The I hate Thomas Kinkade club
I hate Thomas Kinkade. I despise his cobblestones, his sanctimonious capitalism, and the weasel-like moustache that sat on his pig-like face all the way through the nineties. I hate him. I hate him utterly. I hate him so much.
More than anything, of course, I hate his work.
I realise that that’s a somewhat closed-minded comment, since millions of people adore and collect his work, hanging it from the walls of their homes, offices and churches, and yet, And Yet, yes, I know it’s weird, and wrong, and unfair, and yet, fact remains - I hate him.
It’s the paintings that I hated first, I must admit. I only came to hate him roundly as a person later. But those paintings with their sugary nostalgia, or worse, this weird kind of fantasy nostalgia mixed with patriotism and … oh I don’t know, maybe I just don’t get it because it’s not intended for me, not being a Merkin or a born-again Christian or something.
But it can’t be right, can it? The eerie glow, like homes lit by the fires of hell. I look at these and can’t decide whether to shudder or puke. I mean, you wouldn’t want to do both at once. It would go everywhere. I hate the chocolateboxness. I hate the cut and paste nature of the composition. I hate the direct marketing approach to aesthetics - “It’s winter! Spray some fake snow on that piece of shit we flogged’em last summer, and flog it to them again!”
Still, this all goes to explain why I was overjoyed to hear that his business empire is flailing a little, in an article last Saturday (yes, I’m running about a week behind with my posts, apologies). Because, in all seriousness, I find the sappiness of his art to be pure poison. It makes me fear for humanity, if all they want is the safe haven of nostalgia for a life that never has existed in a world that never has, and never could again.
But then I read this - about half way through the article.
Two former employees, Terry Sheppard and John Dandois, told the panel of further examples of Kinkade’s unpredictable behaviour: bringing disorder to a Las Vegas performance by the illusionists Siegfried and Roy by repeatedly yelling the word “codpiece” from his audience seat, and urinating in public - in an elevator and on a model of Winnie the Pooh at a Disneyland hotel. “This one’s for you, Walt,” Mr Sheppard claimed the artist said as he did so.
And for some reason, I had a small, terrible sense of grudging respect for the guy. Because he’s quite clearly, if these allegations are true, a fucktard, a fruitloop, and a man who knows when he’s got to go. Still though, it’s alright, because …
The artist - who once said of Picasso that “he had talent but didn’t use it in a significant way” - has acknowledged that he went through a bad period.
And the fact that he has nevertheless created this highly successful and marketable image as a right-wing, highly-jeezicised all-round squeaky clean bloke is probably the greatest example of the mass gullibility of society since Scientology. It’s an incredible coup.
Incredible. The whole thing, I find, now fills me with an unspeakable sense of nostalgia. I long for the world of Thomas Kinkade.
The world of Thomas Kinkade, where, down cobbled streets covered by a light dusting of snow, twenties-style taxis and 60s style harleys and horses and carriages rattle past theatres whose windows glow radioactively. Inside, people can still sit - good, honest, godly, people can sit. Sit and shout ‘CODPIECE’ at camp magicians, before weeing on giant cardboard 2D bears.
Sadly, that day will never come again. Mainly becuase the magicians keep getting eaten by tigers. And I imagine someone’s moved that bear.
But still, we can have a club, can’t we? We’ll all sit around, just quietly seething and occasionally bursting into anti-Kinkade tourettesque bursts. Involving the word “Codpiece”.
His paintings look like fuckin’ charity Xmas cards. Bleh!
As for erratic behaviour, his is probably mild compared to, say, a Saturday night out in Manchester, where you can hear revellers shout “fucking pig!” repeatedly at police officers until jolly-old trucheon wood hits bone.
Now that would be a cozy scene for ‘ol Yeehaw Kincade to paint.
Ne’est-ce pas?
Comment by TC — 2 April, 2006 6:30 pm
You hate Thomas Kinkade?
The “Painter of Light”?
I hate him too. And his paintings. And the commemorative plates, the stitch-it-yourself tapestries, the jigsaws and the little ceramic houses.
“Codpiece” is the very word.
Comment by Katy Newton — 2 April, 2006 6:35 pm
I was once given an original Kincade, I suspect that they are often ‘given’. I agree they are very much like charity xmas cards. Anyway I did the charitable thing and gave it to a charity auction. Perhaps he has finally seen the light.
Comment by St Jude — 2 April, 2006 7:12 pm
I HATE Thomas Kinkade. I am a Merkin and, for some reason which remains happily beyond my comprehension, all the little Merkins around me seem to love his shit on canvas. I have friends who proudly show their original Kinkades as the centerpiece and pride of their home. I always make some attempt at kindness in these situations, but it usually comes out as pity and an effective end of the friendship. Thus, I am very much pleased to find this little club and a new group of potential acquaintences.
Oh, and for your information, I am slightly obsessed with your blog and eagerly anticipate your updates. You might keep this tidbit in mind when searching for a reason to get up some mornings.
Comment by Katie — 2 April, 2006 7:22 pm
Thank you, Katie. You are welcome to the club. Especially as a Merkin; I feel validated by having a real one in our midst at the IHTKC.
And thank you for the other stuff that you said. You are too kind.
Comment by anna — 2 April, 2006 8:20 pm
Inspired.
There was a Kinkade gallery near where I used to work and everytime I walked by I thought, “Jesus, I hate that. I wish he would die.”
Comment by Nicole — 2 April, 2006 9:51 pm
Haha, I love the codpiece thing.
I didn’t actually know who this man was until I followed your link (I’m a bit of a philistine) (oh hang on, that’s not quite right, is it? Hooray! I’m not a philistine!) (I don’t think), but you seem to have good reason for hating him.
Apart from the codpiece thing. Which is, I agree, pretty cool.
Comment by Clare — 2 April, 2006 10:59 pm
Paul Daniels sits at home in semi-darkness, sipping his Aldi own-brand malted beverage, fretting that no bad artist has ever attempted to disrupt one of his shows with shouted references to medieval crotch attachments.
“Never mind, Paul,” says the lovely Debbie McGee. “There was that time Rolf Harris pissed on you.”
And Paul Daniels is all smiles, and goes off to have a relaxing poo.
Comment by CulturalSnow — 3 April, 2006 1:11 am
I want to be in the IHTKC too. Can I join? I have modest typing skills (perhaps I could be Club Secretary?), a can-do attitude and the abiding desire to felt-tip his ouvre with stripey-jumpered, bandit-masked burglers climbing down his charming chimneys.
Comment by Sami, Problem-Child-Bride — 3 April, 2006 1:56 am
Never mind the codpiece, you mean you’re not a pubic wig?
Comment by Raoul Djukanovic — 3 April, 2006 3:03 am
Oh I know, he’s a right cunt that Thomas, his work makes me want to hammer pencils into my eyes.
Incidentally may I take the opportunity for some shameless self publicity? visit: http://www.glenhorne.com for some proper nice illustration.
Comment by Glen — 3 April, 2006 5:24 am
Well, only because it’s you, but yes of course you can, Glen. Oh hang on, you already did.
Comment by anna — 3 April, 2006 6:07 am
But, the question is, do you have any of his prints hanging on your walls?
And calling Z & R ‘camp magicialns’. Well, hope you never come to the Church of Vegas, you’ll likely be roasted over defaming the city heros.
Comment by joeinvegas — 3 April, 2006 2:41 pm
I, too, am a Merkin and despise him. In Vallejo, CA (near San Francisco), Kinkade tried to open an exclusive subdivision of homes where the homes and streets were modeled after some of his paintings, and the interiors came decorated–you guessed it!–as if Kinkade had painted them himself, and the walls were dripping in prints of his. You will be happy to know that it failed miserably!! Add me to your club, too!
Comment by Anne — 4 April, 2006 1:12 am
I’m American and I dislike his work (although I didn’t have a clue he even existed until reading your blog entry, perhaps you have inadvertently created publicity for him), but my grandmother, who is English, would probably love it. Her house is filled to the brim this sort of painting and little glass animals and figures and assorted knick-knack crap (give the dog a bone?).
