Thomas Kinkade
Thomas Kinkade
William Thomas Kinkade III was an American painter of popular realistic, pastoral, and idyllic subjects. He is notable for the mass marketing of his work as printed reproductions and other licensed products via the Thomas Kinkade Company. He characterized himself as "Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light," a phrase he protected through trademark but one originally attributed to the British master J. M. W. Turner. It has been estimated that 1 in every 20 American homes owns a copy of one...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPop Artist
Date of Birth19 January 1958
CitySacramento, CA
CountryUnited States of America
Everyone can identify with a fragrant garden, with beauty of sunset, with the quiet of nature, with a warm and cozy cottage.
I'm working on a snow scene right now, and it's summer. It's hot, and I will get chilly. I'll have to turn on the heat. My wife walks in, and it's 95 degrees in the studio. I know it's nutty, but it's a projection you have where you step into the painting.
To be romantic is quite simply to allow yourself to fall in love with life - all of life - and experience it fully, openly, passionately, and purposefully
When I find my focus and keep my balance- I find that all is right with my world.
The act of contributing to the lives of others is its own reward. A servant's heart is a greater motivator than financial gain.
I grew up in a broken home. My dad was out of the home when I was five years old. I never knew him very well.
I began my career creating art for an animated feature film, and it has been a life-long dream to tell some of the story of my own life - the story behind my art - through the medium of motion pictures.
The No. 1 quote critics give me is, 'Thom, your work is irrelevant.' Now, that's a fascinating, fascinating comment. Yes, irrelevant to the little subculture, this microculture, of modern art. But here's the point: My art is relevant because it's relevant to 10 million people. That makes me the most relevant artist in this culture.
What I paint touches on foundational life values. Home, family, peacefulness. And one of the messages I try to constantly get across is, 'Slow it down and enjoy every moment.'
A still image attracts the viewer with an overall impact, then reveals smaller details upon further study.
The disintegration of the culture starts with the artist. I'm on a crusade to turn the tide in the arts, to restore dignity to the arts and, by extension, to the culture.
Every painting I do blends time frames. The great thing about being an artist is I can make the past join the present in some reality of the future.
I've always been drawn to artists who paint for the everyday person. I love the American illustrators.
Literature is the stringing together of pictures in words.