Thomas Kinkade can be called whatever he wants. In my mind he is not so much an artist but someone who has mastered people’s desire for “art.” Sorry but when the older folks boast about their Kinkade work, I just look at it and think, it is so ugly, how would anyone pay so much money for it? But no one is forcing people to buy Kinkade’s work, so if they want to pay thousands of dollars for a painting that he didn’t even paint then go ahead. I honestly don’t know what to say because he is smart in that he can make so much money off literally telling other people what to do. He is business smart it seems too; trying to rip off various people by tricking them with baits of religion. Once again, you fell for it, I am sorry, read the fine print. He is an economist not an artist. He can maneuver the stock market as well as canvases. I don’t see how the art community is so outraged by this guy. I mean if you think he is not an artist then fine, but he can sell anything he wants, and if people buy it then good for him. Yeah it may not be unique, but he has learned to curve people’s demand and has made a successful business out of it so I congratulate him. If people are stupid/smart/whatever the hell they are, then it is there business not mine. I honestly can not think of anything more to say about Thomas Kinkade yet alas I have half way to go.
I am going to talk about what I think it means to be an artist. I can’t go without saying that someone who bases their life solely on the profits of their created work, is unpractical in my sense. I mean how can you live day to day depending on people to buy your art. Sure if you want to be a teacher then fine, or work for a company, but I don’t understand the fact that if you love to do something why and how could you part with your pieces of art. I mean if it is something you have passion for then why are you trying to profit from it. You say I need to live, to eat, to have housing, then why not do something practical and have art as your pastime. I can’t understand because I am a person of practicality if someone has a counter argument I would love to hear it.
Next: I may sound like I am ragging on art, but I myself love to create art. I love to take photos, I love printmaking in fact, also making things like vases out of glasses and so forth. I just don’t understand how people can derive their sustenance from it. I commend them if they can, and aspire to, I just don’t understand what goes on in their mind. Here were my thoughts.
6 comments:
I can see your point but if artists will just keep their art to themselves, then what? People won't have the opportunity to buy art to decorate their homes.
When I was younger, I shared an apartment with 4 guys, 2 surfer and 2 artists. We were all struggling and one of my roomates was very happy when he was able to sell his paintings. I have one of them and I really cherish it. Now he has made prints out of the original that I have and he sells them at Surf Shops in San Diego.
My mom really likes Thomas Kinkade's paintings or reproductions. But remember that at the beginning he sold his originals all throughout California. And if he found a way to do "savvy marketing" and people still like him, so what? He has to make a living. People are not forced to do anything that they don't want to do.
Misha, it sounds as if art is something that you do for yourself and it brings you pleasure to do it. And based on your previous blogs, you like to share what you are able to do in your spare time. I like what I have seen.
Many great artists have been squashed by a parent or a teacher who told them that they needed to be practical. Imagine what it's like for the artist who gets to do what they like to do all the time and it does pay the bills.
Some artists divide their time between creating artwork for others and creating works for themselves. Some people, commercial artists, do great works, but seldom get credit for it. And then there are those who teach and save the weekends and summers for their art.
And what of those sad folks who spend all their time doing artwork for others and never really have time or energy left to create something beautiful for themself. For some the urge to create art is so strong that all practicality goes out the window and nothing else matters, nothing but art.
I do like your blog post Misha. Personally, I think Kinkade's work is ugly. It's borning and completely unoriginal. I mean obviously, the guy doesnt even make half the stuff himself!
Misha, I am gonna have to agree with your points. He is just not the true artist himself. He is just a business man. That's all. He uses people's beliefs to alter the business techniques, targeting many markets... I know all the artists are drawing in their own interest or with their talent, but they need to make a living, you know. Conclusively, I would rather treat him as a business man and not an artist. He has a degree in art just to be in that business.
I feel the same way about Kinkade. If people want to spend money on chocolate box art, let them. He's a great businessman! Were in my speech class last fall with Knifong?
I disagree. I believe anything can be art. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Anyway...that's my 2 cents.
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