Also if I may, Glen I really like your drawings with animals, especially the dog with the human teeth and the (I think) shouting rabbit with a bottle of booze. A way to skip the site’s flash intro however would be nice.
Comment by Chris — 5 April, 2006 7:51 am
CODPIECE!
Hey, that feels good. Surprisingly good.
Damian
Comment by Damian — 10 April, 2006 11:49 am
I too had never heard of Thomas Kinkade until reading your blog. How lucky I was.
KInkade. Sounds like a perverted fizzy drink.
Comment by Rob — 10 April, 2006 4:23 pm
His paintings are the tackiest things I have ever seen. Thomas Kinkaid must die.
Comment by Lauren — 22 April, 2006 5:38 pm
i hate thomas kinkade and im glad im not alone in hating his tasteless work.
Comment by blake — 15 May, 2006 1:05 am
Hmm, You must think you are an artist who in reality sucks. Really sucks to be you huh. Ever sold any of your crap? Probably to pay by the hour hotels who don’t know anything more than paint…
Comment by Hobob Jehosefat — 15 May, 2006 7:55 am
[...] But my favourite one by far is the comments on my post about my distaste for Thomas Kinkade: Painter of Light (God, I hate him I hate him I hate him). [...]
Pingback by Nutters and the Google magnet (from little.red.boat ) — 15 May, 2006 10:20 am
“Kinkade uses his gift as a vehicle to communicate and spread inherent life-affirming values.” Bad taste being one of these? I never knew TK until I read about him, but I despise the genre, sugercoatedness of it all- not to mention the icky lighting… Eck eck eck. I definitely want to join.
Comment by Alexandra — 18 May, 2006 11:53 pm
Hey folks! If you yhinks his paintings absolutely suck, check out his books. They make a perfect bathroom fit, not to read, but to wipe with.
Comment by Pete — 25 May, 2006 2:26 am
I despise Kinkade and his mass-produced saccharine crap. Merely looking at it makes me want to shove my mouth full of broken glass and then commit ritual suicide.
But, he lives about 45 minutes up the road from me, next town over. Situations like this call for a bag of burning dog crap left on his porch. Oh yeah.
Comment by Grace — 1 June, 2006 6:41 am
Thomas Kinkade is a capatalist Bastard
if an artist does work lely for money then..
1) they are not an artist. they are a buisnessman
2) the “art is not from the heart”
3) they are nto worthy enough to hold the talent of artisticly expressing themselves
he sux and he could be spreading a greater message with the “talent” he has
his eerie cottages gives me the creeps
maybe he should paint a patriotic scene of him fucking george bush in the moonlight while dick cheney rides through the town on one of those stupit chariot things with the horses dressed in a santa clause suit.
Comment by lauren warren — 22 June, 2006 12:29 am
years ago, in high school, i worked in a frame shop and had to frequently endure the torture of framing kinkades. gawd they are terrible….the worst part is when someone would bring in a TOSS PILLOW FROM THEIR COUCH so that the matting on their POS kinkade print would match their tacky-ass living room. ugh.
well, i’m off to vomit now….
Comment by brooke — 29 June, 2006 10:53 pm
Kinkade… How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways… I hate every cobblestone with lamp-light reflection. I hate every trite cottage with a candle in the window. I hate every cottage without a candle in the window. I hate the exactness of every Kinkade piece of shit, painted to match the ugly decor of the paintings’ purchaser. I hate the non-art of everything about this commercialized, stamped to form, hangin’ on the wall, Motel 6, leave the light on fer’ ya’ shit. I hate the mugs, keychains, mouse-pads, actual houses in house tracts built to look like the Kinkade shit houses. I loath every little leaf on every tree surrounding Kinkades’ cottages. I am overwhelmed with my loathing of his brooks that babble trite un-artistic rambling… If I was locked in a room with the pig, Kinkade, I would kick his ass for polluting the world with his shit…
I could drone on but you get the picture.
Comment by Pam — 5 July, 2006 6:56 pm
Thomas Kink-ade is nothing more than a miracle of marketing over substance. Everything about the man repulses me. He is a cookie-cutter hack doomed to repeat himself forever. The painter of light? How about “he saw the light and was blinded by it?” He is an extreme example of using religion as a ploy to exploit and promote himself.
Comment by thomas stubbs — 5 July, 2006 7:20 pm
hey, have been reading your blog for a while and love it; thought i might as well chip in on this subject. Had never heard of Kinkade, so got searching and, along with his nauseatingly sickly pictures (they certainly couldn’t be called *Art*), i found this comment from the man himself:
“When, in 1990, I launched my decade-long celebration of the season with Christmas Cottage, I had no clear idea of the challenges such a monumental print portfolio would present. Now, as I conclude the series with Evening Glow, I can tell you that I also had no idea of the pleasures it would provide.
In this series I’ve delighted in the festive hustle-bustle of the holidays; I’ve also savored the delicious tranquility of a winter evening. I wanted to convey both moods of the season in this concluding piece.
— Thomas Kinkade
1) “Christmas Cottage”? “Evening Glow”?????
not even my younger sister - who has a sweet tooth- could stand this utter saccharine.
2) “Pleasures it would provide”? Mate, get a life…
3) ewwwwww. what more can i say?
Comment by Alicia — 12 July, 2006 2:43 pm
Hate Thomas Kincade?
I think you’ll like this:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/06/09/BA186980.DTL
http://www.josart.net/kin-.html
Comment by Rosemary — 15 July, 2006 4:56 pm
OK. I give up.
What’s with the “I am a Merkin” (capitalised) bit?
Is Katie actually claiming to BE a pubic wig, for some satirical reason that eludes me, or are Merkins also members of some strange sect?
Comment by Philip — 21 July, 2006 12:53 pm
A little late perhaps but just stumbled upon this.
http://www.somethingawful.com/index.php?a=3863
Comment by Chris — 23 July, 2006 2:23 am
Im guessing that most of you were writing those comments whilst waiting to see your psychiatrist. You all clearly have issues! Just incase you didn’t notice they are only paintings and guess what you don’t have to look at or purchase one if you don’t want to! Also i find it very strange that people who clearly despise Thomas Kinkade and his work seem to know an aweful lot about him. May i suggest that if you sad bastards went out and had a life you may find that your life is far more interesting than this sad website!!!!!
Comment by Nanette — 8 August, 2006 7:17 pm
Nanette? Surely not…. (no, cos she’d be all like *perfect* and stuff and only say *lovely* things)…
http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.biography.web.tk.BiographyServlet
Comment by Bob — 9 August, 2006 6:52 am
got to click family+faith link from there, sorry
Comment by Bob — 9 August, 2006 6:54 am
After reading all your comments on TK, I’m happy to see I’m in the right camp. Anyone whose “art” is sold on QVC right along with Randy Moss autographed jerseys forfiets the right to respecablilty as an artist. This guy makes the folks who drwo Hallmark cards look like Van Goghs.
Comment by Karen — 25 August, 2006 12:03 am
My boss hung up a Kinkade calander (back in January) right behind where I work. I wash dishes and sometimes we’re not very busy and I don’t have much to do. After several months of having nothing better to look at, I’ve decided that while the paintings are trite, the bleeding quotes they put all over the calander are even worse. They’re all sappy and sticky and just so damn touchy-feely-life-affirming that they make me want to run the calander through the bloody dishwasher.
Comment by NKD — 31 August, 2006 8:04 pm
I just looked up your term “Merkin”… and it means crotch-wig.
I hope you mean Merkin in terms of a slang word for American.
Ps. I strongly dislike Thomas Kincaid, enough to call him a merkin and yes he is a Merkin. I am from Georgia (The Bible Belt of the USA) and his work is everywhere, being a struggling artist myself having to deal with idiots who flock to his “galleries” and find his work “inspriational”. Why can’t you paint like Thomas Kincaid? He’s so talented and his work just fills my heart with the holy spirit.
Comment by Faran — 4 October, 2006 12:46 am
Faran, I absolutely meant it as an affectionate shortening of ‘American’ but the other meaning is also known and just happens to be funny, and occasionally applicable, such as in the case of Mr Kinkade.
