Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Painter Said to Be Focus of FBI Probe (Thomas Kinkade)
Los Angeles Times ^ | August 29, 2006 | Kim Christiensen

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: allhailbobross; art; bashkincaide; beatsdonnadewberry; blackvelvet; christian; crapart; everyonesacritic; everyonesanartist; everyonesanexpert; fbi; frauds; hallmarkcards; hitpiece; innocent; kincaidecausescancer; kinkade; kitsch; notalentazzclown; notreallyart; painteroflight; painteroftacky; preciousmoments; probe; radioactivepaint; saccharine; thomaskinkade; treacle; unhappyaccidents
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 301-320321-340341-360 ... 481-496 next last
To: xsmommy
i'm betting i know where the fierros are goin' on vaca next!!!

I've got to point out the PM Chapel to Mrs. F. She'll claw her eyes out.

321 posted on 08/30/2006 7:50:41 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 315 | View Replies]

To: Cecily

As always, his paintings lack logic.
[
1. It is the middle of the day and the sun is shining, but the streetlight is burning and so is every light in the house.

2. The foliage and flowers indicate the season is late spring or summer (and presumably warm outside), but a fire is burning inside the house (see chimmney smoke).


I think it is all Kinkade's little joke.]


And what's with that trellis stuck in the middle of nowhere with one spindly plant on each side,a trellis like that would be overgrown.


322 posted on 08/30/2006 7:50:49 AM PDT by FastCoyote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte
the Poster Who Must Not Be Named will be along soon to call us racist and ask who's gonna pick the corn in those pictures?

Oops! I guess normally that would be me too, lol, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to cross over to the dark side to stand with the Buchanon Brigade & Minutemen Militia on this issue. The very survival of western civilization hinges on vanquishing this demonically evil scourge at its diabolical source.I have seen the light! They're either with us or they're against us!

323 posted on 08/30/2006 7:53:12 AM PDT by leilani (I can't believe how many posts this thread has generated already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 300 | View Replies]

To: leilani

If more than half of American homes have Kinkade or PM in them, then the terrorists have already won.

"Join us or die! Can you do any less?"


324 posted on 08/30/2006 7:56:36 AM PDT by Xenalyte (No movie shall triumph over "Snakes on a Plane.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 323 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro; sully777; theFIRMbss; Charles Henrickson; Xenalyte; xsmommy
I used to like some of Kinkaid's earlier work
on vehicles, circa 1970...


325 posted on 08/30/2006 7:58:16 AM PDT by mikrofon (C'mon Get Happy ;)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother; Xenalyte; hellinahandcart
That is truly over the top . . . puppies. AND kittens (and what is it with their eyes?)

Airstrike on traditional Precious Moments wedding. Eyes widening in horror.

326 posted on 08/30/2006 8:00:25 AM PDT by dighton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 279 | View Replies]

To: razorback-bert

Dam#, I like you too.


327 posted on 08/30/2006 8:00:51 AM PDT by Quilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: Xenalyte
If more than half of American homes have Kinkade or PM in them, then the terrorists have already won

LOL!!!!!!I've been looking for a new tagline & by george I've found it!I hope it all fits. Thanks!

328 posted on 08/30/2006 8:01:36 AM PDT by leilani (If more than half of American homes have Kinkade or PM in them, then the terrorists have already won)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 324 | View Replies]

To: theFIRMbss; martin_fierro
Speaking of Ross borrowing from Alexander...Family Guy: Don't reveal Bob Ross' secret
329 posted on 08/30/2006 8:02:11 AM PDT by sully777 (You have flies in your eyes--Catch-22)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 319 | View Replies]

To: leilani

I am cracking up!


330 posted on 08/30/2006 8:02:33 AM PDT by Xenalyte (No movie shall triumph over "Snakes on a Plane.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 328 | View Replies]

To: Young Scholar
>>The point is that he "created a relationship of trust" intended to lead them to invest money in galleries he knew were bad investments.

Here is where the "Legal problem is: "he knew were bad investments" Prove what he knew.. Hmm...
331 posted on 08/30/2006 8:03:09 AM PDT by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: mikrofon

He painted Susan Dey?


332 posted on 08/30/2006 8:04:32 AM PDT by sully777 (You have flies in your eyes--Catch-22)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 325 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother
AAAAAAAKKKKKK!!!

That's what God made 12ga shotguns for ...

333 posted on 08/30/2006 8:05:43 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 279 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro
There is also a Precious Moments hotel at which you two can stay, after partaking of the beauty that is the Precious Moments chapel.The hotel is a Best Western, so it's also a real high-class joint, as well as being filled with lovely art like this over the queen-size bed:


334 posted on 08/30/2006 8:07:57 AM PDT by Verloona Ti
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 321 | View Replies]

To: mikrofon; sully777; theFIRMbss; Charles Henrickson; Xenalyte; xsmommy
I used to like some of Kinkaid's earlier work on vehicles, circa 1970...

Painter of Lightweights™!

335 posted on 08/30/2006 8:09:24 AM PDT by martin_fierro (Charles has been keeping the Precious Moments™ Chapel a secret)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 325 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard
I prefer a Light 20. Puts out plenty of lead, but you can shoot it all day without being shoulder-bruised.

Even a .410 would probably be enough. Or my little 28 ga. dove gun . . . Remington 11-48, actually come to think of it it's a classic and too good to waste on that dreck . . .

336 posted on 08/30/2006 8:13:18 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 333 | View Replies]

To: mikrofon
>I used to like some of Kinkaid's earlier work

I don't know . . . I've heard
Bonaduce say Kinkaid
used to put Danny

in his lap and let
Danny steer while they drove through
Los Angeles. That

sounds sweet until you
remember it's Hollywood . . .
Kids in laps. Driving . . .

337 posted on 08/30/2006 8:13:35 AM PDT by theFIRMbss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 325 | View Replies]

To: theFIRMbss
"Happy painting and God bless."
338 posted on 08/30/2006 8:17:59 AM PDT by StarfireIV (John Galt was an optimist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro
Thomas Kincaid is a painter of light, the messiah of the corporate brushstroke...



...but some say Donna Newberry ushers in DARKNESS, the Apocalypse in one stroke...

339 posted on 08/30/2006 8:18:18 AM PDT by sully777 (You have flies in your eyes--Catch-22)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 335 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother

I do not think people who enjoy Kinkade's work really expect it to be realistic. It is not that. But it is beautiful none the less. Not worth the money, but beautiful. Complaining that it is "fakey" is really a sort of fallacy argument in that you are disgruntled that it is not something it was never intended to be. No one cares that it doesn't look like a photograph. Your posted Dyce work is so precise it could be a photograph. That's amazing to me. Kinkade doesn't even try to do that. I think the criticism that all his paintings look alike is valid. But the "it's fakey" criticism is invalid, imo.


340 posted on 08/30/2006 8:19:14 AM PDT by King Black Robe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 226 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 301-320321-340341-360 ... 481-496 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson