gRAPHICaNATOMY

The Art world lost it's "Warrior of Light".
I could nitpick certain pieces of art for bad perspective, unrealistic light sources and bad color schemes. And if you look at the work as a whole it's repetitive
But it IS still possible to like the work for its own sake.
A painting does not have to be technically perfect or photo realistic to be appreciated for it's message.
The Message… on the other hand.
Kinkade sold Christianity. Sacred spiritual beliefs were used as a tool to bilk people out of their money. And remember this wasn't even for the actual art, but a reproduction…. a glorified color copy. Many bought the reproductions because it was presented as a religious opportunity. The repro's came with bible verses. Not much different than the TV Evangelicals who will send you a glow in the dark dashboard crucifixion in exchange for your "donation" of $200 or so. People bought the art for a feeling of fulfillment throughout "wholesome Christian object".
Which is an empty gesture. "Things" don't bring fulfillment and you don't have to pay to pray.
Plus I never thought Kinkade was sincere. I don't think he was filled with as much "light" as he claimed. I think he found a method to get money from people and mined it for all he could.
There are countless articles of his fraudulent business practices. Customers, Investors Franchise gallery owners claiming to be ripped off. Kinkade got out his responsibility by declaring bankruptcy.
There was also some personal misbehavior, the DUi's, the claims of sexual harassment, the FBI investigations, and taking a leak on Whinnie the Pooh; that led me to believe that…again/// Kinkade was not sincere.
This violates another of my personal ethics.
You must be honest with your art.
Whatever your skill, whatever your message, you must be honest about it.
Bad perspective and bad color can sill make good art, as long as you are honest about it.
And Kinkade was not.
"Kinkade said he gained his inspiration from his religious beliefs and that his work was intended to contain a larger moral dimension. He has also said that his goal as an artist was to touch people of all faiths, to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he creates. Many pictures contain specific chapter-and-verse allusions to certain Bible passages." … Sorry but that's aloud of Shite and I'm calling you on it.
Making art for the masses is commercial art, not fine art.
Defrauding people is bad enough, but doing it in the name of "God" & "Morality" is quite despicable.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Kinkade
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141005,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/04/garden/04KINC.html

Labels: art, Kinkade, xtianity