God I hate that man’s work.
Comment by anna — 4 October, 2006 12:49 am
Thank heavens I found you! Bless you—For I too hate the syrupy garbage peddling so-called-art of Thomas Kinkade with a passion! His smarmy-trashart makes my skin crawl. My husband finds my Kinkade-disdain LOL funny, since nothing riles me more than Kinkade, except George Bush. Hey… don’t knock us born-agains either. We believe in a just God that will one day wrap chains of justice around the likes of T.K. & GeeDub and throw them both into a lake of fire! Check you “Reg’s”… the only time Jesus got mad was when he ran across Kinkadians selling their artjunk in the Temple.
Comment by Cori — 27 October, 2006 3:51 am
I do not usually put my real name on things like this, but I have felt so strongly about Thomas Kinkade for so long that I could not use a nom de plume. There is an entire Thomas Kinkade shop masquerading as a gallery down the street from my home and I ride by it on the city bus everyday. As someone planning on majoring in art, I try to see the good in every work and the message in everything from White Painting to Piss Christ, but God dammit, I have as much respect for the guys who make up stupid puns for birthday cards as I do for this man. No, that is not fair. I actually LIKE looking at stupid birthday cards. This man has such a talent for portraying his vision and he uses it, wastes it sedating the masses into believing the world is bright and good. And Christian. And Caucasian. People compare him to Norman Rockwell, well I say at least he had a purpose. And least his paintings made you look and think. At least he did not paint the same God damned thatch roofed cottage everyday! I live in the north east region of America and believe me, those snow covered streets of his would be a little less precious if they were covered in exhaust and dog shit.
Whoa, gotta calm down a bit, yeah? Sorry, I get of on tangents if i feel strongly about something. Anyway, in conclusion, my definition of art is something created not for a practical use or money, but simply to pull a reaction out of people and send a message. Well, Thomas Kinkade’s work sure as hell pulls some emotions out of me, but until he declares his entire career to have been a huge, profound statement on American capitalism and the desire for a perfect, conflict free, homogenous world, I will grit my teeth every time I see the words “Painter of Light”
Ah, my soul feels less burdened.
Comment by Elise Plyler — 28 November, 2006 7:07 am
Might I suggest then you dont look at his work, some people have had a hard difficult life and it brings them happiness.
YOU DONT HAVE TO GO ON HIS WEBSITE, and if you get any of his items as gifts then donate them to charity somone will benefit.
You people that comment are really sad and need to get out more……
Comment by Jan — 1 December, 2006 1:28 pm
I own and operate a custom pictureframe shop. In the nutshell Mr. Kinkade’s work is not original, very generic, and commerical. Many good artist could do the same work if they would choose. It boggles my mine when I hear what people pay for his prints. Thomas K. is being sued by many owner’s of the “Thomas Kinkade Gallery’s” throughout the USA. These people poured their life savings in to these galleries thinking and being told they had the exclusives. After all these Galleries were up, running and paying a percentage of their profits to Mr. K. he turned around and cut a deal with “Sam’s Wholesale Club”. Sam’s was selling the same prints for half the price. Many of the Galleries went under. They could not make their rent payments to the malls. The owner’s filed bankrupty. Thomas Kinkade calls himself a Christian. In reality he is a Ken Lay(Enron) wantobe.
Comment by Betsy — 3 December, 2006 1:48 am
i walked into a kinkade gallery…. and immediatly contracted aids
Comment by nick — 7 December, 2006 5:19 am
I hate the man myself. I despise his painting’s adorning f’ing everything!
I seen these real nice ornaments is a local gift shop, then noticed that they had his paintings on the other sides of them…Ruined!
Was looking at a site tonight, every other thing was Thomas Kinkade and his BS…It has really pissed me off tonight.
Comment by D — 8 December, 2006 4:37 am
Tastes differ - that’s all. I don’t care for Kinkade’s paintings, though I have nothing against nostalgia for a never-never land as such. But lots of people love his work and it gives them pleasure, so why shouldn’t he paint what pleases AND sells? Nothing wrong with making lots of money while giving people what they want. As for what’s art and what isn’t, well, that’s always been debatable and, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Surely we should strive to be open-minded and tolerant about other people’s tastes when they differ from our own? I’m not sure I would ever call an unmade bed art, but other people do and that’s fine by me. I hope never to be so closed-minded that I lack breadth of vision.
Comment by Dimsie — 9 December, 2006 11:34 pm
Me and my webmaster got in a knock-down-drag-out-fight (metaphorically) over Kinkade. So I went looking on the web for some documentation about this controversy and was very pleased to find this blog. I don’t think it would make any difference to my webmaster but I at least feel better. While surfing the web I also found Kinkade fan club sites (puke!) I think it’s like democrats and republicans. They’re never going to see the other point of view. BTW my webmaster is very reasonable in every other way.
Comment by Pete — 13 December, 2006 6:20 am
Since when are Christians prohibited from making money? The guy paints traditional scenery that idealizes his subject but apparently it’s not true art unless you’re tearing down tradition in some demented way? There are plenty of other groups defined by their hatred and I can’t think of too many favorable things to say about them. You might question your involvement with this one….
Comment by Michael — 16 December, 2006 1:48 am
Words alone do not suffice to express the contempt I feel for Kinkade’s dreck. “Painter of Light” my pasty ass. This hack is not fit to lick clean Maxfield Parrish’s brushes.
“Might I suggest then you dont look at his work”
If only that were possible without plucking the eyes out of my own head. The man is not an artist, he’s a virus. His omnipresence is a plague.
Thank you for this blog. From this point forward I will refer to him as Thomas Codpiece. how fitting. it allows us to associate him with the most derogatory connotations the title “tool” implies, while the artifical aspect denies him any benefits of the pleasant association with the male organ.
Comment by Amy — 10 January, 2007 10:20 pm
How old are you people! You should be playing gears of war or talking about it. Not TK. :) Nanette is right you people hate him but how come you know a lot about him. For those who study art they know how everything in these paintings are put there on purpose, how technical it is, balancing, color matching, cutting straight lines, etc. He deserve his sales, his work are very detailed, and the visual impact.. dang!!. You can tell he’s very patient and not a lazy painter.
I love the “codpiece” incedent though. I can imagine TK standup (a big guy) pointed his finger and shouted “CODPIECE! CODPIECE” ah hahahahahaa
Comment by stghsrt — 3 February, 2007 9:11 pm
thank you so much I am the leader of a group called Kinkade meets Pollock for the DooDah Parade in Pasadena the sunday before Thanks giving in november. WE go on the parade route and have an artist putting the finishing touches on a kinkadescape and then an artist from the Pollock school comes by to slap on some touches also. You can imagine the rest and it is a real crowd pleaser. Anyone interested in taking part in the event contact jayjeune@yahoo.com
Saw a Kinkade store yesterday having a real firesale slashing the prices. Looks desperate. Perhaps the increase in gas prices have effected this “fine art” distribution also ha ha ha! Thank you for the site ye kindred spirits.
Comment by jay juene — 31 May, 2007 8:48 pm
Well personnaly I like the man’s work. You people are a bunch of c o cksucking haters and you should be the one’s to die…so you can all eat
s h i t and bark at the moon…have a nice day..
Comment by Ricky — 23 August, 2007 1:19 pm
Die Kinkade! Die Twice! You ass faced baboon. The painter of shite! Your success is sad proof that America’s idea of culture is yogurt. You shove your happy trees & happy cotteges down our throats until we gag on the sweetness. I’d like to meet you so I could fart in your face and wipe my ass with your stupid, stupid, oh so friggin stupid mustache.
Comment by Jack H. — 5 September, 2007 1:37 am
O MY God just found this website.
I must admit i am extremely concerned by the mentality of you people and the amount of hatred you show.
Bunny Boilers come to mind!!!!!
To wish someone died - come on i hate many people but to wish someone died is disturbing. Something that a 8 year old would say but hey maybe you are all just abit slow and have no taste what so ever.
