 2018, only three years after it was created in 2015 by Russian psychologist and artist Pavel Piskarev. At the time, a year-long Teacher Training required to get the certification was offered only in Russian (today it’s offered in 5 languages, including English). I was born in Moscow and lived there until 15 years old, so I spoke Russian natively and was one of the first few Americans (and definitely a first Coloradian!) to receive Neurographica certification when I graduated in 2020. 

I wanted to learn Neurographica in the first place because I was in a challenging life transition in 2018 and was looking for new tools to help me manage my life, stay present, and express myself artistically. I was addicted to drugs and alcohol and going through a divorce with six children; my video production business was failing as well. It was the mother of all mid-life crises! I was also in trouble with the law because of my anger issues. As a part of the community service settlement, the judge allowed me to create a small website showing how using Neurographica has allowed me to manage my anger issues and stress. That site (called “From Rage to Sage” 🙂 is still up at this address: https://neurographic.art/2020/01/06/reflections-on-anger/

Back then, I was not planning to teach Neurographica. I worked full-time as a video editor and producer, my original long-term career. I wanted a tool to fix my life, which was a sordid mess, but I did not know where to look. Neurographica was exactly the set of tools I sought, and I stumbled upon it only because of the grace of this amazing Universe. Learning and practicing Neurographica daily allowed me to stay healthy, happy, and trouble-free. There were simply no other programs that worked as effectively and offered support in so many life situations. 

Fast-forward to March 2024. By chance, I looked at the web stats for my little website created years ago. I have not touched it since, but I did continue to use Neurographica in my day-to-day mindfulness practice and as a self-inquiry tool. I was shocked to see that this 6-page site received upwards of 500 visitors daily!  The world was CRAVING a reliable and informative source about Neurographica, with a meager selection of good sites, especially in English. This insight gave me the idea and motivation to pivot from video production to opening a Neurographica school. It felt authentic and personal to start offering a method that worked so well for me. I could vouch for everything I was selling, down to the last comma. At the same time, I was leaving a stable, lifelong vocation for something completely unknown, which gave me butterflies in the stomach 🙂

By June 2024, I opened Neurographic Art with Anton Antokhin on the web at neurograchic.art, working remotely with people anywhere in the world. I also created a local portal for individuals interested in working with me in person in the Denver area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vw3QmBihpaAyUrxC6. It has been a delightful and wild ride ever since, as any new entrepreneur will attest! I have never offered a suite of online classes before, so the entire process, including setting up my home production and live-casting studio, a customer scheduling system with a CRM, and a commerce-enabled website, was a fantastic learning experience. I am still learning every day, and that’s one of the things that makes executing a new business idea such a beautiful and thrilling journey. 

What should our readers know about your business?
I graduated from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks with a degree in Journalism/Broadcasting in 1992. I spent my entire life in Denver, working in the video production field until I pivoted to becoming a Meditation Teacher and Inspiration Coach. This transition occurred in 2024, when I was 54 years old. My dad had once said, “I’m too old to switch careers,” at that age.

This career change was not easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned so many new skills. It took some time to develop my confidence as a Neurographica Teacher, which is a unique blend of Art Therapy, Meditation Coaching, and inspirational encouragement. All these roles were completely new to me.

However, I noticed parallels and similarities between my previous video editing and producing work for clients and teaching Neurographica. One similarity is that you spend a significant amount of time working one-on-one with individuals or in small groups. This requires you to be a skilled and patient observer, keeping track of your client’s moods, concentration, and energy levels. Everyone is different, and effectively teaching them a new skill requires paying attention and making frequent adjustments.

Another crucial aspect of teaching Neurographica is creating a safe and inclusive space for others. If you’ve attended any new-age classes, you might have heard the term “container” to describe the space we establish for customers to experience our offerings. It’s similar to a container, something with its own unique flavor, mood, and attitude that enhances the overall experience.

In the context of Neurographica, the container is akin to an online classroom setting, featuring multiple cameras and feeds that showcase our drawing process and the participants of the class. I utilize a popular open-source software called OBS to present engaging and professional-looking video feeds for my clients. This software seamlessly integrates with various social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. This fall, I plan to offer livestreamed classes that will be multicast on multiple platforms simultaneously.

