# Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light, Bite me **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 22, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202 "2000-06-22T17:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/61 "2000-12-15T22:21:46Z")
I have been getting emails flaming Thomas Kinkade, his website, and his paintings for sometime now. I am unsure if they just assume I am affiliated with his website or if the website actually contains my personal address. This is the most amusing flame thus far. > [@](#): > > Linda D\_\_\_ wrote: > > I placed an order with you over two weeks ago. I still have not received them. I charged to my visa and the charge has been sent to my bank. I am going to be very disapointed in Thomas Kinkaid and New york if I dont receive these before Christmas. if i dont receive them by them I will file a class action suite aganist you and Thomas kinkaid. I have heard horror stories about ordering on the internet but never thought achristian artist and site would rip me off thats why Im going to file aganist you if I dont get my order by Christmas,i was told on phone I would get them in plenty of time before Christmas. > > Carl Dodson Note how they misspell his name. I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/62 "2000-12-16T04:16:58Z")
Hmmm…you know, I saw some of his “paintings” in magazines, and they didn’t really bother me, since I didn’t pay too much attention. I mean, yeah, they were cutsey and idealistic, but who wouldn’t want to live in a cottage right by a stream-that’d be neat. However, looking at this website…talk about ego-masterbation! Sheesh! And the way he talks about how “inspired” he is…c’mon, dude, it’s just some silly little paintings. I’ll stick with my pre-Raphaelites, thankyouverymuch. [http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/](http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/) (Yeah, they are mass produced now, but so is any famous painter.) BTW, who’s that painter, Christian something or other who does the dolphins and whales scenes? Ugh…I like dolphins and whales, but I like them on my NOTEBOOKS, not on my walls. And don’t knock Holly Hobbie! I have Holly Hobbie dolls from when I was little-I had HH wallpaper, and HH sheets and dolls and purses and a hook rug. For little girls, HH is cute, you have to admit. I still have my Holly Hobbie dolls. IN fact, the day I was born, my dad went right out to the toy store and bought me a little Holly Hobbie Ragdoll. I still have it… ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/63 "2000-12-16T09:02:43Z")
Ukelele Ike: If I were in Texas, I’d be at the Rothko exhibition in a flash. When people dis this kind of work, I change the subject – but inside, I’m thinking, “Philistine.” lee: You should respond to those emails with a few words: “I deny everything. I don’t know anything about this.” Hey, it’s accurate in reality, but it’ll be misinterpreted, so you’ll do your small part making a dent in the Painter of Dollar Sign’s empire. And in general, regarding the topic, this is one of my Top Ten Rules for Life: **Good art doesn’t match your furniture.** ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/64 "2000-12-17T03:50:31Z")
My elderly aunt loves this Thomas guy (I am going to misspell his name, so I won’t even try.) I am an artist, so she has been effusive about him with me. I TRIED to like him, but - blah. I don’t really know much about him, I don’t really want to know. I do know that he did a painting that was _supposed_ to be of Yosemite. I wanted to see it (it was in one of his books, or calendars, or something.) I think it was of the Awhahnee Hotel (I know I’m spelling that wrong) which is nestled in Yosemite Valley, amongst some gorgeous scenery. And the Hotel is fabulous as well. But the way he painted it, it was so nondescript, like he’d never even been to Yosemite. (He probably has, but he doesn’t have the _feel_ of Yosemite.) I am a mediocre landscape painter, but I paint _Yosemite_ - as I see it, and because I love it. That’s what artists are _supposed_ to do. But I doubt Thomas K. remembers knows how to _feel_ anything when he’s painting. ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/65 "2000-12-17T05:48:39Z")