I LOVE THOMAS KINKADE PICTURES AND SHALL CONTINUE TO BUY NOT ONLY BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE MAGICAL BUT JUST TO PISS YOU FUCKING SAD LOT OF TOSSERS OFF!!!!!!!!!!! Have a nice day now
Comment by Jenny — 5 September, 2007 1:39 pm
this site is pretty funny -and in a way, so not necessary. Kinkade is a hack and the only kind of artist he is, is a con artist, a crook. I have watched a good friend of mine in the auction business have to inform people that their Kinkades are worthless -that they were ripped off fooled into buying them, cheated.
I am a professional painter with work in places like the Metropolitans 20th Century collection for instance. Here is the deal: he cannot draw to save his life, he knows almost nothing about paint handling, his work is pure sacharrine junk -with zero redeeming aesthetic qualities.
This is one of those blogs where one can simply state, the people writing in to defend this guy are idiots who know nothing about painting or, art. For the simple reason that, this poorly done, fake work is nothing but, total, complete, garbage. And, anyone with half a brain, with even a slight knowledge of western art would get, what trite and awful trash, this stuff is.
Comment by gouge — 15 September, 2007 9:49 am
Further to Gouges comments i would just like to say what happened to “freedom of speech” i am also a Painter (don’t like calling myself an Artist as this is for people that are so far up their own arses and think painting a few pretty colours across a canvas is Art). Gouge how about you post one of your paintings on this site.
My final word is SAD SAD LITTLE PEOPLE!! There are far more important things in life to worry about.
PS i am only on this site giving comments as i find it so amusing hahahahahaha
Comment by Jenny — 17 September, 2007 4:46 pm
I feel very sorry for all who have enough time in their life to hate someone they do not even know. If you do not like someones work move on life is to short.
Comment by reray — 21 September, 2007 8:32 pm
jenny -re-read my comment: the people writing in to defend this guy are idiots who know nothing about painting or, art. For the simple reason that, this poorly done, fake work is nothing but, total, complete, garbage. And, anyone with half a brain, with even a slight knowledge would get, what trite awful trash, this stuff is.
-this means you jenny -lots of people call themselves artists -painters…….fyi my work is being featured in a very large article in an international publication right now -am I going to disclose who I am on a Kinkade site -even this one -which has so much to recommend it? -Not a rats chance in hell. But I will say this, my paintings are definetly not a few pretty colors, are technically very demanding, of an extremely high skill level in a number of different painting diciplines/conceits (unlike Kinkades completely amateurish, unskilled dribble) ……you don’t get it jenny -the remedy to this utter fake, fraud and HACK is, ridicule - as way of amusement- it is freedom of speech.
Comment by gouge — 26 September, 2007 7:43 am
-furthermore, to the ‘jennys’ on this site, besides the humor, this site performs the valuable public service of exposing a fraud who sells fake paintings at phoney prices based upon fraudulent claims.
question: is there one serious curator in the entire art world who would even consider this crap? NOPE!
is there one serious museum in the world that would exhibit this sacharrine rubbish? NOPE!
is it possible to sell, at auction one of these things for even cost? NOPE!
will a serious gallery or auction house even consider selling this stuff? NOPE!
Comment by gouge — 26 September, 2007 8:02 am
i hate kinkade his shitty sentimentalism made for people that dont know anything about art, and not because i am cold, im sentimental for example i love bouguereau paintings because they are honest in color and in forms they are for my the searching of real beuty and kinkade`s are the searching of money
Comment by mario — 3 October, 2007 9:41 pm
well, bouguereau was no Messionier or even Gerome’ -but still on another level from this talentless hack. Kinkade can’t paint! He is an obnoxious third rate dabbler -with those awful, cloying, smarmy images, candy store, amateur color- all the members of the Paris Salon could at least draw! Look at the stiff, cardboard cutout figures that as bad as they are, are still a stretch for this fraud.
Rather than a competent painter like Adolphe Bouguereau, why not discuss Kinkade with someone more comparable: Adolph Hitler was an equally awful painter, -certainly no worse, with the same trite, shallow sensibilities. and lack of any talent or skill that Kinkade and his brain dead followers revel in.
Comment by gouge — 6 October, 2007 8:29 pm
Also, Hitler does have a better moustache-
Comment by gouge — 6 October, 2007 8:33 pm
I know things about Thomas and Nannette that no one will believe. I have pictures to prove it! I have only shown one other person. Remarkable to say the least. D
Comment by Drew — 18 October, 2007 8:56 pm
Wow..you guys have serious issues to be so full of hate…but hey “hatred destroys the heart its carried in,not that of the person its directed at”…I guess ye should get out there and get a life and see beauty is something…there are none so blind as those who dont want too see !!.I’m Irish,i love his work..are you all talented ???
Comment by Tiann — 2 November, 2007 5:15 pm
Thomas Kinkade is not an artist. He is a man who paints the same thing over and over again. Never trying to get his hands dirty. Never trying to bring us something that makes us think. They’re knick knacks you hang on the wall to compliment your furniture. He’s like Norman Rockwell. But with no soul, no spirit. No OPINION. He just creates silly, thoughtless fluff. People like his pictures because they’re clean, they’re comfortable. And most of all, because they’re not reality. Because in the real world there is pain and suffering and they can’t deal with it. Art takes place in the real world and deals with real life issues. Its disgusting that people would even suggest that the man creates “art”.
I’m sorry to all you Kinkade fans. But we crave move than just “pretty colors” and saccharine. It pisses us off that he’s being mistaken for a real artist. He’s technically good, I’m sure we all acknowledge that. But thats like saying the guy who makes the molds for those cheapass figurines you’ll find the dollar store is a sculptor. Give me a break.
Comment by Manda — 3 November, 2007 6:36 am
you may hate him but is it for his art work or cause he gets more money from his art work that you will ever make in your life time
Comment by deirdre — 5 November, 2007 11:25 pm
The problem with the people who are responding to the criticisms here by saying, “Move on! You don’t have to look at it if you don’t like it! Get a life and BE NICE!” is that they’re saying, in effect, that art does not matter, that the art that is pervasive in a society has no serious effect on that society either for good or for ill, that there is no point in having truly strong feelings about art — much less articulating those feelings. But the pervasive art in a society DOES matter; and the fraudulence of Kinkade’s spun-sugary sentimentalization of absolutely everything he treats is as bad for the psyches of his fans as too much literal sugar is for their bodies. And it is right and necessary for those who see this toxification of the populace going on to say so — and in no uncertain terms.
Comment by Daniel — 7 November, 2007 8:19 am
WOW daniel what dictionary did you swallow…..
Comment by deirdre — 7 November, 2007 7:59 pm
[Here, let me try again:]
Too much sugary, false, sentimental art is bad for the soul. What’s bad for the soul is bad for the civilization. Thomas Kinkade is the source of lots of sugary, false, sentimental art, and his art is being gobbled up by lots and lots of people in this civilization. So Thomas Kinkade is really, really, really bad for this civilization. And those of us who care about the civilization, and who see what’s happening, have a duty to point it out to anybody else who might also care.
[Is that any better?]
Comment by Daniel — 8 November, 2007 8:10 am
As to the question about whether we hate Mr. Kinkade because he makes more money than we ever will? Of course I can’t speak for the other Kinkade-haters here, but there are in fact quite a few good artists, in a wide variety of forms, who make shitloads more money than I ever will, that I personally don’t hate even the least little bit. [Pedro Almodovar, just for one instance; and Jon Stewart, and Helen Mirren, and Philip Glass, and Annie Dillard, and Laurie Anderson, and Jessye Norman, and droves of others.] Sure, I’d love to have the shitloads of money, too; but as long as those guys are turning out work that makes this a better world to be a human person [or any other kind of person, for that matter] in, I’m totally down with them being richer than me. But yes: it is disturbing to see huge numbers of people paying vast amounts of money to buy paintings and prints that are the visual-arts equivalent of chocolate-covered cotton candy. It is disturbing to see the people around you being suckered into letting themselves off so easily, into being led so blindly down a dead-end aesthetic alley. [I'd continue here with a metaphor about how, when they've been eating virtual cotton candy for too long, their critical teeth will rot right out of their spiritual mouths, but I'm afraid I'd use too many fifteen-dollar words in the process, so I'll just stop now. =:o]
Comment by Daniel — 8 November, 2007 8:27 am
Good grief Anna where did all these folk come from… They certainly aren’t your usual readers! Has this post ended up on some I love Kinkade website or do they just trawl the web looking for sites to rant on? Where do they come from. Very bizarre!
