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I don’t mind his work – especially his plein air work… The bus I rode to University half a million years ago, went past his studio in Saratoga and some days I’d cut class and spend the day haunting the window that faced the street to see what he was doing/working on. He was the artist that helped me appreciate the different ways you could manipulate light (‘tho I still can’t do it myownself. I need some one to ‘show’ me how to do it…) I collect his work in counted cross stitch patterns…
twindragonsmum 😀
tdm
ghostndragon wrote:I can see his art as very fitting for such a situation. And you are allowed to like whatever you want :yes:
Yes!
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My art: featherdust.comI went poking around the internetz to see what everyone was saying about Kinkade because you made me curious. This was the most interesting thought on his work I found – it was on christianforums.com.
“GreenMunchkin :
Am indifferent about the seascape/cityscape/people ones… but several of the cottage one make me ache to be there. I understand you completely, Izzy: whether I like a particular painting is dependant on whether I’d like to live there or not, and all the beautiful, isolated (that bit’s so important) little English-style cottages are a yeppers. Madness, I don’t even want to post a picture of my favourite one because it feels like it’ll become less isolated
I read some stuff about him, actually… apparently Kinkade is a really unpleasant person (I so so hope that’s not true ) but one blog thingy made me wonder about his popularity with Christians in terms of what it says about us.
‘Originally Posted by hollywoodjesus blogKinkade’s paintings represent the problem with Christian art in the postmodern era. Most of his paintings are of isolated family cottages with gorgeously lit windows filled with light coming from within the home. He is called the painter of lights. Most of his paintings are devoid of people. On those rare occasions, when he does depict people, they are usually from some by gone era -the so-called good old days. All his paintings are pleasant, and peaceful, yet devoid of any kind of conflict or connection to the real world. This pleasant non conflict style is why the Evangelical Christian community has not produced one single world-class painter in the 20th century. Not one. And, there are none on the horizon.
Have we raised the home and family to the level of idolatry? This kind of art suggests that the home is the light of the world. The remoteness of these family cottages suggests the disconnection of the Christian family with the world. The absence of people and conflict suggest withdrawal from a lost and hurting world. In fact these cottages are surrounded by absolute beauty -flowers, and gorgeous landscapes -far removed from other people and neighbors. Is the family really the light of the world? Should the family be so disconnected from the world? Should Christians surround themselves with such purity?
There is also current an obsession with the all things Victorian. There is even a longing for the so-called family-centered 1950s. Christians seem to be escaping to fantasy worlds the really never existed. Historical amnesia has set in.
If you are a Christian who connects to the postmodern world you will get grief. It seems to me that the greatest value among certain Christians these days is to at stay home and away from the world. Surround yourself with flowers, Victorian knickknacks, pleasant print art, and attend Family worship centers. See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil.’The article goes on to say some stuff I disagree with fairly strongly in terms of what we should and shouldn’t expose ourselves to culturally, but the bit I quoted seems really valid. The ache to be alone in one of those cottages says it all, really, and probably does run counter to Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel.
Am wondering whether many Christians (and I very much speak for myself here, too) feel overwhelmed by the state of the world nowadays, and would prefer to hide in a Kinkade painting.”
Here’s the page if you want to read the replies : http://www.christianforums.com/t7321447-2/
Also, ghostndragon is right…you are allowed to like whatever you want. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If his work makes you happy, it’s great that you’ve found an artist who does that for you. So, while you might not have found too many Kinkade-loving kindred spirits in this thread, I hope we haven’t make you feel like it’s wrong to like it. I’d say 95% of the people on that Christian forum thought Kinkade was the best thing since sliced bread. 😀
As for spending too much money on mugs, don’t feel too bad. At least they’re a useful item, and someone (who was it?) said it’s best not to have anything in your house that you don’t find useful or beautiful. I love me some Starbucks mugs. Especially ones from China. D: They’re expensive, but I sure love to use them.
That discussion regarding Christians and their attraction to his work is pretty interesting. I’m not really a fan of his (and yes, I am Christian) but I can understand why some might be drawn toward those paintings. That discussion talks of isolation, I’m not sure that’s exactly it. It’s probably more to do with wanting someplace quiet, where you can rest for a little while with your loved ones. Heaven, perhaps, to some.
That commenter is not the only one who’s heard he’s a pretty unpleasant person either, but separating the artist from the art is something we all do from time to time.
Rusti wrote:…separating the artist from the art is something we all do from time to time.
Am I the only one who has the hardest time with this, when it comes to actors? o_o; I find myself unable to watch any movies with Tom Cruise in them anymore, for example. He’s just a total turn-off to me, lately. Then again, thinking back on his movies made even before he started jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch, the only one I actually liked him as his character in was Interview With a Vampire. And yes, I know people who’d actually read the book generally dislike that movie (T/F?), and don’t care for him as Lestat, but I have never read the book, and after reading the first few chapters of another Anne Rice novel (I forget the name, something about some demon), I don’t think I ever will. I found it quite disturbing, since it had barely begun before a pre-teen girl seduced her drunken uncle. Squick.
Rusti wrote:That discussion regarding Christians and their attraction to his work is pretty interesting. I’m not really a fan of his (and yes, I am Christian) but I can understand why some might be drawn toward those paintings. That discussion talks of isolation, I’m not sure that’s exactly it. It’s probably more to do with wanting someplace quiet, where you can rest for a little while with your loved ones. Heaven, perhaps, to some.