I’ll stand with Silo and say that I like Thomas Kinkade, too. Beautiful stuff. I wouldn’t go out and buy his work though. Hell, I’m too cheap. I would just cut those plate ads out of magazines and put them on paper plates. I guess to a depressed, lonely person like me, his pictures are really cozy and peaceful. I wouldn’t mind living in one of those places he paints. _sigh_ And FTR, I adore Norman Rockwell. His work does something to me. I saw it at a young age and I see it now, that guy had talent. So what if he “marketed;” he worked for making magazine covers. Of course people would buy them! He was a commercial artist, and that’s how it is. ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/66 "2000-12-17T06:05:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Welfy \* > **I’ll stand with Silo and say that I like Thomas Kinkade, too.** _I’ve never stood with a **Welf!** _ Woohoo! ;^) ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/67 "2000-12-17T06:39:42Z")
I found a copy of a Kinkade Yosemite painting. It is more recent than the one (of the hotel) that I saw. I hate it. You can see it [here.](http://www.kinkadecentral.com/classics/tk99c-07.htm) It has too many confusing whispy clouds, and he didn’t get Half Dome right. He didn’t get the valley part right, he didn’t get the lighting right. I’ve never seen Yosemite look like that. (And I oughta know.) He doesn’t understand Yosemite, dammit!!! Compare his painting to one of [my photos](http://home.earthlink.net/~yosemitebabe/wawonaview2.JPG) or this [other photo](http://www.planetkc.com/calgal/wawonaview2-640x480.jpg) I found (which has more “cloudage”.) These pictures show you what Yosemite from that vantage point) looks like. His looks fakey. ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/68 "2000-12-17T18:15:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Welfy \* > > **I’ll stand with Silo and say that I like Thomas Kinkade, too.** > > _I’ve never stood with a **Welf!** _ > Woohoo! > > ;^) \*\* Well, I was just standing with you so you wouldn’t feel stupid standing by yourself… _ducks and runs_ Kidding, kidding. I like his art, but then again I like a lot of art. Probably the only art I _don’t_ like would be the stuff they try to sell now, like the “white on a white background” sort of thing, or a red dot on a yellow paper saying “Aunt Gertrude’s Zit.” Now _that_ is stuff a 5-year old could do. ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/69 "2000-12-17T21:15:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yosemitebabe \* > \*\*I found a copy of a Kinkade Yosemite painting. It is more recent than the one (of the hotel) that I saw. I hate it. You can see it [here.](http://www.kinkadecentral.com/classics/tk99c-07.htm) It has too many confusing whispy clouds, and he didn’t get Half Dome right. He didn’t get the valley part right, he didn’t get the lighting right. I’ve never seen Yosemite look like that. (And I oughta know.) He doesn’t understand Yosemite, dammit!!! > > Compare his painting to one of [my photos](http://home.earthlink.net/~yosemitebabe/wawonaview2.JPG) or this [other photo](http://www.planetkc.com/calgal/wawonaview2-640x480.jpg) I found (which has more “cloudage”.) These pictures show you what Yosemite from that vantage point) looks like. His looks fakey. > > \*\* Agreed, I don’t care for his Yosemite painting, but I do like a modest amount of his other works. Oh and Welfy :p! ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/70 "2000-12-17T21:45:02Z")
Thomas Kinkade is not a "painter of light " , but it does appear that he has his head so far up his ass, that any politician would be made proud. ## quote: ## \*\* originally posted by Eve: \*\* I am also mercifully innocent of Kincade. But “Limp Bizkit” and “Korn” sound like what you’d find in a bedpan at a nursing home too funny eve! but the contents of bedpans pale in comparison to the shit that is Kincade. why don’t you paint the light that shines out of someone’s ass . ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/71 "2000-12-17T21:47:01Z")
that should read “When is kinkade going to paint the light that shines out of somebody’s ass??” ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/72 "2000-12-17T22:40:02Z")
In the hopes of finding something redeeming about the quality of his work, I visited Thomas Kinkade’s website. I couldn’t find any. This is truly art that is designed to cater to the masses. After viewing this site, I felt the need to pour salt and vinegar on my monitor just to get rid of the cloying sweetness. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/73 "2000-12-18T03:17:50Z")
It’s not his paintings so much-they’re okay, and I would love to live in an idealic little cottage…but it’s just the way they’re marketed. Not so much mass printing-there’s nothing wrong with mass printing paintings. Not everyone can own a Van Gogh, so if you like one of his paintings, you can get one. NO, it’s the whole kit and kaboodle. Someone bought a Kinkade greeting CARD today at Kmart…I resisted the urge to say, “For the love of God, WHY?” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/74 "2000-12-18T04:55:01Z")
I don’t mind Kinkade’s artwork. Growing up with a mother who is a very decent ( not great but not sucky) artist, who adores cottage and country scenes, I’ve bought her a few of Kinkade’s calendars before he really became this huge marketing campaign. She copies his stuff pretty well, but makes the canvas more interesting by putting a sense of humor in the picture with a cow being barked at by a dog. ( Personally, I wouldn’t hang Kinkade or my Mother’s cottage pic. on the walls. But it keeps them off the streets.) I am mystified by the sensation he is causing. What I do mind is the " I have been given a Gift by God For Which I am Thankful every day for my superb talents" . Great. Why not take out a fucking bill board to thank Him/Her/Whatever. And why not try some humility while you are at it. I would like him more if it weren’t for they way he just panders to the brainless lemming Christian mentality. If everyone here wants to brace themselves for the next marketing wunder, it’s the Blue Dog. I forget the painter- Something Rameriz? ( Anglo Hispanic name combination, I think) I first saw this electric blue background with an interesting dog in it when I was in Carmel about four years ago. (Next to the Kinkade Gallery)I thought, " Eh, a ten year old could have done this…" I’ve seen this “artwork” in a few magazines and ad campaigns lately. It’s going to be huge. Mark my words. ---
**Author:** ![Chronolicht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Chronolicht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronolicht)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/75 "2000-12-18T14:02:51Z")
We should stage a giant train wreck with Kinkade strapped to one locomotive and the other train full of people who buy his foul shit. We will fill both trains with paint and semtex and do high speed photography when they collide. Beauty! ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/76 "2000-12-18T15:47:15Z")
I’m so glad I found this thread. I was thinking these exact thoughts the other day in seeing, once again, some of his horrible tripe. Nasty, just nasty, retched stuff. Now, Maxfield Parrish, there was a painter/illustrator! He’s my fave. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/77 "2000-12-18T17:39:29Z")
and now they are damaged by exposure to too much _light…er, lite_. I hadn’t heard of Kincade, so I visited his website. What tripe! That Yosemite picture reminded me of the day my kitten shredded a bag of quilt batting all over my sewing room. Wayyyyyyyyy too many clouds. It gives me the creeps. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/78 "2000-12-18T18:31:35Z")
I have it on good authority that Mr. Kinkade owes his entire painting technique to a great, if underappreciated, modern painter. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: **MR. BOB ROSS** The man was simply genius. He just _knew_ where each “happy little tree” should live in each of his paintings. And he was FAST, too! He could whomp out a painting of at least Kinkade quality in 15 minutes flat. And with a putty knife, no less. Genius. Pure Genius. Yet, Bob didn’t find it necessary to resort to cheap self-promotion or syrupy moralizing. We miss you Bob! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/79 "2000-12-18T20:02:12Z")
You know, I LIKE Bob Ross, dammit! (Not being sarcastic). Sure, the guy was cheesy and over produced. But he was teaching TECHNIQUE. And I liked his dialogue, “happy little trees”, and how he would make up little stories about his paintings as he went along. And when he’d show clips of his pet Squirrel. So, happy painting, and God bless you, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202/80 "2000-12-18T20:26:06Z")
Bob’s voice was also a great soporific. I remember watching him whilst home sick from school and his mellow voice put me right to sleep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thomas-kinkade-painter-of-light-bite-me/23202.md?page=5)