Thomas Kinkade Paintings

[Phonedave]

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

I have heard of Wal*Mart, K-Mart, Two Guys, and Valley Fair as well. That does not mean I am going to buy formal wear there.

The guy is also a certified wack job - public urination, turrettes like behavior, drinking binges, heavy handed franchise agreements, and all in the name of the "lord"

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.

Many would argue that idea. Is the point of food to fill your belly? Yes, on the surface it is. But isn't food better when it moves you in new ways, when it offers taste, texture, sight, and aroma combinations that open new venues for you? You can get most of your nutritional needs from plan steamed rice, raw broccoli and carrots, and some soy milk - but do you really want to?

And unless you are buying an original, all of his works are prints (of which there is nothing wrong) with highlights added by someone else. So there is NO 'work' done by him on most of the retail stuff he sells (but then that is nothing new. Many many respectable artists make prints.)

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.

I am not an artist (I wish I could be) but I have an appreciation for art. Quite honestly Kinkade's work creeps me out. The color pallette is so oversaturated and the subject matter so overly sweet and sappy is is like drinking corn syrup to look at one. I know many people like them - he sells millions - but for my tastes, I really do not like them, and I fail to see any great talent in creating them.


-dave

 

[Phonedave]

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:

Kinkade also urinated on a statue of Winny the Pooh while stating "This one's for you Walt!"

So there is another tie in between the two.

-dave

 

[WDWmazprty]

His work is interesting. I guess you either love it or hate it.

 

[EaglesfanNJ]

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.

Really? Can anyone fill me in? My apologies for starting a sensitive topic, i had no idea.

 

[EaglesfanNJ]

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.

Yes it was the Moorestown Mall!

 

[wm49rs]

Really? Can anyone fill me in? My apologies for starting a sensitive topic, i had no idea.

No harm done. There's been worse discussions, that's for sure....

 

[EaglesfanNJ]

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.

Wow folks. First let me apologize again for starting such a sensitive thread. As you can already tell, i have complete ignorance on the subject of art, and Kinkade. My post was more to just comment on how pleasing to the eyes i thought his Disney work was, and wanted to share it with Disney fans on this site. I had no idea he was so controversial among the community, and among artists.

To the point mentioned above, I have a question. Why, then, does Mr. Kinkade sign these paintings and why are they marketed as is, if he only contributes 3%? The salesman (i know, he was being a salesman), pitched me "Oh this one is a signed original from Kinkade and here is his signature".

 

[bgraham34]

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.

Wow I never knew he did not do his own stuff. Now I am glad that I never purchased anything.

 

[Fable McCloud]

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.

Ladies and Gentlemen, you all just did exactly what CoffeeJedi said you would. Don't blast him if you don't like him, and don't argue about it. If you like him, great. Enjoy the pretty. If you don't like him, then keep it civil by saying things like "I'm not a fan". Don't call him names, or lash out against those who enjoy him.

Personally, I'm not a fan of him, but I respect that he puts effort into his work and can capture some amazing details. Also, I work in pen & pencil, and he does things with paint I could never attempt.

Sorry to be a pooper, or to have to interject, but this site is to be helpful and discuss topics in a civil way. You want to be a troll and cause problems on message boards, then go to a site that has less intelligent discussions.

 

[janoimagine]

To the point mentioned above, I have a question. Why, then, does Mr. Kinkade sign these paintings and why are they marketed as is, if he only contributes 3%? The salesman (i know, he was being a salesman), pitched me "Oh this one is a signed original from Kinkade and here is his signature".

Why indeed, and that I don't know, but there in lies the rub. I really am not 100% certain about the exact split of work between Mr. Kinkade and his 'contract' artists, but I do know the majority of the work is done by his contractors and he places his sig on the painting, something, which, as a creative person, just rubs me wrong, hence my distaste twoards the man.

 

[janoimagine]

I'm not a fan of him, but I respect that he puts effort into his work

Sorry to be a pooper, or to have to interject, but this site is to be helpful and discuss topics in a civil way. You want to be a troll and cause problems on message boards, then go to a site that has less intelligent discussions.

I don't think anybody is being a Troll, Fable, however, my point on your point is that he doesn't do his own work, but rather markets it as his own, which goes against the very definition of the word 'creative'.

I think the discussion was very civilized, and people were making their points and counterpoints constructively. Unless you are seeing something I am not. :shrug:

 

[EaglesfanNJ]

Ladies and Gentlemen, you all just did exactly what CoffeeJedi said you would. Don't blast him if you don't like him, and don't argue about it. If you like him, great. Enjoy the pretty. If you don't like him, then keep it civil by saying things like "I'm not a fan". Don't call him names, or lash out against those who enjoy him.

