Thomas Kinkade.

Is Thomas Kinkade an artist or a money grubbing sell-out? I believe this question can be answered both yes and no for both. For the first portion of the question (artist?) I believe that the answer is obviously yes to some extent. I believe that what has made Thomas Kinkade so popular is the obvious skill he has at conveying a landscape so exquisitely. He really has mastered the art of translating light through a paintbrush and does have an extreme talent in creating such a realistic work. Thomas Kinkade is also a relative master of detail. Some of his works look so realistic that from a distance, many would probably think they were looking at a picture. Another reason Thomas Kinkade can be looked at as an artist is the fact that he paints and creates period. Regardless of the fact that he makes loads of cash, paints to the appeal of his purchasers, and seems to be a bit of a prick, the man is still an “artist” who produces artwork..

However having said all that, I do not believe that Thomas Kinkade is an artist in every sense of the word. Actually I believe the only reason I still consider him to be an artist is because he paints on canvas with a brush and paint….basically he is still producing works of art. Any other medium and it would be a lot easier to discredit his artist-ness (I joke I joke). To me an artist in the truest sense of the word would always do what they wanted how they wanted regardless of how well it sold. THEY WOULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH WHATEVER MEDIUM NECESSARY AND NEVER LOOK BACK. Artists are innovators, and Thomas Kinkade is not. Now no one can know what Mr. Kinkade is actually thinking (besides himself), but I would wager to say that after painting hundreds of landscapes and sceneries that I would be relatively bored of painting the same sort of subject with the same sort of style. Translation: The only logical reason he is creating the same thing over and over is because it works (sells). I believe that Professor Pacansky-Brock hit it dead on when she wrote that reviewing history shows us that no artist maintained the same sort of style throughout their entire career.

Which brings me to why Thomas Kinkade is the poster child for the western capitalist mindset. Basically Mr. Kinkade found (or had?) something that people wanted, and found a way to make a bunch of money off of it. Is he a fraud? Yes (selling prints that have paint applied over them?). Is he a sell out in every sense of the word(s)? Yes. The fact that he has leeched his way into becoming a household name for non-educated art collectors is absolutely despicable. Basically what I’m trying to say is that technically Kinkade is an artist, but to me he’s just another crooked executive type that define success by only one thing. MONEY!!!