That is truly over the top . . . puppies. AND kittens (and what is it with their eyes?)
Posted on 08/29/2006 2:34:35 PM PDT by Cecily
The FBI is investigating allegations that self-styled "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade and some of his top executives fraudulently induced investors to open galleries and then ruined them financially, former dealers contacted by federal agents said.
Investigators are focusing on issues raised in civil litigation by at least six former Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery owners, people who have been contacted by the FBI said.
ADVERTISEMENTThe ex-owners allege in arbitration claims that, among other things, the artist known for his dreamily luminous landscapes and street scenes used his Christian faith to persuade them to invest in the independently owned stores, which sell only Kinkade's work.
"They really knew how to bait the hook," said one former dealer who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case. "They certainly used the Christian hook."
Kinkade has denied the allegations in the civil litigation.
Two former dealers told the Los Angeles Times that they had been asked to provide documentation of their business relationships with Kinkade's company. They said agents asked for copies of dealer agreements, retail sales policies, training materials from "Thomas Kinkade University" and correspondence, including e-mail.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Just curious -- can you cite some numbers?
I agree with that in principle. That is my fundamental issue with Christian bookstores. On the other hand, they cater to a niche market which is inadequately served by anything else. Also, many Christians want to know that they're dealing with Christian businesses. Of course, they are assuming, often falsely, that the following is true: (1) that businesses operated by Christians will follow Biblical principles in their business dealings and (2) that "Christian" businesses will not support anti-Christian ideology.
OMG, Precious Moments are as awful as Hummels. Freaky little hydrocephalic bug-eyed things.
I said the same thing earlier.
>That's a photo? WOW!<
Yep. Rowell was a National Geographic photographer. The guy managed to climb up to places other photographers could only imagine.
That said, the photo I posted upthread is probably far too busy for a bunch of the artists on this thread (Sally Mann is more "artistic", but she's a bit controversial). Rowell just managed to catch the most amazing natural lighting.
Here's his website:
http://www.mountainlight.com/gallery.html
Oh my god! LOL LOL LOL LOL
I did a random sample (not scientific at all) and saw that many of the items that were priced at more than $200 had no bids. Someone else may come up with different numbers, but I've done this exercise several times in the past and have always come up with similar results. People who try to realize any appreciation in price on Kinkades are often sorely disappointed.
Have you tried?
I'm serious. My mom took up painting this year, in her 80s (she doesn't have the stamina for choreography any more) and she's already sold 3 pictures, for good prices. Which may prove that there's one born every minute . . .
Of course, as a dancer she's always been in the art scene, so her eye is already trained. There are principles of composition and technical details to learn, but she's working on that.
That was sorta rude.
What is the timeline you are referring to in the world of art appreciation? How valuable were originals worth when sold versus following the death of the artist?
LOL!!
LOL. All that discussion and we completely agree.
I always thought Lladros were kind of weird too.
Oh well, to each his own. I was never a figurine type of gal anyway. As far as household dustcatchers go, I much prefer my husband's mineral and fossil collection.
We already saw this several decades ago when Salvador Dali's unscrupulous guardians/executors ran thousands and thousands of lithographs and faked his signature on them. Once the deception was discovered, the price crashed on ALL Dali's prints, not just the fake ones.
The GOOD side to this was that I was able to pick up what is almost certainly a fake Dali print for less than $75 at an art auction (I was the only one who bid on it - and it came with a frame, too!)
But since Kincade's stuff was similarly run off in the thousands and thousands and arbitrarily divided up into "limited editions", its value will not hold, despite original purchasers being duped into paying steep prices. Law of supply and demand is also operating here.
Lladros are a little sketchy, but they don't freak me out nearly as bad as Precious Moments. I swear, all those kids are waterheads.
LMAO and pinging my fave precious moments fanatic ; )
That is truly over the top . . . puppies. AND kittens (and what is it with their eyes?)
"I AM ZEEE AHHHHLMIIIIIGHTY CREAAAATOR!"
(Bob's predecessor, William Alexander)
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