Comment by birchsprite — 8 November, 2007 12:24 pm
I have no idea, B. I also wrote a post once about how much I hate Bran Flakes. It hasn’t drawn nearly so much bile.
Comment by anna — 8 November, 2007 12:28 pm
Oh. YUCK. I think actually I could have done without ever knowing T. Kincade.
Comment by Victoria — 8 November, 2007 4:34 pm
He makes tons of money off it, therefore its good.
right, whatever.
Comment by Manda — 10 November, 2007 7:47 am
To each their own. For someone to create such a ridiculous website just shows that they need a life. Everyone has different taste and the way I stumbled across this ingorant site was by online shopping…for Kincade items. People that have nothing better to do than complain about such petty issues really need to take a look at the world and find a better issue to rant about.
Comment by Tress R — 17 November, 2007 7:09 pm
I say “Bravo” for Mr. Kinkade taking a wee in public. Now he is not only defecating on society figuratively with his ‘color-by-numbers’ paintings, but now literally.
Comment by Hayden — 21 November, 2007 8:28 pm
Get a life you sad sad people!!!!!!
Comment by LASH — 26 November, 2007 1:09 pm
You people are a bunch of sick mothers let me tell you! I wish Thomas Kincaid could turn that wang around and piss right in all your friggin faces. What kind of sick SOBs think that wholesomeness and beauty are things to be despised? I’ll tell you what I despise - the likes of you people. I’d love to see someone pump 20 bullets right through each of your skulls and then have Kincaid piss in the holes. Now that would be a thing of beauty!
Comment by Bertrand — 29 November, 2007 8:05 am
It’s neverending. I’m guessing that this lot don’t actually read any of the other posts and think that you dedicate your life to TK related posting. Tress R and Bertrand should get together and set up a perfect little TK life together…
Comment by birchsprite — 29 November, 2007 11:36 am
Is he good? Is he bad? I don’t care. I just want to find out what merkins have to do with anything.
Someone put me out of my misery. Please.
Or, you know, bullets and urinating and… stuff. *cough*
Comment by otherstories — 29 November, 2007 12:59 pm
A merkin is to improve the look in a private area as Kinkades art is to enhance the look in a public area, hopefully. Anyway this man should be applauded for his marketing genius and not tagged as some kind of mucked up merkin or something. he represents all that makes this country great: Free enterprise, artistic merit and religiosity marching arm in arm. Thank you all for sharing this is great!
B>O>B
Comment by bobsolderbrother — 11 December, 2007 5:06 pm
My wife and I don’t consider ourselves art experts but we do
have a collection. We purchased a few of his pieces not quite
20 years ago when he was first starting because we found them
refreshing and pretty. However, we feel he prostituted his
works with commercialism and sacrificed his talent with greed.
We saw him at a presentation and he reminded us of a vacuum
cleaner salesman debasing his product terribly. We recommend
anyone considering purchasing his works to reconsider and
consult a competent art dealer.
Comment by Kermit — 19 December, 2007 1:23 am
There is no doupt in my mind that Thomos Kinkade puts beans and pasta in his chile and has no trouble keeping it down.
Comment by Hoss — 19 December, 2007 9:26 pm
Is anyone interested in starting an “I hate people who like Thomas Kinkaid club”? Are people who like Thomas Kinkaid more likely to put beans and pasta in chile?
Comment by Hoss — 19 December, 2007 9:58 pm
It is so easy to bash the crapy paintings by Kinkade and plenty of good entertainment as well. The sad thing to me is that the chump wouldn’t be so stinking rich if we valued art education. By being a country that puts such a low value in having a well rounded liberal education, people like Thomas Kinkade and RL Stine get to laugh all the way to the bank. They know that a good portion of the population is on to what they are pulling off and that most are just too ignorant to care. They are not interested in having an influence on the History and direction of the arts. They could care less what we say about them in these blogs. They’re only interested in having your money. “If you value your freedom thank a soldier. If you can read this, thank a teacher”.
Comment by Hoss — 20 December, 2007 2:02 am
you all need to get a hobby; to each his own, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and all that. why waste your time with something as worthless as hate. just let it all go; find something constructive to do with your time, maybe then you won’t feel the need to be so careless and thoughtless about someone whom you’ve never met and obviously makes so many people happy ( are you all in the cult of satan or something)oh well, thought i’d ask
Comment by jajaajaj — 21 December, 2007 8:21 pm
I was saddened by your comments regarding the artwork, not that I think his art is greater than anyone elses but it speaks to my heart. He captures something spiritual. From the sounds of it gets to you too. I think in reality you want to feel that kind of peace and I think that what he conveys in his paintings is the deep sense of peace one gets from knowing Christ a their personal savior. I pray that you will open your heart to Jesus and let him fill your heart with the light of his love.
Comment by Ann — 22 December, 2007 2:36 am
The meanest, most Gawdawful nasty woman in our neighborhood, has Thomas Kinkade ‘art’ adorning her walls. She adores the fellow, and has praised his good old ‘American values’.
Oh, how we laughed when we read your news about her hero giving poor ol’ Winnie the Pooh a golden shower.
Heh.
Comment by Holly — 24 December, 2007 2:34 am
Hi All, Can anyone tell me the web site for the Thomas Kinkade fire sale? i love his ART! You people do make me laugh with your jealousy of a succesful Artist. I must admit that i was concerned about your views on T KINKADE but no one can hate a person as much as is stated on this blog, your life would be sad and distressing to normal folk if it was true!
Comment by paul — 27 December, 2007 11:37 pm
This is a great forum and it made me laugh. It is fascinating to see the value that people put into the work of TK. They derive comfort from the visualization, while overlooking the obvious discomfort of the time. Heating a house with a fireplace sucks and the houses were terribly drafty, people were hungry and got sick and died. But comfort drives the western world. Comfort makes people become born again, eat fatty foods, drive SUVs and be nice to each other once a year at christmas (unless you work in retail and then everyone treats you like shit). People are looking for something and it doesn’t have to be real. BTW I am looking for a chinese replica (willing to pay up to 25 bucks) of a TK to hang at the cottage (to make guests feel comfortable)
Comment by Steve — 1 January, 2008 5:08 pm
That is so funny! Try E Bay for cheap chinese TK giveaway!i can’t say anymore i am still laughing! composed myself, the pictures are not meant to be taken as a true representation of the times they portray, i am sure the victorians knew about draught excluders!
Comment by paul — 1 January, 2008 7:35 pm
All you sad people !!!!! Can you not just look at the art or not. Just get a life!!! Pay attention to important things , all our jobs going to china , Jap cars wiping out our car industry , Chinamart (Walmart)70% of there inventory!!!!! The U.S. Gov. selling out our ” COUNTRY ” !!!!!!!!!! Our kids will have no future!!!!
College educated & ” WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I say again GET A REAL LIFE ! THANK YOU!! An AMERICAN VET! ( OH YELL , how about all the foreigners that own most of the quikmarts & hotels in this country)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You think thomas kinkade is what you need to bitch about use your pc for better bitching.
Comment by c&k — 15 January, 2008 4:16 am
The American car industry is irrelevant and potentially worse they are taking advantage of the loyalty of those who purchase their vehicles. By this I mean American cars cost more than inexpensive substitutes from Korea (Hyundia/Kia) that are comparable or better unless you consider the Chevrolet Aveo an American car as it is made by GM Daewoo of Korea. And they pale in comparison to vehicles from Japanese/German companies (although Mercedes-Benz are overrated and have a terrible initial quality rating). The collapse of a car industry is not a new concept as you can’t buy a British made Mini anymore (but you can buy one made by BMW which has produced vehicles in Oxford, England since April 2001). In essence the vehicles are not positioned to be purchased by individual consumers.
