Thomas Kinkade Dies, Age 54

[Kamber Parrk]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...itkinkade.html

[Juniversal]

Just saw this. Crazy. He was still fairly young... Shame because he was one of the most popular and well known painters of our day.

[Raoul Duke]

How long 'til I can make fun of his art again?

[manlybrian]

How long 'til I can make fun of his art again?

Now now, let's remember the good moments in life.

[dpaint]

My heart goes out to his family and friends. I know Jim Gurney was close a friend with him since they were kids.

[Slothboy3000]

He managed to make a lot of people happy it seems. R.I.P

[Shorinji_Knight]

I personally have nothing but respect and admiration for his work. He will be missed.

[Pavel Sokov]

I think his work was super tacky personally and really "made to sell". I don't know about you guys, but I don't like that kind of stuff.

[Crane]

God forbid an artist tries to make money -.-

RIP Thomas, You weren't perfect but you was a good man and artist.

[Noah Bradley]

My hat's off to him. I hope he found the Light he loved so much.

[Pavel Sokov]

Wow, I just noticed another article about him on USA today. It is almost exactly the same as the article from Seattle Times.

One of these journalists isn't doing their job!
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/...ary/54088992/1
vs
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...itkinkade.html

He claimed to be the nation's most collected living artist, and his paintings and spin-off products were said to fetch some $100 million a year in sales, and to be in 10 million homes in the United States.
vs
He claimed to be the nation's most collected living artist, and his paintings and spin-off products were said to fetch some $100 million a year in sales, and to be in 10 million homes in the United States.

Somebody needs to get fired for plagurism.

[JJacks]

I think his work was super tacky personally and really "made to sell". I don't know about you guys, but I don't like that kind of stuff.

A lot of people don't like his art, myself included. I also wasn't a fan of his business practices and behavior but that doesn't mean we can't offer our condolences to his family and friends; the people that actually interacted with him everyday.

[Kamber Parrk]

He managed to make a lot of people happy it seems. R.I.P

Indeed he did. And, he pretty much lived and worked on his own terms-- making the art that he wanted to make and making a great living doing it.

He gave a lotta people art that they could understand and enjoy. And, when the Establishment critics sneered at him, I'm guessing he just laughed that off and wore it as a badge of pride.

[Elwell]

Wow, I just noticed another article about him on USA today. It is almost exactly the same as the article from Seattle Times.

One of these journalists isn't doing their job!
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/...ary/54088992/1
vs
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...itkinkade.html

He claimed to be the nation's most collected living artist, and his paintings and spin-off products were said to fetch some $100 million a year in sales, and to be in 10 million homes in the United States.
vs
He claimed to be the nation's most collected living artist, and his paintings and spin-off products were said to fetch some $100 million a year in sales, and to be in 10 million homes in the United States.

Somebody needs to get fired for plagurism.

Those are both the AP story. That's how wire service stories work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press

[JeffX99]

Wow...yeah, like him and his work or not my condolences go out to his family and friends. His story is complicated and interesting at the same time. It was actually his brother that was the marketing genius behind him. I've seen a few of his plein air works and he was actually a solid painter, but I think trapped by the success of his kitsch. I've always tried to separate the person from the marketing machine so I'm sorry to hear the news.

[Brashen]

R.I.P mate.

[artmessiah]

Working illustrator makes a name for themselves and makes people (who buy or marvel) at their work happy. That's the point right - stop the hate. R.I.P. Mr. Kinkade.

[PCoene]

God forbid an artist tries to make money -.-

RIP Thomas, You weren't perfect but you was a good man and artist.

I think that the fact that he was as successful as he was says less about his work and more about the large mass of our society that would buy it. I'd love to rag on the guy more, but honestly, I have to admit that he was a famous artist and if I thought I could make money like that I'd probably make oversized Halmark cards and put them in frames too. As much as he drove a lot of us nuts, I'm sad to see him go.

[PuppyKitten]

He painted what he liked, and coincidentally a lot of other people liked it, too. Just because I don't like it (especially the religious overtones) doesn't mean his condolences thread should be a joke.

A good person who loved art has died. It's sad. These things are always sad. Rest in peace, Mr. Kinkade.

[B u r l]

Hopefully, he'll get remembered more for his early paintings than his candy-coloured ones.

[Kamber Parrk]

Anyway, for those who are interested, there's a bit of Kinkade interview video here on this Huffpo link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1411483.html

[Pavel Sokov]

A lot of people don't like his art, myself included. I also wasn't a fan of his business practices and behavior but that doesn't mean we can't offer our condolences to his family and friends; the people that actually interacted with him everyday.

Huh? When in the world did I say we shouldn't offer condolences to a loving husband's family just because I wouldn't buy his art haha?

He did his best and found his spot in the art world, just like the whole lot of us dream to. The fact that I hate his art, doesn't take away from his accomplishments and his family's dismay.

So to be clear, I offer my condolences as well.

But what were the business behaviours you mention? I don't know much about him, I'm curious.

[Qitsune]

Yeah, there are big differences between his skills (he had them) his artistic choices to do the most accessible art possible (whatever floats his boat) and his business practices (overpriced prints with dabs of paints by "assistants" on them and scamming franchise holders, dodgy.)
I can't think of any more mainstream, well known and financially successful painter in modern days so he must have been doing something right,

[Arshes Nei]

Huh? When in the world did I say we shouldn't offer condolences to a loving husband's family just because I wouldn't buy his art haha?

So to be clear, I offer my condolences as well.

But what were the business behaviours you mention? I don't know much about him, I'm curious.

I think it's because you didn't make it clear but mostly posted to rag on the guy was probably why she quoted you and responded.

A lot of the paintings weren't his own per say but done by assistants is where the controversy lies, but I'm sure if you took a few minutes to use google, his name and "site:conceptart.org" we have plenty of threads dedicated to bashing him there

[sipher]

I've always tried to separate the person from the marketing machine so I'm sorry to hear the news.

I don't really know why you would try to do this, his marketing was probably the most representative part of who he was as a human being and his work was essentially reprehensible, though one would be hard pressed to find any real distinction between the kitsch of his reactionary shallow idyllicism and the pin-up aesthetic, for example, which is accepted here.

[Elwell]

Jerry Saltz on Kinkade.

[Shorinji_Knight]

Jerry Saltz on Kinkade.

That's a bad link. It redirected me to something that tried to automatically update my "Drivers"

[Arshes Nei]

That's a bad link. It redirected me to something that tried to automatically update my "Drivers"

I got no such thing.

[Elwell]

Odd, it's just a NYmag VULTURE page. Here's the URL: http://www.vulture.com/2012/04/jerry-saltz-on-thomas-kinkade-1958-2012.html

[landylachs]

This is sad news. I'm not a fan of his work either (though he was unquestionably a solid painter) but that is such a young age to go. I thought he would be around for a long time. My condolences to his family and friends.

@Shorinji
Nothing happened when I clicked the link, though I'm currently on a Mac so that might be affecting things.