Thomas Kinkade, power artist

The other day, Britain's ArtReview magazine issued its Power 100 list, a ranking of artists, dealers, collectors and assorted others who ostensibly "run the art world." While most attention focuses on who is at the top -- artist Damien Hirst, dealer Larry Gagosian and Museum of Modern Art associate director Kathy Halbreich came in at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 -- way more interesting is who brings up the rear.

Number 100 on the list is Sacramento-born Thomas Kinkade, 50, self-described "Painter of Light," whose treacle-plenty pictures of bucolic bliss have been cranked out by the hundreds over the years.

A joke from across the pond? Or a simple sign of the inescapable silliness of all such lists?

Either way, Kinkade seems to nicely bracket the Power 100.

-- Christopher Knight

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[john]

People who buy this schlock deserve this schlock.

[orcadrvr]

Who is the rube? Someone who buys a Kincaid, or someone who buys (for about 1,000,000 times as much money) a cow (or horse, or whatever) suspended in formaldehyde (Damien Hirst's latest masterpiece)?

[Brady Westwater]

A wonderfully Duchampian joke.

[Adam Hunt]

Perhaps Brady Westwater is correct and Thomas Kinkade is truly a dadaist in disguise and people are now just getting the joke.

[Michael McGinnis]

Hey, the guy makes pure crap, but sell lots of work. The list is not a sign of quality, but rather money. Nothing dada about the list, Instead, it is his business savvy that got him where he is. A snake oil salesman, who doesn't live the life he portrays. Most of the artists and dealers on the list reveal something about modern life, times, science and, culture. In this way, I guess even Thomas Kinkade does reflect aspects of society as well: greed of wall street and the cliche of main street.

[Hegner]

Schlock? Stop being elitist snobs. This man is one of the most successful artists of all times. If art is about making people feel, or think- then I'd say he's done his job- quite well. If there was some sort of quippy tag line underneath one of his paintings then it would sell in a New York gallery for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Come on people, read Kurt Vonnegut's 'Bluebeard' and you'll know what I'm talking about...

[caitb]

Proving that even paint-by-numbers artists get a break...

[john]

It's true orcadvr... People who buy Hirst or Matthew Barney are even bigger suckers( Thanks to Saatchi). The Emperor's new clothes indeed. And while I'm at it Duchamp was a hack who played a marginal game of chess. He should have stayed in Europe.

[Hegner]

Paint by numbers?!
Having attended art school, and been training in Renaissance painting for years- I'd say that at least Kinkade has some sort of technical understanding of how to utilize paint- unlike most so-called artists these days. They can blow their nose on a canvas and if some savvy agent figures out how to market them, then they sell paintings for oodles of cash.
Whatever. All you elitists disgust me.

[john P.R.B.]

Technique is cheap. But cottages in the meadow with smoke coming out of the chimney is even cheaper.It WOULD look cool on a license plate though. I'll take Van Gogh or Rauschenberg over Bouguereau anyday. Which Renaissance teacher did you study with? Raphael?

[Greg]

Anyone that spends money to buy or even look at a Damien Hirst should have all of his or her money taken away and given to someone that knows how to use the common sense he was born with.

[Liz Wetzel]

I agree with Hegner. BTW, elitists are dime a dozen in Britain. Its a culture of nose upturners on everything. Even their butlers turn their noses up on the poodle.

[Cindy]

"Technical understanding of how to utilize paint"?! He hires people to paint for him. And LOOK at that sample of Kincade's work in the article. A thatched-roof cottage on the OCEAN? Look at how messed-up the lighting is. Clearly your art training was through correspondence courses.

[Hegner]

Look, I'm not saying I like the guys work. I'm saying that his art has a place in this world. It is valid as artwork no matter what anyone else says, or thinks. I'd defend Richard Serra, or Andy Warhol just as vehemently.
To Cindy's point- most painters have or have had apprentices/assistants who did most of the work on their paintings for them. Does that make their work less valid? Also Cindy- if you look at lots of paintings- the perspective is off, the lighting is wrong- the anatomy terrible-take a look at Ingres Odalisque, or the works of Dali- but many of those types of paintings are considered classics. Since when does art have to be photo-realistic OR accurate?
I'm not saying the man is on that level- but give the guy a break. He's done a lot better in life than most of us have!
And- No, I didn't study under Raphael you wonderful wit PRB, you- there are a handful of devoted instructors who try to pass on the techniques of oil painting handed down through the ages, and I studied with one of them. And yes Cindy, of COURSE it was all through one of those magazine correspondence courses that began with me drawing a turtle with a hat on it. Does it ever begin any other way?
But then again, you're probably right- doing something like submerging a crucifix in a box of pee does make for accessible, enjoyable, and above all IMPORTANT artwork. That's MUCH better.
Once again. Elitist. Snobs.

[pietro annigoni]

I think I kicked Hegner out of my class. He had bad taste.

[Michael S]

Kinkade paints Red State Nirvana, so of course it sells. I've always thought those windows seemed lit by a hellish fire from within, so no worries about appropriate lighting. I actually like him, in a backwards sort of way. I'm saving up for his Nascar Thunder to hang over the couch.

[dudenamaste]

Kinkade should market more "madonna and child" pictures. They move even quicker than landscapes. When did the last Kinkade sell at Christies or Sotheby's? If they were pictures of any value they'd have representation in the secondary market. Thomas Kinkade was being investigated by the F.B.I. after numerous complaints from entrepreneurs who invested life savings in opening galleries. The prospectus promised valuation inconsistent with the market. Maybe he'll crank out some sweeties while serving time under the RICO act.

[john]

I think Kinkade should be put in jail just for making this schlock in the first place. While in his cell they should play kenny "g" music 24/7 at him.

[BC]

I want to see Kincade paint one of those things on the side of a live shark. Now that would be art.