The last Ford I owned was a Windstar that I bought off my dad because the head gasket was gone with about 70,000 miles on it. (Try googling for Windstar Head Gasket). I convinced my father to buy a Toyota Sienna, his first from an Asian manufacturer. That vehicle ended up costing him 11k (305 per month) for three years after he traded it in for his next one. Of course it never broke down, got great mileage and he enjoyed driving it. And the Sienna is made in Princeton, Indiana. But at least I agree that Thomas Kinkaid is relevant, as this site proves, and he produces pictures that people can enjoy or not and you can’t get fries with your order but maybe one day you will. I would buy a TK if it had the golden arches off in the distance, you know, down past the old mill by the stone arch bridge.
Comment by steve — 30 March, 2008 11:45 am
THANK YOU!!! I have always LOATHED Thomas Kinkade’s work. His “artwork” appeals to the masses who know nothing or very little about art. It’s formulaic and boring. The overtly girly and saccharine undertones of his paintings make me question his “heterosexuality”. robert Mapplethorpe was less of a queen! LMAO!!!
Comment by RabbidHamster — 21 July, 2008 7:40 pm
My idea of a good painting is one which is either a)beautiful, or b)portrays an idealized version of life. Kincaid’s works might be sugary, but at least they meet these criteria.
I suspect that the ‘I hate Kincaid’ comments on this page are mostly from people who think that piles of bricks and unmade beds are great works of art !
Comment by Nigel — 23 August, 2008 11:27 am
[...] since the 80s, artists like thomas kinkade have prospered. the nice cutsie art that’s just as inoffensive as it can be. political [...]
Pingback by making art from cancer 2 « one woman’s dance with death — 9 November, 2008 10:00 am
Thomas Kincaid is a slap in the face.
His colleagues have acknowledged that he has corrupted the market with a false promise. There is nothing that will remain of Thomas Kincaid when the dust settles and the years have passed. There will never be a valid reason to offer him posterity when his contribution has been commercialized by sheer capitalism.
Often where Salvatore Dali treaded, still, he offered a distinct new chapter for us. I cannot imagine an artistic population trying to exemplify their work by his visionary conceptions. He consistently fills the need of those interested in his decoratable products. Perhaps we should treat such artists with distaste as their abilities have been stunted by sheer profit alone. Perhaps some will be envious of his moneymaking abilities, while others understand, the fruit of art, is a humble empire to itself. We strive to become contributors through our self expressions.
Occasionally an artist finds the golden grail, and the personal center of an artist makes a profound and subtle statement that changes the way we see. Thomas Kincaid will remain a China-style by product, always imitating himself, at the cost of his artistic freedom. He is a man who has come to a comfortable place in the road, and who dares not walk away from his inner circle. He will never leave us with material that matters.
His art, for the most part, is a whore.
Comment by Q'zeromen — 16 November, 2008 3:33 pm
Too comment 92.
Selective bitching is what we do as Americans.
Some are more interested in other topics.
After all, we cannot love the same woman.
Regards. Q
Comment by Q'zeromen — 16 November, 2008 3:36 pm
My father-in-law interrupted my sleeping in at 7:00 this morning with a special Thomas Kincaid message, “they’re giving away free prints today!”…(at a local mall)…”I don’t know how they’re going it!”…(Because he paid over $1000 for his original - or let’s be honest, it’s really a print, right.) Ugh. Do I have the heart to tell the 70 year-old who also gets all his political facts from Rush Limbaugh, still thinks we should support and love our President Bush, and assumes the stock market has taken another downfall because Barack Obama has been elected (but not yet sworn in?!)….no, I won’t tell him how horribly I despise Thomas Kincaid and that especially as an Art student in graduate school, everyone I know with any sense also despises him. When will the baby boomers learn? Probably never. We just have to sit back and smile. “Yes, I see your over priced generic painting, it’s so beautiful. Oh and look at how it changes when you dim the lights, magic.”
Comment by pipsiwa — 18 November, 2008 9:12 am
This is the most hilarious comment thread ever Anna. Two years later, I love it.
My point, and I do have one, is to add fuel to the Thomas! Kinkade! Fire!
Vanity Fair hate him too:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/culture/2008/11/14/thomas-kincades-16-guidelines-for-making-stuff-suck.html
There is a FILM now of one of his paintings. You know, like Vermeer. Just the same.
Comment by Becs — 18 November, 2008 9:32 am
And with comment no.100, Becs, well done!
Now, why the sudden upswing on comments again, I wonder?
Comment by anna — 18 November, 2008 9:45 am
Oh my, this whole page of comments leaves me wondering. ls there a shortage of good physiciatrists????
Comment by Alanah — 29 November, 2008 11:15 am
“Thomas Kincaid is the high fructose corn syrup of art” -sym
(i’m proud of that one!)
Comment by sym — 29 November, 2008 3:25 pm
A website/club of pure vomit.
What is your idea of good art?
Just what I thought … you’re void of ideas, but love to criticize those who try.
You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Comment by paul — 26 December, 2008 4:03 pm
The only thing worse than a Thomas Kinkade painting, is a Thomas Kinkade “novel” that he “writes” (with another author, of course…the syrupy, treacle- laced bound crap Cape Light series). Fake paintings versus fake literature….he is an abomination to the Arts.
I love this club.
Comment by Michele — 11 January, 2009 3:09 pm
Ive got one of his shit prints and im trying to flog it and found this web site.Its great to know there are people out there who think the same as I about this jerks shitty, american sickly sweet bullshit, its just a shame that the world also has people in it that actually collect this crap,(mainly Yanks I imagine) they are the ones who should be ashamed or even better shot!
Comment by matt — 27 January, 2009 6:25 am
Well all I see is Kinkade bashing here: Are u all just jealous. Capitalist?? U mean free enterprise that the USA was built on. Can u all paint as well as him.. If u cant Y the hell U bashing for. Go to college for art, Get a degree then after 30 years of painting after college.. Then if you dont like his paintings complain then.. But I think its just some are Jealous and most of u are following a jealous forum cause he has money and u dont.. Nobodys perfect on the earth. Take the 2X4 out of your eye before plucking splinters out of everyone else’s..
Comment by Bill — 10 March, 2009 1:42 am
Guess its gonna get moderated and erased (LOL) figures:
Comment by Bill — 10 March, 2009 1:43 am
What a nasty person you are!!
Comment by p — 15 April, 2009 1:39 pm
I once worked at a lovely Georgian house near Farnham England, As thanks for my time there I donated a lovely tree to the grounds in the hope that it would flourish and live for generations. Along came Thomas Kinkade to paint the house and instead of using some artistic licence or moving his fat arse to the right he had my tree chopped down. The pictures in question are from Waverley Abbey House. The bloke is a shit.
Comment by Phil Chapman — 1 May, 2009 11:51 am
Thomas Kinkade has cornered the market in his genre. His art makes lots of people happy. I’m sure he has a vault full of dark and brooding paintings, and maybe even a few nude studies. These won’t hit the market until long after he dies. Hate him if you will, but he sells a lot of stuff!
Comment by Pat — 19 May, 2009 10:08 pm
Thank you! I have loathed THE PAINTER OF TRITE for eons. I love art and just started dating a new guy. I asked if he wanted to go to an arts festival this weekend and he said no, not interested in “bad art”. Then he said, “Give me Thomas Kinkade and I’m there.” DEAL BREAKER lol. Liking Kinkade is worse than bad breath and living with your momma. What a terrifying statement his crappolicious appeal makes of national taste. FERRR-RIGHTENING.
