He's more than just a Painter of Light...
He's a Wizard of Light...
2 Kincaid galleries
Those posting reponses to this thread might be interested in the thread posted recently by shepaints, "Do you need a sales record to be considered an artist?".
BBB found her original Kinkaid post
I finally found my original Kincaid post that will add some perspective to this current discussion:
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7646
---BumbleBeeBoogie
Keep in mind that Kinkaid did somthing that struck the hearts of America. I think it's the blind disney'esque idealism which many Americans treasure. It makes them think of the old days which never really happened, of comforting norman-rockwellish thoughts, of christmas, of Robert Frost poems, of little house on the prarie with romance. These are comforting thoughts for humans to have - of well lit, colorful communities. Do they make good art? I personally don't think so. I think as decoration, if a person is going for a bright, colorful, calming homey environment, kinkaid fits right in. If the people like it, let them have it.
He probably doesn't show figures because that way the viewer can feel it is really their own village. A person makes you understand there are already inhabitants, whether you like them or not. With just the touch of lights on in the houses, your imagination can fill in the neighbors.
This makes me wonder - will catering to the masses destroy a person's art? I wonder if Kinkaid's work will have any lasting popularity. People may get tired of it, as there is not much variation in his work. I have relatives who begged me to do a master copy of a Kinkaid, I gave them a Monet' master copy instead. Sheesh.
I think trying to compare Kinkaid to Rockwell is comparing cucumber to apples. Rockwell was a genius at showing Americana at its best. Kinkaid's imaginary people still doesn't exist in my mind.
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C.I., I would characterize Rockwell as a great caracaturist (sp?) of American life. Kincaid is a Hallmark artist at best.
The Grand Vizier brought up an interesting point - how to decorate around the Kincaids/and who does? Well, there's quite a big market for that Americana/spinning wheels/quilts kind of decorating. Tons of mags on the shelves, and lots of craft-type kits to buy. Not my kind of kitsch, but it's very popular.
ehBeth said it best; we all have our "taste" for art and decor. If people like Kinkaid kind of art, and are willing to pay for it, who's to say they're wrong?
Some are willing to pay for it but obviously the honeymoon is ending -- there is one gallery left in Orange County run by Village Galleries. They also sell all the imitators including one artist who is racking up years of damage to the image of Paris as seen through the eyes of a Kinkaid clone.
Here's an interesting article about this subject, although a bit long.
http://www.papertiger.co.uk/archive/issue23/interv.html
Sure, Rockwell had more talent and skill than kinkaid (well, maybe not at marketing, but at his art) but they both deal with sentimentalizing American life and style.
Kinkaid is more Currier & Ives than Rockwell. Rockwell could be sentimental and then he could be sublime.
Some people came in the gallery yesterday and when I greeted them asked if we had any work by Thomas Kinkaid. After various discussions on Kinkaid here on a2k, plus past joking between my business partner and I about making a kinkaid-collage dartboard (to be fair, we were going to put a few other art promo ad's on it), I nearly choked.
I edited what would have been my words if the customer was only an adult, but it was a father with two children beaming up at me, especially with the daughter of about ten looking at me in hope.
I said no, that we show only original art and that perhaps they could find his work online. They were out the door before I could begin to form any further words....such as
Are you kidding? (No, that wouldn't be courteous)
Not in this lifetime!! (No, stomping on the clear enthusiasm of the daughter.)
That worthless ****! (inappropriate in more ways than one)
I should have said, "It is not the type of art we feel warrants its pricing", or something like that.
To step off of my art snob stepladder, I think it is good for people to decorate their surroundings and to some fair extent I enjoy all kinds of decoration at whatever level of art. But the financial/legal aspect of this kind of print art marketing has seemed very iffy, as is better explained by GWLightwizard than myself.
Dear Thomas doesn't seem to be in any financial trouble. Two of the mags I looked at last night were full of his lovely (to some) collectibles. Then you can go to Google and
*** Presto *** you too can be happy with a house full of all things Kinkaid.
the original happy little village * click*
and a (hopefully little) sample
hmmmm, just noticed. there are people in this. i've never really looked at Kinkaid until this thread.
if you'd like to build the village ...
Quote:As your series continues, about one every other month, make a wish from the Lamplight Bridge; it comes with a set of 6 lamplights, a fisherman figurine and a collectible figurine of Kinkade himself - a $75 value - FREE.
Ya want more? I can post more.
hehehehe
Sorry. But hey, it's what people are buying. I've got a friend whose ENTIRE living room is filled with Christmas Village train-sets from mid-November until mid-January. I think it's odd, but she's the one who's helping the economy along. My paper chains sure aren't.
Not for meeeeeeeee, thank you.
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EhBeth, and a good sales point for that picture might be, "And it's the only one with people in it!"
nahhhhhh - turns out there are quite a few with people. not well-executed people, but plenty of stuff with people. i'm not gonna look for them again, but a quick google image search finds them.
