Painter Said to Be Focus of FBI Probe (Thomas Kinkade)

Los Angeles Times ^ | August 29, 2006 | Kim Christiensen

[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.

[Verloona Ti]

Same diff !

[dighton]

MENE, God has numbered thy edition at 10,000.

[Malacoda]

At least you know that there would be nothing illicit going on in those rooms; any real man in th euniverse would be "turtle-ing in the presence of that much kitsch.

[hellinahandcart]

Next time I'm snowed in and have nothing else to do, I think I'll pass some time by playing "Count the Demons in the Kinkade Katalog".

[AnAmericanMother]

I can and do blame it on trickery, and on taking advantage of naifs. Unfortunately, confidence men have been lifting substantial sums of money on the basis of making people temporarily "feel good" since the beginning of time.

Deducing merit from how people feel about something, regardless of its objective merit, is a flawed analysis. People "felt good" about Mr. Ponzi, until they realized they had been had. People also feel good about "self-esteem," New Age philosophy, mesmerism, past-life-regression, and the Democratic Party. That doesn't prove the merit of any of them.

It appears, however, from the lawsuits and the man's recent behavior, that the crash is about to come.

[Verloona Ti]

That thought had crossed my mind...Come to think of it,even though the perpetrator of PM images is male, are there ANY male FANS of the things? I know a few people who have the figurines, and all are women.

[AnAmericanMother]

Dang, it disappeared.

tekel, your artistic competence is found wanting . . .

[xsmommy]

OMG, Priceless! make that PRECIOUS!

[Darnright]

Speaking of demons in the Kinkade Katalog:

[martin_fierro]

Oh man. That is INSPIRED.

[Verloona Ti]

I hate to admit it, but if some of these SomethingAwful parodies were 18x24 posters-I'd probably buy a few. Frame 'em, put 'em up on the basement wall. Cthulu lighthouse , demon cottage....

[Xenalyte]

Even those who create fantasy have to stay within the bounds and rules of their own creation. Otherwise it is all meaningless.

Even Boris Vallejo must abide by the rules.

On a related note, does anyone know if Vallejo is the artist behind Heavy Metal?

[AnAmericanMother]

It's a crime, I tell you! A crime . . .

[Darnright]

>Oh man. That is INSPIRED.<

Heh. Somebody could come up with a new toy craze. Kinkade Transformers!

[GretchenM]

Maybe it's my monitor but I don't see smoke exiting that chimney.

You're right about middle of the day(light), walkway light, and interior light. I guess that's his artistic license to demonstrate the "Painter of Light" thing.

[martin_fierro]

w00t!

L O L

[george wythe]

I dated a girl whose mother is a Kinkade fan. The old lady was very nice to me during the time I had a fling with her daughter; consequently, I'm still friends with the old lady, but I seldom talk to her daughter.

The old lady spent a lot of money buying Kinkade "art." I realize that the paintings are kitsch, but I admit that the paintings have the power to make many people happy.

I'm saddened to read about the love of money becoming the root of evil.

[Rembrandt_fan]

Glad you showed Rembrandt's 'Feast of Belshazzar' painting. I needed some visual relief after all this Precious Moments, Thomas Kincaid stuff.

Here's an interesting side-note about this painting: it is one of the few (only?) Rembrandt paintings where he screwed up human anatomy. Note the woman in red on the right. Look at the way her left arm attaches to the shoulder. That said, this painting is a marvel of confident brushwork and masterful handling of materials. The thick impasto defining the king's jewelry is real enough to steal.

[Xenalyte]

I would LOVE to have these SomethingAwfuls for my wall.

[Xenalyte]

This is fast becoming one of my Top 10 Threads Ever.