Comment by kat — 23 May, 2009 7:00 am
call him what you will, it doesn’t take away the fact that he paints some pretty amazing stuff, as did Bob Ross, two of my favorite painters, does that make me a mommy’s boy? nope, i just enjoy good art, and that,s exactly what it is, you tear the man to pieces because he makes a good living from his work! how fickle, maybe a painter who slaps feces on a canvas and calls it “my wasted life” would be more to your taste? i myself am no slouch in the painting dept, Ross and kinkade have given me the direction i wanted to go with my works which are never sold only given when asked for,
Comment by padsta — 8 June, 2009 12:40 am
I understand your outrage with Thomas Kinkade completely. You are outraged, and rightly so, with the superficiality of his art that reflects the superficiality of his nature. He thinks too highly of himself, he is a classic case of psychopathic narcissist. A result from detached father. He only produces that which will reflect himself to himself. Nothing else matters. I certainly didn’t. His beloved Nanette was no “childhood sweetheart.” That also is a lie. I had to find out about their first date together on a certain hilltop when he was at Art Center at 22-24 years old from his personal obsessive diary. He knew and I knew that he would be “famous” some day and that was all the more reason for me to disconnect my phone and move far far away. Even my father answering the phone and telling him to stop calling me was of no use. Unless he received massive psychiatrist sessions, and it doesn’t appear that any have helped, he’s still the same egocentric with a very charismatic, but perverted side. I doubted his Christianity then, I doubt it now. If Jesus is the Lord of your life, there is no room for self deification…You can’t take your money with you Thom and Nanette, what will you do when you stand before him to give account of all the people you defrauded, who lost their fortunes with your gallery promises? Jesus says “you will know them (true Christians) by their fruit.” (That is character, not by their gifts or by their words)I’m glad that many Christians have found something beautiful and spiritually meaningful to them with his “art”. Knowing him eternally spoiled any chance of that for me. But I am equally saddened by the many lawsuits. He’s boastful, arrogant, selfish, rude, and the absolute center of his own world…I am great full I left that twisted world for good, way back then. No money on earth is worth being with a person like that. And there certainly was no room for my art with his. He told me once that I would never make it as an artist because I was “not aggressive enough”. How very telling. I revel in giving my art freely and anonymously. And yes, my portrait the last day of head drawing was far superior to his, he really can’t capture the human face. Yes, he can paint landscapes, but he is no people person. You’ve got it right on the mark, his sentimental candy coated paintings are artificial and is nothing more than a simple marketing ploy. I have never blogged about this ever, but sometimes it helps to be reaffirmed from someone who knows. You can trust your aesthetic instincts, but pity him…and stay far far away…Peace…
Comment by One who knows — 14 June, 2009 9:33 pm
Good heavens, this really does run and run. But how else would I have learned that I’m not entitled to detest Thomas Kinkade because I haven’t been to art school? I presume I also have to like the Chippendales because I’ve never learned to strip?
Comment by Katy Newton — 15 June, 2009 2:24 am
Are you Katy Newton of the LA Times staff writer? You’ve cleverly missed the point… and do you usually blog at 2:30 in the morning when you have nothing else to do?
Comment by one who knows — 15 June, 2009 10:10 am
Oh, I’m just Katy Newton who doesn’t like Thomas Kinkade, and frequently does post comments at 2.30am if I have nothing better to do.
Comment by Katy Newton — 17 June, 2009 12:36 pm
I hate Thomas Kinkade’s works for one very simple reason, which was well-expressed in this blog…
It’s a LIE, from the the oh-so-heartwarming fuzzy glows to the “original” nature of the works.
Seriously, I fork the sign of the Evil Eye at the local Kinkade store every time I walk by it, and hiss. No, I’m not kidding about the hissing; I make like a cat and let it right loose, regardless of who might be nearby. A friend asked me why, and I kindly explained, as he has not been to art school and didn’t understand just how vile this guy really is.
Oh, and Ms. Newton…? If you haven’t been to art school and dislike Kinkade, MORE POWER TO YOU for recognizing without such tutelage that his work is utter kitsch.
Comment by Haystack — 20 June, 2009 9:12 am
How funny for me Haystack, that you would mention the word “Kitsch”. Thomas was the one who first introduced me to the meaning of the word back in, yes, Art Center. It is so funny to me today because I believe he is the only artist in history whom has successfully converted fine art into kitsch. I came across the funniest cartoon about him that popped up in the San Diego Union about 10 years ago depicting a naked grandmother handing a TK painting to a tattoo artist.. The caption read, “Can you tattoo this to my ass?”. He’s as prevalent as tattoos, not that tattoos aren’t art… I think it would be fitting to make TK toilet paper, he could then have penetrated every orifice of our homes and his detractors might actually buy it. I mean, come on,…if he can pee on Winnie the Pooh, why can’t we fashionably flush his work down the sewers? Ok, Here is another TK Art Center story. He used to go from room to room during break while the students’ still had their art lessons perched against the white boards around the room for critique. TK and his buddy James Gurney would go room by room laughing and poking fun while Thom slapped his colleagues’ work with the back of his hand. …OOPS, Katy, you’ve caught me blogging at 2 AM with nothing better to do. HHHmmmmm, I see The Golden Gate Bridge to the right of this entry. Reminds me of another story about TK on the San Francisco Bay bridge, you remember that one Thomas? Maybe one day I’ll tell that one… after I check with an attorney. He wouldn’t want that one out…noooooo.
Comment by one who knows — 30 June, 2009 11:22 pm
I want to buy a kinkade painting, but 100% original from his hands, so i can first kick it several times, spit on it, shit on it, pee on it & finally hang it in my house proudly.
PAINTER OF LIGHT MY SHINY ASS
Comment by seph — 18 July, 2009 2:23 pm
Unfortunatelly mediocrity sells. What’s the average IQ of most population? Hopefully he will not get into art history books, if he does art is doomed, it’s the end of it.
Comment by Maya — 4 August, 2009 12:20 pm
Finally, someone gets it.
I’ve been telling people for years that I hate his crappy wastes of canvas and gotten some interesting looks. I think it’s the most horrid thing that i can see a genaric, overly colorful picture and know its his. I would make a dramaticly over cute-ified picture to satire-style mock his pompous sell-out ass, but he can’t be out done.
What happened to when artists had an edge?
P.S. Merkin…I call him a Pinworm. They live and feed on the anus opening.
Comment by Geena — 4 August, 2009 11:36 pm
[...] They have a shop dedicated to him in Chiswick. I can’t walk by without my eyes bleeding. Hate. [...]
Pingback by What A Shower Of Twats « ¡Oye Billy! — 5 August, 2009 12:48 pm
Art is not art if there is no thought or any creative growth behind it. That is why Marcel Duchamp’s Urinal is more artistic than Kinkade’s work will ever be. How could Kinkade’s stuff possibly have any thought behind it if every damn painting is pretty much exactly the same? Seriously. Line them up. Compare them. The same dioxazine purple, the same phthalo green, the same burnt umber in every one for the past ten years. That is what is referred to as “straight out of the tube” painting often done by those who know nothing about color theory, coming from a man who claims to uphold Christian values and wholesome ideals in one moment and then publicly gropes a woman’s breasts in the next. Even that wouldn’t matter if he really made art for art’s sake. Not for the sake of adding paint blotches to fake plastic canvas to make it “authentic”, or personalizing the colors to your living room, or making a movie based on himself becoming the self-dubbed “Painter of Light” (how much more conceited can you get?). He certainly has the potential to be an artist, but instead he chooses to flatline his skill and sell himself to the kitsch of society. If you like Kinkade: go look up Renoir, or Degas, or Monet. They were the REAL “painters of light”.
Comment by A Random Passerby — 13 September, 2009 12:19 pm
A hearty Hear! Hear! to Random Passerby. Very well said.
Comment by one who knows — 18 September, 2009 5:53 pm
Thomas Kindade is a frightening example of how a bloated talentless redneck has the ability to hit the bigtime by appealing to our mindless, easily manipulated culture. Unfortunately this goes along with the current trend of ugly being the new beautiful. If Jennifer Lopez can be considered a sex symbol, anything goes.
Comment by Maranda — 19 September, 2009 3:36 pm
I completely agree with the concept of “freeness of speech” but why do most of Thomas Kincade’s critics use obscenites freely. Surely they can be critically objective without resorting to obscenities which I think may lose them the strength of their argument.