My online and in-person courses are 1 to 1.5 hours long, and currently, I cater to beginners in Neurographica. You can review and sign up for my affordable offerings at my booking website: http://neurographica.setmore.com

Later this summer, I’m excited to introduce several new classes that my students have frequently requested. These classes include “Awaken Your Inner Goddess,” “Find Your Spiritual Home,” “Discover Your Unique Gifts,” “Learn to Be More Mindful and Present,” and much more. You can always find my current list of classes at: http://neurographica.setmore.com

At the same location, you can also sign up to attend two of my free Open Houses, held on Wednesdays at 7 MST and Thursdays at noon MST. These events are live and offer an hour of Q&A, drawing practice, and reviewing each other’s work. If you have questions about Neurographica or know someone who does, this is a great place to find answers.

Another donation-based event you’re welcome to attend without any obligation is my “Absolute Freedom – Neurographica for Addictions and Compulsions” Sunday afternoons at 3 pm MST. Neurographica is effective for recovery because it’s such a powerful tool for becoming present. When I’m present, I feel connected to the entire universe. I feel complete and no longer need substances or thoughts that keep us hooked. During this event, we spend an hour supporting each other’s sobriety through sharing and drawing together. There are virtually no non-verbal recovery tools available on the market today, making this offering unique due to its high effectiveness. We have a core group of people who come every week, and the reviews have been fantastic! Please come and join us, regardless of what you’re working on in your life.

One of the unique aspects of my Neurographica school that sets me apart is that I provide authentic, high-quality, firsthand information. My lineage traces back to the creator of the method himself, Pavel Piskarev, with whom I had the privilege of studying for two years, including one year as a teaching assistant. In the absence of Pavel, who unfortunately doesn’t speak English, I am considered one of the most reliable sources on Neurographica in the English-language world.

Unfortunately, many teachers today rush to offer classes without proper training, relying solely on a few YouTube videos. While their intentions may be good, their data often dilutes and confuses the true wisdom that I deliver in collaboration with the Institute of Psychology of Creativity in St. Petersburg.

Later this year, I will also begin offering official credit hours for the “User” and “Specialist” courses. These courses provide a path to mastering Neurographica and potentially even teaching it yourself someday. However, it’s important to note that teaching requires a rigorous 9-month “Instructor” course, which includes a two-week in-person intensive in St. Petersburg.

The increasing popularity of Neurographica as a modality has led to a surge in individuals seeking to teach it. However, not everyone possesses the necessary training. To address this issue, the Institute has recently established an enforcement arm that visits all teachers to verify their credentials and ensure they are properly licensed.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve spent twenty-five years in Denver, and I absolutely adore this city! It’s no wonder so many people move here from Texas and California every week. Some of my favorite neighborhoods include RiNo (River North Art District), LoDo, Capitol Hill, and the University Neighborhood.

My Neurographica practice is conveniently located at my home office in Lakewood, just a short drive from Kipling Street and Highway 6.

If you’re looking for high-quality in-person Neurographica classes, this is the only place in Colorado that offers them. I’m also happy to meet you in a coffee shop or any other convenient location.

Getting started with Neurographica is easy! One useful item is a spiral-bound sketchbook, which allows you to keep your drawings next to your journal. Authentic Neurographic Art always incorporates journaling to help you track your thoughts and emotions as you explore the mystery of Self. However, you can also begin drawing with regular office-size paper.

You’ll also need a basic set of markers, including black and 6-12 colors of different widths. Pencils can also be helpful with Neurographica.

If you have any questions, please come to one of my Open Houses or reach out via email at anton@neurographic.art.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The person who turned me on to Neurographia was my Denver-based spiritual teacher at the time, Colette Kelso. She is a fantastic resource if you are interested in a successful and fulfilling spiritual journey, and her website is https://thedeepestpeace.com/

She said she was walking through the DIA terminal and saw a gentleman drawing an interesting design on a sketch pad. She stopped and introduced herself, and he told her he was practicing a brand-new modality (at the time, it was only 2 years old!) called Neurographica. She thanked him and passed the info on to me because she knew I was struggling and needed a new tool to help me manage my life. The rest is history! 🙂

Website: https://neurographic.art/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurographic_dot_art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antokhin/

Twitter: https://bsky.app/profile/neurographic.art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560045839077

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@neuroGFX

Image Credits
Nicole Nichols Photography, Anton Antokhin, Getty Images