Thomas Kinkade..Artist?

Who is Thomas Kinkade? Artist or fraud? Through much reading, I have come to believe there is a great difference between the Thomas Kinkade of the past and the present. The young, inspirational, determined Kinkade of the past should be considered a genuine artist. He took his passion and distributed a book to help others achieve an understanding of his gift. He created original works of art and shared them with galleries throughout California. This allowed for admirers and artists alike to share his passion and talent. This young man, undoubtedly had a gift. However, as we all learn in life, temptations will arise. This is when we see what a person is made of and how strong their will for personal perseverance actually is. Does Kinkade remain true to his passion, or will he succumb to the pressures of profits and greed?

A true artist, I believe would have been more cautious with the idea of becoming a “sell-out,” as I believe the Kinkade of the present is. A true artist would not allow his passion to be replaced with a dollar sign. Kinkade has used his religious conviction to falsely portray his works as something more than they are. He uses Christianity as a way of gaining trust and credibility. He portrays his works and actions as a religious opportunity for investors and buyers. These current works of his really are more of the ideas he once values simply recreated by various means, excluding self creation. Yes, it’s true! He does not have any hands on influence in these works that are being massively distributed to millions of people. The Thomas Kinkade that we know today is a master of manipulation and profitability, rather than a master of art. He had allowed his skill and passion to take a back seat to the fast track to stardom. He seeks profit, rather than a true passion for the arts. This is quite evident by the fact that he stopped selling originals, to “punish” people for taking a disliking to the prints that he was streamlining to millions. When profits declined, he held the true art hostage as if to threaten buyers. This is not the ideals of a true artist and moreover the religious man he has so evidently portrayed himself to be.

The man who I have learned of has become a millionaire through fraud, manipulation, and the mass production of works that have a similar liking to those that he once created himself. By looking at his website, one might be swayed to believe him as a genuine artist who has reached financial success through exhibiting a true passion for the artistic ability that he was gifted with. However, it fails to mention the idea of prints, which is what his money-making scheme has been based upon. Yes, I believe to an extent, print making is a wonderful idea, since it allows for art to reach a wider audience. However, I feel as if Kinkade has tried to hide this major detail in the hopes of making more money. I feel that his passion for art has ceased and been replaced with a decision to become a businessman with a passion for greed.