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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
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To: martin_fierro
Suddenly I'm hungry ...



...and slightly aroused at the same time!
361 posted on 08/30/2006 8:48:34 AM PDT by sully777 (You have flies in your eyes--Catch-22)
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To: AnAmericanMother
As you wish ... I can hammer away all day with my lovely new Benelli Nova or lovely old Winchester 1300. Both 12s. This could be a great new sport, though ... use Precious Moments instead of clay pigeons.

Heh heh heh.

362 posted on 08/30/2006 8:48:38 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: martin_fierro

ROFL!!!!!!!


363 posted on 08/30/2006 8:49:02 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: King Black Robe
It's not that it's fakey; it's that it doesn't succeed in what it sets out to do.

It seeks to portray an romantic "English cottage" environment. Fine. But he should not violate the laws of perspective or physics. Especially since he bills himself as "The Painter of Light" (like Vermeer or Rembrandt were chopped liver.) Even a romantic/idealistic painter who doesn't aspire to "photographic realism" (something I hate, btw, if I want photographic, I'll go look at Ansel Adams) has to acknowledge reality.

Dyce is relevant here only because he shows how light works. And he isn't like photography - a photograph could never capture that light because of film saturation. His work is very detailed and realistic, I'll admit. But not photographic.

Now here is some guys who knew how to handle the "English Cottage" look in a fine and very professional style:

Constable.

Cottman. Watercolor in this style is unbelievably difficult, the man was a master hand.

Morland.

The truly sad thing is that Dyce is a fairly run-of-the-mill Victorian painter, good but not great. How far we have fallen in terms of artistic craft!

364 posted on 08/30/2006 8:54:26 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: theFIRMbss; Neoliberalnot
Here's a Gurney landscape

I like it. Interesting story you posted about his friendship with Kincaid.

This probably discredits whatever meager credentials I may pretend to regarding art criticism.

365 posted on 08/30/2006 8:57:49 AM PDT by Sam Cree (Don't mix alcopops and ufo's)
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To: Charles Henrickson; Xenalyte; Verloona Ti; mikrofon; sully777; theFIRMbss; xsmommy
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The lilly, gilded.

366 posted on 08/30/2006 8:59:59 AM PDT by martin_fierro (Painter of Zeitâ„¢)
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To: martin_fierro; Charles Henrickson; sully777; xsmommy

Now, you are just plain MEAN. What did Charles ever do to you?


367 posted on 08/30/2006 9:02:08 AM PDT by Xenalyte (No movie shall triumph over "Snakes on a Plane.")
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To: ArrogantBustard
I think you're onto something here.

The only question is, how are we going to get the different sizes and shapes of PM to fly consistently . . . so we are sure to make it fair.

The worst thing we've ever done is take an old TV set to the plinking range and riddle it with about 100 rounds of various 30 caliber . . . (EVERYbody wanted a shot at it!)

They were just inventing Sporting Clays when I quit shooting skeet (started having babies). Now that my youngest is 15, we're back in it, and I pulled my 11-48 out of the gun safe and went to the Hunt Club's sporting clays shoot a couple weeks ago. It's a 28, but I knew it was my best pointer and after a 20 year layoff I figured that was more important than More Lead. I was able to hit the close ones and the ones that hung up in the air, but the fast ones going away I just couldn't catch up. But at least I hit SOME - that is a really good little shotgun.

Our hunting club is raffling a Benelli at the next hunt test. Guess I better go buy some tickets.

368 posted on 08/30/2006 9:02:55 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: Xenalyte

You don't think that witch is distrubingly spooky?


369 posted on 08/30/2006 9:03:26 AM PDT by restornu (Steadfast as we move into troublesome days ahead: We do not take counsel from our fears.)
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To: martin_fierro

you are a sick and sadistic individual......LMAO!


370 posted on 08/30/2006 9:05:53 AM PDT by xsmommy
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To: King Black Robe
Sheesh! "are", not "is". I started with Constable, then thought of Morland, then couldn't decide . . . then thought of Cotman . . .

Anybody would do better to buy a good quality print of any of the English romantics, than waste their money on a mass production print of Kinkade's.

371 posted on 08/30/2006 9:06:05 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: martin_fierro

gilded or gelded?


372 posted on 08/30/2006 9:06:11 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: SlowBoat407

PERFECT! ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!


373 posted on 08/30/2006 9:08:16 AM PDT by sully777 (You have flies in your eyes--Catch-22)
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To: AnAmericanMother

The thing about Kincaid's lights is that they are as intense as a fire...if you went into one of those houses you'd be burned alive in seconds.

All painters are painters of light, since that's all there is... the title he chose to market himself is misleading. "Painter of orange lights" or something, maybe. Or "painter of home sweet home."


374 posted on 08/30/2006 9:08:31 AM PDT by Sam Cree (Don't mix alcopops and ufo's)
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To: AnAmericanMother
Those artists accurately capture the gritty, used-but-not-worn-out, practical character of rural life.

Kinkade wouldn't recognise that if you slapped him in the face with it.

In an entirely different realm, it's what makes "Star Wars" look right, and "Star Trke" look fake. "Trek" was just too darn clean.

375 posted on 08/30/2006 9:11:08 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: AnAmericanMother
An actual painter of light...



Rembrandt's rare 10,001 edition entitled "Bionic Kincaid". It's yours for only $500.
376 posted on 08/30/2006 9:13:32 AM PDT by sully777 (You have flies in your eyes--Catch-22)
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To: sauropod

Already here, dear.

You HAVE to check out # 178.


377 posted on 08/30/2006 9:14:49 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: restornu

Well, yeah, but in this context she's funny.


378 posted on 08/30/2006 9:15:00 AM PDT by Xenalyte (No movie shall triumph over "Snakes on a Plane.")
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To: martin_fierro

379 posted on 08/30/2006 9:17:31 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Where did I leave my matches?)
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To: AnAmericanMother
Benellis are awesome. A bit pricey, but well worth the fare. so we are sure to make it fair.

Fair? Whatever ... I say we just get some bloke to stand behind the shooters and hurl the nasty little things in a generally down-range direction. Let him have a few pints during the day ... that should get some randomness into the proceedings.

380 posted on 08/30/2006 9:17:40 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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