Dark Portrait of a 'Painter of Light'

latimes. ^ | March 5, 2006 | Kim Christensen

[tbird5]

Christian-themed artist Thomas Kinkade is accused of ruthless tactics and seamy personal conduct. He disputes the allegations.

Thomas Kinkade is famous for his luminous landscapes and street scenes, those dreamy, deliberately inspirational images he says have brought "God's light" into people's lives, even as they have made him one of America's most collected artists.

A devout Christian who calls himself the "Painter of Light," Kinkade trades heavily on his beliefs and says God has guided his brush — and his life — for the last 20 years.

"When I got saved, God became my art agent," he said in a 2004 video biography, genteel in tone and rich in the themes of faith and family values that have helped win him legions of fans, albeit few among art critics.

But some former Kinkade employees, gallery operators and others contend that the Painter of Light has a decidedly dark side.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

****Rockwell was an extremely accomplished painter. He wasn't taken seriously because he worked as a "mere illustrator" . ***

Did anyone notice that in the 1970's when magazines went to photo covers the Connecticut/NY artists put on cowboy hats and went west?
They now produce many of the most beautiful "Western Cowboy Art" paintings that have hung in the Gilcrease Institure in Tulsa Ok.
Not bad for just "illustrators".

[marsh_of_mists]

Some of his early stuff is quite good, but then you have these ridiculously bright, hyper-realistic things that could make you dizzy. Still, even his worst stuff is better then most of the nursery school crap the art establishment elite tell us is "high art". I think the popularity of Kinkade is mainly due to the dearth of decent art these days. In a culture in which "real" art is measured by how much "the masses" will hate it, is it any wonder that the masses, denied art they can appreciate, will gravitate towards kitsch? These art elites in their ivory towers whine about how the populace scarfs down kitsch, but when they refuse to dish out anything with more substance then splatter paintings and soupcans, what the hell do they expect?

[Torie]

The sugar content of this one is so high, that it could cause cardiac arrest. Notice the plastic flower effect, and the plastic lighting of the flowers. The house is probably made out of chocolate chip cookies. Inside is some horrible florescent lighting of an electrician gone mad. One would need to wear sunglasses indoors. And then we have that Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe lantern, sans the snow. The "trees" in the background seems to be on steriods (they are huge baby, really huge), or otherwise made unnatural in perhaps the effects of nuclear fallout, which still suffuses the sky, which seems more ugly than on the smogiest day in Los Angeles.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Problem is, the "technique" is mush and the "detail" is repetitive. And his much-vaunted light is just goofy.***


Some of his compositions are not too good either. One of his prints almost made me go blind (Ok, I'm exaggerating).
The composition pulled you into the painting, then split and your right eye wanted to go right and your left eye wanted to go left.

Another painting had a rainbow wehere a rainbow could not be due to his position of the sunshine behind a thunderstorm.
His paintings are pretty but no cigar from me. My walls are covered with my own paintings, not pro quality but they are beautiful and they are MINE!

[LibFreeOrDie]

Speaking of Yanni...

Yanni Arrested in Alleged Domestic Dispute

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1591429/posts

[supercat]

They're just slandering Kinkade because he actually has talent, a rare trait in today's artistic world.

Somewhat rare, perhaps, thanks to "art schools", but--as Art Renewal Center's 'Living Masters' gallery makes clear, not too terribly much so.

[airedale]

It's not the first story they've run on him with that slant in the last couple weeks. I think it's the third or fourth. They really play up the Christian bit. The stories have all been basically the same story over and over again. It's almost like they are using the story to fill a news hole.

[Clemenza]

Am I the only one who saw the Boondock's episode where they had a character based on Bob Ross teaching the kid how to do graffitti?

[Petronski]

"And we'll just put a friendly little cloud right here. Poof! There he is, a happy little cloud."

</CloyingSenseofDread>

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

I just got diabetes from looking at that painting.

[maine-iac7]

Torie

thanks - I think! :O) LOLwas trying to post you a coupla minis of mine that were shown by the Hilliard Society of Miniature Painters in England - lost it all - will try agian...if they come thru - apologies.

first one,a detail (I did it in waercolor on ivorine) from my favorite Pre-Ralphelite, Burne-Jones:

the next, a portrait shown same tgime

next a pastel portrait

[maine-iac7]

LOL

you say so much with so little words

good one

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

These are beautiful! Excellent work! ( I wish I was that good. I would not be working shift work.)

[maine-iac7]

Thank you....

[goldstategop]

I won't comment on his personal life. But the reason the art experts despise him is because he doesn't attack faith, family and the Christian religion in his paintings. You don't hear much written about the dark side of Andrew Serrano. But its open season on Thomas Kincaide because his art doesn't follow post-modernist conventions. A thought worth pondering.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[ADemocratNoMore]

While I can't comment on Kinkade's personal life or business practices, I do have a few observations to make about art in general, based upon the thread thus-far.

My mother, sister, uncle, amongst others in my family were all excellent artists. Me, I can't draw a stick figure to save my life. I used to take my mother to the local art shows. When I see portraits, landscapes, still lifes, I marvel at how ANYBODY could be blessed with such talent. Including Kincade. I'm not saying that I'm a fan, and yes, I've seen much better, but I respect his work as I personally could never hope to do work at even that level. I should also note that I like poker playing dogs. As I recall, the originals sold recently in the six figure range.

On the other hand, I used to take my mother to art shows, and upon seeing the abstracts and photography, said "I can do that!", and did, and have been accepted by those very people that can paint, sketch and draw. I now call myself an artist.

I do what I do for the fun of it, not as a vocation, however, if anybody wants a big blue blob on canvas, I'll give it to you for WAY less then 1.5 Mil.

One last thing, would you rather listen to Yani or "It's tough to be a pimp"?. I know what my choice would be. Actually. "Live at the Acropolis" is a pretty good album.

[martin_fierro]

Does anyone remember Bob Ross' predecessor, William Alexander?

That guy was a trip.

"Unt you are zee Almighty Creatorrrrr ... Unt you fire in zee Almighty Whiiiiiite ..."

[IYellAtMyTV]

LOL!

Oh my God! Remember the 'Mighty Fan Brush?!

[Octar]

Good for you. I am also a trained artist and Kincaid's crap belongs in the same bin as Keanes big eyed kids.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

He is also incapable of drawing human or animal figures correctly.

I believe he sculpted a large bronze figure for the Olympics, which was quite impressive.

I don't care for his paintings, but if the guy can make a dollar, at least he ain't on welfare...