Thomas Kinkade - anonymously

[hfojvt]

Poll question: Thomas Kinkade - anonymously

Are there Democrats who like Kinkade but are afraid to admit it here? Is there a silent majority, or a large silent minority? Inquiring minds wanna know.

[graywarrior]

1. He creeps me out.

[hfojvt]

2. Him, or his paintings or his sales pitch?

Why?

[graywarrior]

7. His paintings.

They are so....anal.

[Hissyspit]

3. Why are we even talking about him? Do you know how many working

serious artists there are in the world? Do you know how many skilled creative groundbreaking enlightened and principled painters there are in the world? Do you know any of their names?

Do you have any idea how many untrained/naive/folk artists whose vision and passion outweigh Kinkade anyday even though they never had a painting course there are? Do you know any of their names?

Do you know how many artists could make shit that appeals to the uninformed who crave aesthetic and expressive fulfillment, and don't know how to truly fulfill that need, but these artists don't because they care about art and its possiblities for expression and awareness of the complexities of life and not just ripping people off? Do you know any of their names?

ON EDIT: These are rhetorical questions I am using to make a point, not to attack anyone specifically, although I am wondering about the people who clicked on "I like some Kinkade..."

[hfojvt]

10. there is a prison art show where I work every year

I was gonna buy a Leonard Peltier, but they were all sold out after the first day - every year.

"sh*t that appeals to the uninformed"

I hate that phrase. How does one become one of the "uninformed"? How much, and what kind of information do they need before they will like what you like?

I am wondering about the people who hate, not only paintings that they rarely have to see, but people who like different things than they do.

[kwassa]

4. This thread is worthless without pictures.

[KamaAina]

5. My sentiments exactly.

:evilgrin:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5605598&mesg_id=5606383







NOTE: The above are NOT genuine Kinkades. Do NOT attempt to sell them on eBay or at Wal-Mart. :P

[Hissyspit]

6. There you go! n/t

[Phillycat]

9. PLEASE put a warning on your post.

I can't believe I just involuntarily saw someone getting shot through the skull.

[hfojvt]

12. but unlike Kinkade

that's great art, isn't it?

Or it's supposed to be funny.

Unfortunately, I am too uninformed to see the first and too anal to see the 2nd. And it's only the 3rd posting of the inspirational Klan picture.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. Not having a warning makes my head explode.

[Spider Jerusalem]

22. Trite, hackneyed garbage.

That's not art; those are greeting card illustrations. Overly precious, idealised depictions of some quasi-English/New England countryside that never actually existed...all those need is a phrase like 'Season's Greetings to You and Yours' across the top in gold-leaf script.

[hyphenate]

8. I don't "hate" his work

But I don't think you would find it at my house, because it's not really great work, but is okay for "pleasant" pictures on the average wall someplace in middle America.

To me, there really isn't much of a message in his work--it's not filled with angst or any kind of truth other than to make someone cozy and comfortable. Kinkade found a style all his own, and has likely never tried to be more than your average artistic hack with a little bit of talent and a lot more media and promotional savvy.

The fact that the religious right has co-opted his work as a symbol of their beliefs is just smarmy and nothing more. If anyone has ever been to one of those "art sales" weekends at some hotel, you know that there are a thousand and one imitators of his work, because it sells, even if it's not great.

You have to figure that 90% of those who buy that sort of work don't have any educated background in art appreciation (I've often heard the phrase, "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like") and just want something that isn't "ugly" on their walls at home. I doubt if you will find too many with a Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, or Mondrian on their walls as a general preference for show among most of the country. (Personally, a Wyeth, Monet or Hopper would grace my walls if I had the money)

Kinkade is highly reproducible, and for many, that makes a difference. Some buy his work simply because reproductions are not expensive, and because they're not making any major statements. It's not even a matter of religious entanglement, just the visual is not controversial.

[hfojvt]

13. and yet, people who supposedly know things about art

tell me I am supposed to dislike paintings and music that I like and I am supposed to love paintings and music that I don't like. Like most people, I am not convinced of the validity of "art appreciation" classes. Why is "angst" or "truth" so important? I should want to have a painting on my wall that expresses angst? And what truths? Truths about pleasue or truths about pain? Truths about love and happiness or truths about hate and misery?

[hyphenate]

20. I, personally, would never presume

to tell anyone what they like or don't like in art. If someone does try to tell you, rest assured that they know less than you do about art as a whole. I'm not such an art afficianado that I could do it, anyhow!

I say "truth" because, to me, most real art expresses an element of truth in it from the artist--a part of any artist who is any good is imparted in any work they do. If you don't feel that's true, that's your opinion and we obviously don't share that belief.

I do believe, too, that for many great artists, that their best work comes out of their grief, their depression, the horrible times that they have been through. It's something I noticed about a lot of writers, too--that hard times are far more inspiring than good times. Obviously it's not always true, but I think that many of us want to bare our soul as a catalyst when we are faced with pain and torment. It's a way of releasing the pain in a way that they can benefit from it, and others can as well.

Art is one of the most subjective arts around. What attracts one might completely be horrific to someone else, but there is a middle ground where what is depicted is not "unattractive" to anyone, but doesn't "grab" anyone, either. It's simply inoffensive, and that's where I would place Kinkade. His art falls into the category I think of as ordinary but "pretty." I think that few people would completely enjoy my own "favored" art, which tends to run to the fantasy and science fiction end, but I would never criticize the preferred art of someone else.

[Bridget Burke]

15. Kinkade's work is NOT cheap.

"Helpers" make the prints look more like paintings, so buyers think they're getting original art. Prices start in the hundreds & go into the thousands:

www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.catalog.web.tk.CatalogServlet

Allposters.com has NO Kinkade reproductions. I'm sure Kinkade imitators could be found, if someone wanted to look. But there's plenty of good stuff for sale. For ALL tastes. And lots cheaper.

www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?CID=9BB37552778F483E93EDF53436CB23E9

[hyphenate]

23. That's the important thing--

diversity. Everyone has their own tastes, evolved over years of living, environment, personal taste and more. While one sees "art" in a Marilyn Monroe print by Andy Warhol, someone else might prefer a Toulouse Lautrec instead, or a "Chat Noir" poster. It's always one of those very subjective areas where few are on the same page at any given time.

It would be interesting to see who invested in Thomas Kinkade art before the religious right claimed him as one of them. Perhaps at one point, he was an up and coming talent that simply got derailed.

[hyphenate]

24. P.S.

I did find some Kinkades at art.com, which is the site I often use. They're not just poster size--they have a wide variety of items from very small to large, both framed and unframed.

Here's a link if you are interested:
http://www.art.com/asp/display-asp/_/ID--20159/thomas_kinkade_art.htm/_/search_String--kinkade/_/posters.htm?ui=03A3FB7A6C174A459217B19001ACF5CF

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I think I'll just hang out for awhile, until Rabrrrrrr comes along

:popcorn:

[hfojvt]

14. as long as you sweep up your

accursed popcorn. I hate that smiley, you know. It's a smiley that is just about snacking. It has no larger message of angst or truth. :hide:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. Hell no...I'm going to paste the crumbs

on the first TK that gets posted here! :evilgrin:

[hfojvt]

18. See post #4 then

I just noticed. All of his paintings there seem to ignore the dangers of flooding. After a hard rain, he would be "The Painter of Wet" at least in the first two.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. As you can see, I've already

pasted crumbs on them.

[bif]

17. He's not Van Gogh nor Van Halen

That's for sure