Comment by emma cameron — 11 October, 2009 5:21 pm
Kinkade is utterly disturbing. Hitler would’ve loved him, but not for that reason..
Comment by queef — 19 October, 2009 9:05 pm
“Be nice, in general” Nearly everything here is mean. I can’t believe you people sit here, and whine about him. GET A LIFE.
Comment by laura — 12 November, 2009 2:43 pm
I’m a Merkin.. and I googled “Thomas Kinkade sucks” and got your website. I’m glad I’m not alone.
Comment by Lauren — 17 November, 2009 7:57 am
I paint light too. But I also hate him. Why do so many people love him?
As for Hitler, I don’t think he would have liked him..
Hitler was actually a good painter.
Seig Hiel
Comment by Matt Mayer — 25 November, 2009 9:40 am
[...] never imagined I could find something that would make Thomas Kinkade’s work look tasteful. I thought nothing could be more tawdry than AFA’s blazing cross. I was [...]
Pingback by The Gaytheist Agenda » Blog Archive » Every Time I Think I’ve Seen it All, Something Like This Comes Along. — 14 December, 2009 10:14 pm
I like Kinkade, although I don’t like the over commercialization of his work, and he, and only he is to blame for that. He sacrificed the development of his own talent by turning his attention to making money instead of perfecting his art. There is no development over time. A painting he did 20 years ago is exactly the same technique and strokes as one done today. Nonetheless, the one thing that most of you are forgetting is that art, not matter what others think, is supposed to generate a visceral reaction. The fact that some people hate the art is neither a good nor a bad thing. It is what it is. Those who like the art clearly see something in it that stirs their soul. If Kinkade has done that, great. One word of caution–if Kinkade is the only art you have in your home, please rush out to your local art museum or gallery and further educate yourself.
Comment by Yvonne — 17 December, 2009 9:14 am
Wow!!! Ok, that’s it…off my wall they come!!!
Comment by Freddie — 17 December, 2009 9:45 am
ok here’s a thought. Instead of wasting precious time hating something or someone, why not just ignore the paintings and the person.A gun is not put up to your heads.I’m also sure that you are not to judge others. Whose too say that the captain of the hate club was just turn down for a date or something before he got married? I don’t know Mr. Kinkade and really don’t care to. But I do know that everyone has an opinion. I like his work. But if I didn’t I would just find another’s paintings to like. I’m just saying.
Comment by syiah — 26 December, 2009 6:40 pm
I’m very offended by you calling his mustache “weasel-like” in a derogatory fashion. I own a ferret, and there is nothing unpleasant about his face. I’ll be checking back to see if you apologize for insulting my ferret by comparing him to Thomas Kinkade.
Comment by MineTruly — 3 January, 2010 9:21 pm
hai guyz!!!! another typical libtard here who wishes death upon people because i don’t agree with their politics/art/orientation etc. how progressive and open minded of me!!!
Comment by paint by numbers — 21 January, 2010 9:16 am
Wow, four years later and this blog is still here, RIGHTEOUS!
Other than the blatant hypocrisy is comment 137, glad to see people still fighting the good fight. My BF and I saw one of his ‘galleries’ in ST. Augustine last year and walked around it quietly snickering to ourselves. We also noticed that a much more talented individual in the gallery who we can’t remember the name of had taken Thomas Kincade’s style and actually copied it with more technical skill. I would actually own one of that guy’s paintings, they were lovely and without the arrogance! Fuckin’ score amirite?
Since my last post I’ve learned that I can appreciate things such a thoughtless saccharine in limited amounts. Though I still often crave things with more substance, I can’t fault the guy anymore for trying to paint the world that doesn’t exist. I just think that one cannot really appreciate the beauty of the world without its ugliness. Then the beauty loses its meaning, you know?
The real reason I hate Thomas Kincade is that he is an ASSHOLE. Thank you, Thom’s ex gf, for your input. The thought of knowing that man romantically makes the bile rise in my throat, you deserve a medal or something.
Comment by Manda — 27 January, 2010 9:40 am
Freddie, don’t take the art off your wall, unless it’s all you have up, because that would suggest you have limited understanding of art. There is beauty in his work too. Just like having a home with some antiques and some reproductions–both are beautiful, but just understand and appreciate the difference in quality, workmanship and real value based on rareness, etc. My grown son was going to spend several hundred dollars on a Kinkaid of one of the Disney characters/scenes. I talked him out of it after educating him on the lack of real value. One wants to be in on an artist early in their career; puchase on of the first in the series; buy something that is not mass produced, etc. All that said–I do have a few of his pieces that I really enjoy prominately displayed and dare anyone to chastise me about it because they are beautiful to me. They are simply not the only thing I own. Hope this helps in some small way.
Comment by Yvonne — 11 February, 2010 8:47 am
What is it that gets the artsy fartsies all upset about what this guy does. He’s just a guy who makes some money from drawing not-so-exceptional pictures. As a capitalist, my hat is off to him. I wonder if the cranky artsy fartsies are so indignant about other facets of pop culture? If you really want to puke, just watch the freak parades that are the awards shows. Or any late night TV show musical act. But for some reason, nobody wants to tackle these “artistes” as just plain awful. I wonder if anybody at Letterman or Leno looks at some of these so-called musical acts and says, “Man, that was really crap.” I doubt it.
Comment by Galardo — 4 March, 2010 9:45 am
I hate him only b/c he’s making a ton of money off of his artwork and I’m not.
I’m not ashamed to say that if I had the oppurtunity to sell to the masses like he does, I absolutely would.
Of course I would still do the kinds of art pieces that I love, but if I knew that other things I did sold better, you are damn right I would do it.
Comment by Lisa — 6 March, 2010 6:26 pm
all of u r so fuckin’ jealous of his talent n success! Get a life!
Comment by marilyn — 18 May, 2010 9:02 am
Hate is such a strong word…We need to learn to appreciate everyone’s abilities. I doubt any of you can really paint, so why would you ridicule a famous painter that has made millions for himself off of other people truly loving his style of painting.
Like the guy above me…I agree. GET A LIFE!
Comment by Chase — 25 May, 2010 3:00 pm
4 years on and I am still loving this debate! xxx
Comment by Ali*D — 13 June, 2010 12:12 pm
I swear to god, Ali, It Never Ends.
Comment by anna — 13 June, 2010 12:14 pm
TK just got arrested for drunk driving in California. Awesome! How very Christian of him.
Comment by Nancy — 20 June, 2010 11:38 pm
I fucking hate Tomas Kinkade too. ” sanctimonious capitalism” - brilliant
thanks for articulating, quite elegantly, my repugnance for a complete stranger and everything he and his fans stand for
Comment by Jess — 9 August, 2010 12:16 am
My word, the list and names added to this goes on and on. to number 142 and 143, I know a person who’s father in-law lost his job several years ago. he needed money to pay his mortgage and other things, so he took his very precious Thomas Kinkade “hand embellished” prints; of which he spent a fortune on believing the hype they we’re worth money, and as he walked into an art gallery in California the owner looked at him and asked what these prints are for???
He asked to sell them and make his money money back to use the money for personal reason; the owner laughed in his face and told him they we’re completely worseless. Now I ask you, do you own any of his pieces?? Or do you work for the man?
If you own one of his print pieces i dare you to go sell it, then you tell me what you think. if you work for this clown STFU!
I had my work at the NYC Artexpo for two years in a row and saw a young woman hand embellishing a yankee stadium piece for Kin-thief. She said she was not an artist but was trained to embellish the work. As an artist trying to sell original art and my very own hand embellished giclee’s it’s getting harder when this crook is getting away with stealing, yes, I said stealing, becuase he did not hand embellish his own work…. Yet people are lead falsely to believe his prints are worth money, truth is, it’s not … Unless you spend $20,000 on one of his oringinal pieces. Meanwhile buyers are rushing to buy his print work, for what, to lose their money????? Capitalism at it’s finest; ladies and gentlman.
Comment by Martin the artist — 24 August, 2010 10:04 pm