This past week brought to the world the sad news of the
passing of a truly great world artist, Thomas Kinkade. Thomas was an American painter
known throughout the world as the “Painter of Light”. Below is a quote by the artist himself.
His death came suddenly at the age of 54. A pre-autopsy
report states his death to be related to alcohol poisoning. It seems to be an all too familiar trend with
people who are very talented to never be satisfied with life but always be pushing
the envelope of more. I’ve been told that Thomas Kinkade lived life in the fast
lane never slowing except for the occasional deer crossing the highway or to
sit down to paint. He is however the
exception to the rule that most artists usually don’t become famous until after
they die. Thomas enjoyed a very lucrative painting business based on sales of
various reproductions of his work. Although there seems to be some shades of
black in the financial area surrounding his company.
It’s probably safe to say that 75% of all who are reading
this article have at least one of his paintings hanging on a wall in your own
home. In addition to hanging on your wall it most likely occupies a place in a
prominent location. The painting is a special piece of artwork that initially
caught your eye and has continued to touch you in a certain way. It’s a feeling
of coming home after a long journey where you can kick off your shoes and let
your hair down. In fact the painting
would not let you leave the store without it.
For me personally
Thomas’ paintings remind me of a glimpse of heaven. Where time stands still and
Christmas is 365 days a year. They portray a very familiar feeling of a fire
burning behind a screened hearth, warming the parlor where friends are busy playing
a quick game of Scrabble or Old Maid. They are pictures of warm cottages
wrapped in spring flowers or a frosty blanket of snow. And it’s of course a landscape,
a home and a memory saturated in beautiful Christmas cheer, adorned with all
the colors of the rainbow. Streaks of sunlight and shadows that dance and weave
a tapestry of realism are an integral part of his art. His scenes of main streets from around the country
are among my favorites. In a way he has the skills of a resurrected Norman
Rockwell combined with the personality of a Samuel Clemens.
Thomas admits that it’s was his mission in life to share
the light with his following of fans from around the world. I really don’t like
dredging up the dirt on people‘s failures but prefer to show off the light of
their successes and generosity. For
Thomas Kinkade that won’t be a problem as he generously donated to the
Make-A-Wish-Foundation, World Vision, the Salvation Army, Points of Light Foundation
and the Church of the Nazarene and many more organizations beyond mention. And
we will never know the full extent to all of his anonymous giving.
On a personal note my brother in law was able to meet
Thomas Kinkade and his wife in Los Gatos as he was there to paint the main
street of Los Gatos, California’s, Santa Cruz Avenue. He was actually donating
the painting to aid a local fundraiser for a local Los Gatos charity. Thomas
Kinkade grew up in Placerville, CA. which is relatively close to the greater
Sacramento, California area. I’m sure
growing up in the foothills close to Lake Tahoe helped inspire him to paint all
those wonderful snow covered Christmas scenes he so much loved to portray.
And now with Thomas Kinkade passing on into the light there
remains only a finite number of paintings in his collection. Most of those
reproductions will continue to grace the walls of homes around the world. Soon
another generation of children will be born who will marvel at the way the
light seems to jump off the canvas. It’s been said that Thomas lived life to
the fullest in much the same way he filled up the canvas with oil and pastel
colors. The dark and light contrast that shaded his paintings also spilled over
to darken his own life. But for me it will always be the light of his life that
draws me into this incredible artist’s world of light! So long Thomas may God
welcome you into the eternal, glorious light of His presence!