That commenter is not the only one who’s heard he’s a pretty unpleasant person either, but separating the artist from the art is something we all do from time to time.
I think part of the appeal is the ‘escape’ from the overbusy, overnoisy, hectic and harried modern life (in a sense the same as for the ‘getting up to the cabin’ feel of Redlin’s work)…for me it’s the inner wanna-be hermit that is attracted to his pieces, and the inner wanne-be gardner whose thumb (and wallet) just aren’t quite big/green enough to have a garden like that. I tend to see them as an image of the future new Earth because they’re a little to clean and perfect for down here…which might be why I don’t get into collecting them, though I enjoy visiting his stores at time and ogling at length. Unfortunately for me, it’s the huge prints with the artist-added details and fancy lighting that get me the most…can’t afford that!
And yes, I’ll admit his work does start to seem like a bit of the same thing over and over again. Rather conflicted about that personally. I say an artist should paint/draw/write/perform what they have a passion for, not try to be all things for all people or fit into someone else’s preconcived or market-driven mold. On the other hand, sometimes it does seem like they start cranking out the same thing almost as if they’re doing it in their sleep…perhaps the passion is lost, or the vision? Or the publishers’ deadlines don’t leave enough room to stray from what’s ‘safe’? :shrug:
TnPhoeniX wrote:Ok, so I got his coffee cup set… the black ones. set of 4. plus the Christmas one. 🙄
Oh, geez, don’t feel embarrassed about such things. We all love what we love. I buy the tacky RenFest mugs/chalicees every year. Quite frankly, if I was to buy anything Kinkade it would be something like your mugs. Honestly, I like what he does with light. But I don’t find the large paintings attractive for whatever reason. And, I admit, I have “commercial” artist stuff on my walls. I also have PYOs from a few artists on this very forum, who are some of the most talented artists on the planet, but I can tell you that any “art critic” that entered my home would cringe. I don’t care. I love dragons, I love art, I love dragon art! And it’s my home, not anyone else’s.
Wow! …& then it exploded. Impressed & in awe, I loved everyone’s input. Too much to cut-n-quote in retrospect, so I’ll make it brief…
twindragonsmum – love crosstitch, brings back memories of gone times. There’s this Kinkade puzzle @ Walmart I’ve got my eye on…
kitsunelady – respect in both curiosity & research. I’m Roman Catholic & the article even worried me over the writer’s blatant opinions engrossed in review. Scarry. borderline Children of the Corn’ish. What, does he sideline as a political radio analyst? Nice phase-in to vampires, by the way. Word.
rusti – I agree completely. What is any painting but a relaxing escape from reality, of our own choosing.
Adaneth – He’s gotta pay the lawyers & merchandising rights, don’t he…
ghostndragon – My lighter has lifted & a sacrilegious ‘amen’ forthcomming. Kudos.Until next time friends, may the peace we find be an eternal flame of knowledge & wisdom.
& checkmark in the Starbucks coffee mugs section. They lost their main artist though, now all he does is the Anniversary mugs… & the latest one is just a smaller copy of the year before’s. err…
TnPhoeniX wrote:& checkmark in the Starbucks coffee mugs section. They lost their main artist though, now all he does is the Anniversary mugs… & the latest one is just a smaller copy of the year before’s. err…
Yeah, the American ones are pretty lame lately. I haven’t bought any of those…but I LOVE the ones from the Chinese Starbucks! <3
kitsunelady wrote:Rusti wrote:…separating the artist from the art is something we all do from time to time.
Am I the only one who has the hardest time with this, when it comes to actors? o_o;
I have a very, very hard time with this when it comes to other artists… I think that it’s because I am one, and I make my living as such, and so when I see artists that are jerks, or liars, or have dicey business practices, I get frustrated. It’s something I am always trying to work on to improve.
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My art: featherdust.comJennifer wrote:kitsunelady wrote:Rusti wrote:…separating the artist from the art is something we all do from time to time.
Am I the only one who has the hardest time with this, when it comes to actors? o_o;
I have a very, very hard time with this when it comes to other artists… I think that it’s because I am one, and I make my living as such, and so when I see artists that are jerks, or liars, or have dicey business practices, I get frustrated. It’s something I am always trying to work on to improve.
Yeah. 6.6; I feel that way about artists and writers as well, but at least I can avoid knowing of/hearing about their real selves a bit more easily. Actors…all you have to do is walk past the magazines at a checkout counter, or look at the front page of Yahoo (which I use as my homepage). There’s just no avoiding them. O_O;
Seriously, sometimes ignorance is bliss.
Many years ago I was at a mall with a guy I was dating at the time. Thomas Kinkade was at his gallery there that day, so we went in. He was VERY rude and kinda snooty towards my boyfriend. When I see someone being rude it makes me look at their work in a whole new light. Now I don’t like his art because I relate it to an a-hole.
Same thing goes for actors. I went to a Comic-Con to see an actor I really liked. He acted like he didn’t even want to be there, which disappointed me so bad (I felt like a little kid who saw Santa take his beard off). Now I don’t go out of my way to meet celebrities I really like in fear of a huge disappointment.Like Kitsunelady said- IGNORANCE IS BLISS!
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