Thomas Kinkade
American Painter 1958-
 Thomas
Kinkade is renowned as “The Painter of Light”. By infusing light
into his paintings for a dramatic effect of pictorial lighting,
Thomas Kinkade creates incredibly romantic and tranquil scenes that
seem to glow from within. This incredible ability combined with
Thomas Kinkade’s choice of wholesome themes has made Thomas Kinkade
America’s most collected living artist. Thomas Kinkade grew up in
Northern California in the small town of Placerville, along the
foothills of the Sierra Mountains. Though the family did not have
wealth, Kinkade often says they were "rich in the greatest form of
wealth; a nurturing and affirming love." It was during these
lean years, that Thomas Kinkade embraced the Christian faith that
later would shape his approach to life and Thomas Kinkade’s art. The
beauty and need of simplicity and life-affirming values entwined
themselves deep in Thomas Kinkade and since then can be found
running through all of his works. His first "collector" was
his mother, who would frame his childhood drawings and use them to
decorate the family home. In Placerville,
he was a boy with crayons, a kid who could draw. He was also the
local newspaper delivery boy, an avid swimmer and loyal friend. As a
child he constantly read biographies of artists, including those of
painters and illustrators like Norman Rockwell, Maxwell Parrish and
Howard Pyle. At age 11, he had his first "apprenticeship." Charles
Bell, a local painter, instructed him in basic techniques. |
||
|
|
 In
high school, Kinkade came face to face with twentieth-century modernism
in the person of Glenn Wessels, a former professor in the art
department at the University of California. Wessels encouraged
Kinkade both to tie his art more directly to emotion (rather than
observation alone) and to experiment with highly personal forms of
expression. He also influenced Kinkade's decision to attend the
University of California at Berkley.
Kinkade studied art at the University of California at Berkeley,
where his roommate was the now-renowned artist James Gurney. Gurney,
famous for his Dinotopia creations, has collaborated with Thomas
Kinkade, and the two remain close friends. Kinkade spent a summer on
a sketching tour with Gurney producing the best-selling
instructional book, "The Artist's Guide to Sketching".
Kinkade and Gurney set off on an artistic adventure, traveling
coast-to-coast by rail, stopping in small towns and sketching,
soaking up the color and learning about their subjects wherever they
happened to be. The success of the book landed the two young artists
at Ralph Bakshi Studios. Only twenty two, Kinkade and his friend
began working on the animated feature, "Fire and
Ice". Working 10-hour shifts on the movie, Kinkade painted some
600 scenic backgrounds in a two-year period. Kinkade credits this
experience as being instrumental in the development of his romantic,
light infused style. Thomas Kinkade started exploring light and
imaginative worlds and it was during this period that he acquired
his moniker as "The Painter of Light". In 1982, Thomas Kinkade married
his childhood sweetheart, Nanette. Her support and encouragement is
a major inspiration in his art, and he often pays tribute to her by
hiding 'N's in his art or by painting her image among the people in
a scene. They have three daughters, Merritt, Chandler, and Winsor,
who also find their names and images included in their father's art.
Two years after their marriage Thomas Kinkade and Nanette began to
publish his paintings together. They began
making limited edition prints of Thom's work out of their garage.
|
 |
 |
Their first piece was "Dawson", a beautiful tribute to early Alaska. Nanette helped to take orders and then pack and ship the prints from their garage. Immediately, they were a success and Dawson was a complete sellout. Light post publishing was born. The corporate philosophy of Light post remains the creation of art that will communicate with people and whose message "uplifts people." Many of Thomas Kinkade's paintings start as plein aires. French for “open air”, this style of painting requires the artist to finish the painting quickly before the light changes. With broad brush strokes, much like Monet, Thomas Kinkade finishes the plein aire in a few hours. Many times these works are studies to be finished into major studio works like “City By The Bay, Sunset on Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco”. Often times, though, the impressionistic style work of art becomes the finished piece. Thomas Kinkade has even traded his paintbrush for a pen and has completed over 20 books throughout his career. Two of his books, "Simpler Times" and "Lightposts for Living" have become national bestsellers! "Simpler Times" shares some of his philosophy about faith and family and is illustrated with his work. In it he encourages everyone to simplify their lives, to spend time with family and friends. The book, like his paintings, offers "an off ramp from the fast lane..." These books of spiritual counsel and consolation marry Thomas' art and his words and are at once challenging to the mind, consoling to the heart and pleasing to the eye. |
 |
 |
 Thomas Kinkade has an almost uncanny ability to recreate
dramatic effects of pictorial lighting in a way that makes the image
seem to glow from within. This famous "Kinkade glow" might help
explain Kinkade's popularity as a published artist. The creations of
Thomas Kinkade have become a phenomenon unprecedented in recent
times, with countless millions of "Kinkade Collectors" worldwide. During
Thomas Kinkade’s "Robert Girrard" period, he painted under a
different brush name to explore a completely different style of art.
When collectors hear the name Thomas Kinkade; they generally think
of flowers, cottages, rustic cabins, and nostalgic street scenes. It
is very unusual that an artist has the talent and ability to paint
in completely different artistic styles like Thomas Kinkade is able
to do. Thomas Kinkade
has received numerous awards for his works, including the 1995
Lithograph of the Year Award and 1995 Artist of the Year from the
National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED) and the 1994
Collector Editions Award of Excellence. NALED has named him as
Graphic Artist of the Year six times. His works have been named
Graphic Art Print of the Year eight times. Kinkade has also won the
Collectors Editions Award of Excellence and was a charter inductee
to the Bradford Exchange's Plate Artist Hall of Fame. A devout
Christian and family man, Thomas Kinkade draws on personal
experience for much of his artistic inspiration. Many of his scenes
of peace, tranquility and nostalgia are based on family travels and
memories. His art celebrates life, and it is through his art that he
shares his vision of peace and hope with others.
|
|