Fallon Williams: Monday entry (for 1/25/10): Artist of Interest: Thomas Kinkade

Thomas Kinkade is an American painter who was born on January 19, 1958 and raised in Placerville, California. He attended the University of California in Berkley and after two years transferred to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Kinkade is the epitome of kitsch art, with his sentimental subject matter depicting unspoiled and nostalgic landscapes, as well as Disney characters and scenes of American sport games. He is best known for mass producing his art work on a grand scale and reproducing his paintings as prints and creating replicas of his paintings on other licensed products, such as calendars, tea cups and even porcelain crucifixs. He is incredibly market and business savvy and the fact that between the period of 1997 and 2005 Kinkade made $53 million dollars is proof of this. He is known as the most collected living artist who has sold more paintings than Picasso, Rembrandt, Gaughin, Monet, Manet, Renoir and Van Gogh combined. Being a devout Christian, Kinkade's work reflects his good-natured upbringing as it is highly sentimental and optimistic. Most of his paintings depict his conservative views on "the small American town," but without the use of people. With the exception of a small collection of Disney themed paintings, most of his work consists merely of landscapes. While he has obvious technical skill as a painter, his work lacks depth in the way of concept. Because of this and the fact that his work is mass produced and sold in Thomas Kinkade franchise galleries across the country, as well as on his official website and even on the QVC home shopping channel, he is deemed as a kitsch artist. Some have referred to his work as "chocolate box art."

Thomas Kinkade's official website.

Interview with Kindade conducted by the CBS television program 60 Minutes.

A list of Thomas Kinkade galleries in the state of Virginia.