Thomas Kinkade

American, 1958- 2012. William Thomas Kinkade III was also known as Thomas Kinkade, was a famous painter whose artworks feature pastoral, idyllic, and realistic subjects. He was known for gaining success by mass marketing his work like licensed products and printed reproductions through the Thomas Kinkade Company. His company often states that one in every twenty American households owns at least one copy of Kinkade's painting. The artist often called himself 'Painter of Light'- a maxim Kinkade protected with trademark, which earlier described the English romantic painter J. M. W. Turner. Thomas Kinkade was often criticized by contemporary art critics who often mocked his paintings for being sentimental. Thomas Kinkade's artworks with his Impressionist style and odd subject matter appealed to the broader public. He was influenced by artists of the sublime, notably Turner. Thomas Kinkade's artworks portray his fascination with light and feature warm color combinations.

Thomas Kinkade was born on January 19, 1958, in Sacramento, CA. The painter graduated from El Dorado High School. He later went on to attend the University of California in Berkeley and Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. Thomas Kinkade's artworks mostly involved oil paintings featuring gazebos, glowing cottages, street scenes, and snow in saturated pastel hues. Kinkade's work focused primarily on Christian symbolism like churches and crosses. Thomas Kinkade's famous painting series involves Christmas Cottage. This series was also an inspiration for a 2008 feature film. The artist garnered high criticism for his business practices and behavior. Art critics considered his work as 'kitsch.'

The painter died of acute intoxication from diazepam and alcohol at the age of 54 on April 6, 2012, in Monte Sereno, CA. Today, Thomas Kinkade's artworks are available at auction with leading auction galleries. Collectors can find Thomas Kinkade's artworks for sale at famous online auctions.

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