Personally, I'm not a fan of him, but I respect that he puts effort into his work and can capture some amazing details. Also, I work in pen & pencil, and he does things with paint I could never attempt.

Sorry to be a pooper, or to have to interject, but this site is to be helpful and discuss topics in a civil way. You want to be a troll and cause problems on message boards, then go to a site that has less intelligent discussions.

Yikes! Again, i'm partially to blame for this. Had I known Kinkade's story or known he was so controversial, I probably would have just kept the story to myself. I was just trying to contribute

 

[Fable McCloud]

I just saw a lot of negative comments, and as a teacher I read between the lines.

Sorry for lashing out myself, that was inappropriate.

My point was really this:

Even if he doesn't do his own work, you either like him or hate him. You're entitled to your own opinions, just don't judge someone else on theirs.

 

[Tigger1988]

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.

Yes, to all of this. We make art to sell it, that's one of many goals artists have. No one dislikes this man because he sells things.

Kinkade takes credit for the work of others and that's looked down upon in the art world (should be looked down upon EVERYWHERE!)

 

[janoimagine]

Yikes! Again, i'm partially to blame for this. Had I known Kinkade's story or known he was so controversial, I probably would have just kept the story to myself. I was just trying to contribute

No worries friend, all is good. How would you have known? It's not something Mr. Kinkade likes to market about himself. :lol:

 

[Frightful]

Kinkade also urinated on a statue of Winny the Pooh while stating "This one's for you Walt!"

So there is another tie in between the two.

-dave

Well played! And that was at the Disneyland Hotel no less, right? I know it's only a rumor or one side of the story or whatever, but I want to believe.

I'm not the biggest fan of Walt himself, but I can respect him because I get the feeling that while he was a shrewd businessman who set out to make profits, he also believed in what he was doing. Kinkade is a shrewd businessman who sets out to make profits by intentionally pulling one (or really, many things) over on the public, and then laughs about it.

If you're unfamiliar with the various Kinkade controversies, Google will offer you several suggestions that speak volumes...


And incidentally, I don't agree that aesthetic appeal is the generally the purpose of art, but it is the purpose of a decoration, and if that's how you like to decorate, then go for it.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Ladies and Gentlemen, you all just did exactly what CoffeeJedi said you would. Don't blast him if you don't like him, and don't argue about it. If you like him, great. Enjoy the pretty. If you don't like him, then keep it civil by saying things like "I'm not a fan". Don't call him names, or lash out against those who enjoy him.

Personally, I'm not a fan of him, but I respect that he puts effort into his work and can capture some amazing details. Also, I work in pen & pencil, and he does things with paint I could never attempt.

Sorry to be a pooper, or to have to interject, but this site is to be helpful and discuss topics in a civil way. You want to be a troll and cause problems on message boards, then go to a site that has less intelligent discussions.

"Enjoy the pretty". Fable, that is a heck of a catchphrase. Kinkade should totally use that. :lol: As for me...*shrug* Tastes differ. Kinkade has certainly been successful at creating works that many people enjoy, and that's great, but when it comes to portraying things Disney, he's no Mary Blair or Peter Ellenshaw in my view.

 

[happymom52003]

While I am not familiar with claims Kinkade himself has made in the past about his paintings, I do know that on his website and in the official galleries (at least the ones I have purchased from) it is made very clear that the work you are buying is a reproduction of an original Kinkade painting that has been highlighted (to varying degrees depending on the amount you want to pay) by "Master Highlighters". Throughout my research before I made my purchases, and during the time I've spent in galleries, I was never led to believe that the work I was buying was either an original painting or one that had been highlighted by Thomas himself. So I am not sure where the claims that several posters have made that Thomas tries to take credit for the works of others comes from. Perhaps you could give an example? I am not saying you are wrong...I am just curious.

 

[Eeyore]

And incidentally, I don't agree that aesthetic appeal is the generally the purpose of art, but it is the purpose of a decoration, and if that's how you like to decorate, then go for it.

I think you hit the nail on the head with that one! Kinkaide's paintings are decoration not art. I don't care for his "work" personally but I don't begrudge people for liking it. To me its sort of like giant sparkling unicorns got sick all over tiny little unsuspecting villages, its just too much. In my opinion there is no difference (other than cost) between a Kinkaide and the "starving artist oil paintings" that get sold in those blowout sales in gas station parking lots and convention centers.

Having said that though, there is certainly nothing wrong with pretty, many great paintings are. If people's enthusiasm for Kinkaide's work opens up the door for these same people to appreciate true art than I think that's great.

 

[trylon57]

EaglesfanNJ -I have a suggestion for you. You might like to check out Peter Ellenshaw's paintings of Winnie the Pooh and friends.We like them alot, and prints are inexpensive and easy to find on-line. We gave a framed copy of "Autumn Leaves" to a friend for Christmas last year and she loves it.