Thomas Kinkade Paintings

[EaglesfanNJ]

So I was walking in the mall over the weekend and wondered into the Thomas Kinkade store. Now, I was relatively unfamiliar with his art, I'm admitedly not an art fan by any means. But within the last year I just discovered he does a lot of Disney work. I even bought an imitation one of Cinderella's castle online.

Well let me just tell you how i was completely blown away and actually taken back at how beautiful his newest (6th) installment for Disney was.."Beauty and the Beast Falling in Love" The gentleman in the store even came over and dimmed the lights to show me the effects Kinkade puts into his paintings... he's known as the painter of light.

It was so much fun trying to find the hidden items in the painting. Apparently, he places hidden mickey's in all of his work, and includes a character from the previous release in that painting. For example, this was his 6th release... the 5th release was Bambi, 4th i belive was Snow White, 3rd was Peter Pan/Tink, 2nd was Pinnochio. Well in this Beauty and the Beast were all of these characters hidden throughout the painting (for example a very small Pinnochio found on a tiny bridge in the background of this painting).

Just wanted to post this here in case i'm not the only one who has been missing out on these beautiful paintings. And if 99% of you already knew about all of this and i'm late to the party, i apologize. However, I had to come on and share how beautiful i thought these paintings were.

Thanks!

 

[EaglesfanNJ]

:shrug: Anyone? Bueller?

 

[CoffeeJedi]

People might be avoiding the topic. From what I've seen elsewhere on the internets, discussions of Kinkade, whether Disney or not, always turn into flamewars and get locked.

 

[wm49rs]

I don't think anyone's meaning to avoid the subject, they just may not have an opinion on it. I'm not much of a Kinkade fan, but I do respect the effort and detail he puts into his work. :wave:

 

[Tigger1988]

As an artist myself I have nothing nice to say about Kinkade or his work, pretty much the most uninspired art I've ever seen.

 

[Disneybird]

I have the painting of Cinderella's Castle. I think it is beautiful whether anyone else does or not. And isn't that why we buy pictures in the first place? Because it's something we like. Everyones taste is different.

I also have one of his paintings of an old house. It reminds me of the type of house I would like to build someday.

And I have 2 paintings from the stretch room of the Haunted Mansion (not by Thomas Kinkade). My walls are done up in things I like, not necessarily what others like.

 

[David Roberts]

:shrug: Anyone? Bueller?

Was this by chance Moorestown mall? I've been in the Kincade store there and absolutely love his work, especially his disney collection. I'd love to purchase one when I have the money.

 

[janoimagine]

As an artist myself I have nothing nice to say about Kinkade or his work, pretty much the most uninspired art I've ever seen.

Agree 100%.

 

[CP_alum08]

As an artist myself I have nothing nice to say about Kinkade or his work, pretty much the most uninspired art I've ever seen.

Agreed too. And the fact that Kinkade paints absolutely nothing himself is a huge turnoff to me.

His paintings are 'pretty'. Consumers love 'pretty', artists hate it!

 

[JustInTime]

He is a joke among artists. This is what I do to his art: :hurl:

 

[zweltar]

He is a joke among artists. This is what I do to his art: :hurl:

If being a joke in any field can lead to such success, sign me up!:lol:

 

[David Roberts]

If being a joke in any field can lead to such success, sign me up!:lol:

Well said. It appears the reason people don't like Kinkade is because of how commercial he is? If they had art stores and malls back in Picaso's era he may have had his own store as well. Anyway, as far as his paintings being pretty...they are. Who would buy paintings that aren't pretty? Artists seem like an odd bunch.:shrug:

 

[Tigger1988]

The reason people don't like Kinkade because he's unoriginal, unimaginative and uninspired. He paints the same basic things over and over. You won't find him in any reputable museum because he's pretty much paint by numbers. Basically he makes art for those who know little about the actual foundations of art (color, style, basic proportions...so on).

Oh and as someone mentioned, he's not even the one doing the painting most of the time. That's how unoriginal his style is, he can hire other people to "ghost paint" for him.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I don't have an opinion on Kinkade, but the criticism he's getting here sounds similar to the kind leveled against Walt Disney in his day to me.

Wasn't one of the biggest knocks on Walt that he produced sentimental treacle for the masses who didn't know any better, instead of contributing to so-called serious culture?

 

[Phonedave]

Well said. It appears the reason people don't like Kinkade is because of how commercial he is? If they had art stores and malls back in Picaso's era he may have had his own store as well. Anyway, as far as his paintings being pretty...they are. Who would buy paintings that aren't pretty? Artists seem like an odd bunch.:shrug:

McDonald's may sell a Billion burgers, but nobody is calling Ronald a fine chef.

If people like Kinkade, then thats all well and good, I like a Big Mac every now and then myself. But his paintings really do nothing for me. Too simple, too 'picture like'. Very pretty, but no real substance.

I just bought a giclee of Tim Rogerson's "Cheers for 15 years" (the 2011 Food and Wine official art). That appeals to me, it has movement, it has life, it draws the eye in a constant range of motion. He is also an interesting person to talk to, and his route to his position as a Disney Fine Artist and how he met his wife and was "discovered" is pretty interesting.

I also cannot stand Thomas Kinkade's religious fanaticism and blantant hypocrisy, but that is person feelings towards the man, not to his art.

-dave

 

[C&D]

But to paraphrase our illustrious Captain Jack Sparrow "You have heard of him". :animwink:

 

[Krack]

I'll say this about Kinkade ... he creates paintings I like to look at. That is the point of art, right? To be aesthetically pleasing?

However, if you're looking to purchase one of his paintings, it is important to know that they market them as "his" paintings, but they are mostly painted by others and then he adds a few highlights here and there and they call it a Thomas Kinkade painting.

 

[xdan0920]

People do not buy the Kinkade paintings because they are looking to get a collectors item. Who cares if he doesn't paint them himself, or if they lack imagination? They are gorgeous paintings. I have the first one he did of Cinderella Castle, it is my favorite thing in my house. I plan on picking up the Beauty and the Beast one for my wife for Xmas as well. "Artists" can be so condescending and jealous when someone achieves the commercial success they all strive for.

 

[janoimagine]

Who cares if he doesn't paint them himself, or if they lack imagination? They are gorgeous paintings. I have the first one he did of Cinderella Castle, it is my favorite thing in my house. I plan on picking up the Beauty and the Beast one for my wife for Xmas as well. "Artists" can be so condescending and jealous when someone achieves the commercial success they all strive for.

Honestly as an artist myself, and I know I speak for many, it is not a jealousy that so many people jump to immediately. It is simply a dislike for subject and creativity (or lack there of.) To put it simply, your Cindy painting was 97% some unknown artist and 3% Mr. Kinkade coming in and adding some highlights, then taking credit for the whole piece. That would be like you or I (for example) taking the final nearly finished ride of say 'Splash Mountain', adding a few trees or tumbleweeds here and there, then taking credit for creating the entire ride.

In the creative community people steal others ideas and designs daily, just like any other profession. We creatives hate those people, because it directly contradicts the word. Its not a jealousy twoard Mr. Kinkade for me, rather a disgust for the hypocrisy of putting your name on something that someone else has created.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Another criticism of Walt...he hung around the studio while a bunch of talented animators and writers slaved over films, then stuck his own name big as life on the title card. :lookaroun

(Alright, I'm honestly not trying to be obnoxious...and I'm certainly not saying Kinkade will leave the footprint Walt did...but some of the parallels just seem really striking to me.) :lol: