I wanted to know what the fuss was about, so I Googled his stuff. Okay, maybe he’s a bit boring (it seems to be mostly houses) and cheesy, but I don’t see why anyone would get all foamy at the mouth about him. He’s just… another blah artist. What’s the big deal? 
Art snobs don’t like him because they consider his work to be not “real” art. They get all foamy because his work is, nevertheless, extremely popular and valuable (in terms of how much an original Kinkade can sell for). They’re screaming at the people who buy his stuff, “How can you pay so much money for such crappy art!”
Personally, I fail to see how anyone can say, in the same breath, that his work is very popular and not real art. Art is defined by taste, so by definition if a lot of people like it, it’s art.
People foam at the mouth about Kinkade? Doubtful. I think what you may really be describing is the reaction to people who LIKE Kinkade, and who collect his work at great personal expense.
Imagine a person who insists that the Partridge Family was the greatest band ever. Even if you have never before expressed any vitriol toward the Partridge Family in your life, you might be inspired to condemn this person for their poor taste, or indeed kill them for the good of the species.
Here is a nice article that highlights a bit of what is wrong with him. It’s hardly the work of an art snob and actually relatively benevolent. (Unfortunately many of the links are broken.)
My father-in-law liked jigsaw puzzles from Kinkade’s art. That may be their best form.
There are hundreds of painters who can (and do) paint like Kinkade. It’s technically competent, but otherwise cloying and overly sentimental. After his company goes bankrupt, someone else will take his place in this niche and in twenty years Kinkade will be forgotten.
It’s not his original paintings that inspire such loathing, but how he’s marketing selling prints. Nothing wrong with buying a print of a painting you like, obviously. But to have a “gallery” selling prints in every upper-crust strip mall, and to have an army of recently graduated art school flunkies out there touching up the prints with daubs of paint - that’s what people object to. That’s what takes it from acceptable to annoying.
A quick perusal through his wikipedia entry will probably answer your questions.
In short, people’s main gripes appear to be:
A. His art isn’t that good, is overly trite and sentimental
B. The vast commercialization of his art. Thomas Kincade is an industry. He styles himself as “Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light ™” , and as “America’s most-collected living artist.”
C. His predatory business practices regarding Thomas Kincade franchises.
D. He uses his Christianity to take advantage of people and get them to buy his stuff or his franchises.
E. His reported non-squeaky-clean personal life combined with D. above.
When this movie is released, watch it, and it will help you understand.
Er… what’s the Partidge Family?
Only the greatest band ever!
(Well, someone had to do it.)
Opps. I realize now that I erred unforgivably. Of course, this is the only proper introduction to the Partridge Family.
And it really came together when Mom sang along…
Few other bands can handle lyrics like that with integrity.
That’s Reuben Kincaid, not Thomas Kinkade.
Because his products are to art what Precious Moments figurines are to sculpture.
Yeah, I always get those two confused.
I humbly prostrate myself before your genius.
Jeezus, now I feel old.
Get offa my lawn!
C’mon; get happy.
They are neither a partridge, nor a family.
Discuss.
Not unless someone’s bringin’ a whole lotta lovin’…