I went into a Thomas Kinkade gallery yesterday. It is really a store that sells his horrid paintings and the many items he puts his work on. There are Kinkade mugs. Kinkade Nightlights, Kinkade Blankets and my favorite Kinkade Golfgear (not kidding).Kinkade has trademarked the phrase the "Painter of Light". I would like to call him the "Painter of Crap" but I really can't do it because I know he can paint.He is fortunate that he found a niche that sells really well. I mean really really well. According to a cite in Wikipedia, "Kinkade is reported to have earned $53 million for his artistic work in the period 1997 to May 2005." Since then he has started a partnerships with Disney, NASCAR and movie studios.
What reall
y upsets me is I actually wanted to buy a print of a painting in his gallery in Albuquerque, NM (see top picture). I liked the print but refused to buy it because I have such a negative reaction to the crap that he mass markets (see bottom picture). This does not seem rational. I should have bought the print. Would I act this way in other areas. Would I not go to see the J.J. Abrams Star Trek because Paramount also made Transformers. No, I should have put up the $55 for the print.
You can look at some of Kinkade's work at http://www.thomaskinkadegallery.com/kinkade.php.
A funny parody of Kinkade painting can be viewed here http://www.somethingawful.com/d/photoshop-phriday/paintings-light-ii.php?page=2 Sphere: Related Content
2 comments:
What bothers you more? Buying his work? Or, owning his work? Are you afraid that others will question your taste if you own a Kinkade? Is there something to an artist making a lot of money because the audience wonders if the products are based on creative ingenuity or a paycheck. Both can exist too, but I am just wondering.
Are you suffering from buyer's remorse?
I think the idea of owning a Kinkade is what bothers me. I would not be so harsh on other people for focusing on the area that is most advantageous.
I am not sure if the artist's motivation should be factor in the process of judging any piece of art.
I am suffering from non buyers remorse.
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