General Discussion

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)

105. ...and he was a crook and a fraud

Sat Apr 7, 2012, 02:06 PM

Apr 2012

Kinkaid told people his paintings were ORIGINAL and sold them for a lot of money, but they were done by a factory and are not worth the canvas they're reproduced on. He also scammed the owners of his nationwide network of galleries.

THIS is the problem, not that someone happens to like kitschy schlock. If people want to buy kitschy shlock at FAIR prices, that's fine. But Thomas Kinkade inflated his prices based on the buyer's belief that this was truly important art that would hold it's value over time, ie. an investment. Any reputable art dealer or appraiser will tell you that there is no market for Kinkades other than eBay. So long, suckers = classic American business philosophy unfortunately. The Kinkade phenom is a sociological & business world one--it's not about art.

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Thomas Kincade Dead (finally) [View all] TalkingDog Apr 2012 OP

link? unblock Apr 2012 #1

KITSCH DontTreadOnMe Apr 2012 #2

'mall art' Viva_La_Revolution Apr 2012 #16

I always though Picasso and Andy Warhol were garbage. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #113

Do You Often Though? HangOnKids Apr 2012 #149

Please tell me what I should think is good art. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #154

No Snake HangOnKids Apr 2012 #160

So you won't share what art should be deemed good and what art should be deemed bad? Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #161

Amazed at Your Contribution To DU Snake HangOnKids Apr 2012 #169

Slack job where I can post often? Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #182

You are confusing quantity with quality. Ikonoklast Apr 2012 #193

I suppose it's like art. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #202

You suppose incorrectly. Ikonoklast Apr 2012 #203

I'm sure you could point out what is art and what is not. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #209

Some does, some of it is just ridiculous. Drahthaardogs Apr 2012 #213

He does it by posting one line snark and baiting people into endless and morningfog Apr 2012 #215

Yep! Thanks for confirming what I thought n/t HangOnKids Apr 2012 #219

If you have to ask someone what is good art, you will never know the difference between crunch60 Apr 2012 #204

Many "artists" seem to be able to tell. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #210

They've never been my favourites either. polly7 Apr 2012 #230

Bait and Switch, Misrepresented, Scammer Trash on Canvas... NYC_SKP Apr 2012 #127

And he's so different from the rest of the art world -- how? It's a seething pit of corruption. HiPointDem Apr 2012 #140

Call Your CongressPerson Right Now!!!! HangOnKids Apr 2012 #150

2 words kpete Apr 2012 #3

I thought he was already dead tularetom Apr 2012 #4

Is this an opportunity for you to show us how much 'in the know' you are? randome Apr 2012 #5

Van Gogh edhopper Apr 2012 #9

I agree about the skill. Or lack of it. randome Apr 2012 #31

I agree, edhopper Apr 2012 #121

Did somebody just insert Van Gogh into a thread about the hack-scammer-fraud, Kinkade? NYC_SKP Apr 2012 #143

are you comparing kpete Apr 2012 #13

I am not comparing other than to point out that both were painters. randome Apr 2012 #29

How many people did Van Gogh defraud? nt. Mariana Apr 2012 #33

Hey, I'm no expert on either van Gogh or Kincade. randome Apr 2012 #34

Kinkade defrauded lots of people. Mariana Apr 2012 #163

+1! n/t Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #45

That "Just because a dog can talk......." line is about as on the mark as anything I've ever heard! WillowTree Apr 2012 #73

Well, it may only have relevance... randome Apr 2012 #81

Did Van Gogh create such draconian contractual obligations that he bankrupted thousands TalkingDog Apr 2012 #78

pablo picasso was never called an asshole frylock Apr 2012 #98

+1 FSogol Apr 2012 #229

-1000 I don't like Kinkade paintings, either. MineralMan Apr 2012 #6

Thanks, and I agree. Very unnecessary. nt babylonsister Apr 2012 #10

babylonsister kpete Apr 2012 #24

I don't/didn't babylonsister Apr 2012 #46

okay kpete Apr 2012 #47

I know what you mean, kpete... Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #48

Wat redqueen Apr 2012 #53

I'd like to engage with you Redqueen, but Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #57

Sorry... redqueen Apr 2012 #59

Right, now I understand! Here are just a couple of Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #69

Thank you! redqueen Apr 2012 #77

"colors affect your emotional and physical health." dixiegrrrrl Apr 2012 #183

I agree. Any classical music or The Blues makes me literally nauseas. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #116

When you say "classical" music what exactly are you talking about? CTyankee Apr 2012 #190

I agree, for instance, I cannot listen to Mariah Carey's voice, her singing literally hurts my ears. crunch60 Apr 2012 #206

+1000 IDemo Apr 2012 #12

I was wondering what was so terrible about him that could warrant this. redqueen Apr 2012 #14

I agree. Thank you. proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #18

Someone who has his "art" in 1 in 20 households in America IS important marions ghost Apr 2012 #72

Nonsense. People buy what they like. MineralMan Apr 2012 #74

Read up on how he defrauded his gallery investors marions ghost Apr 2012 #76

And THAT'S what I'm talkin' 'bout.... TalkingDog Apr 2012 #79

It's not what you're talking about. It's how you're talking about it. MineralMan Apr 2012 #86

No, Kinkade is not OK with me. But you know what's more not OK? MineralMan Apr 2012 #84

Censorship is not OK either-- marions ghost Apr 2012 #102

Word! Fraudster!!! Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #88

It is not grave dancing to speak the truth of someone obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #125

Kinkade was a charlatan, he died, no dancing, the end. nt crunch60 Apr 2012 #207

thank you for putting "art" in quotations magical thyme Apr 2012 #80

+1,000 ! n/t Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #85

Major Props to your post obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #122

thanks marions ghost Apr 2012 #134

+1000 Starry Messenger Apr 2012 #129

Nicely put. Thank you. cordelia Apr 2012 #108

I happen to like Kinkade paintings. Archae Apr 2012 #7

Art is subjective, so you can like whatever art you want to lilke.. But I am not a snob crunch60 Apr 2012 #205

54 and natural causes? Iris Apr 2012 #8

Sadly, lots of people die in their 50s of natural causes. MineralMan Apr 2012 #22

Word is he was an alcoholic. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2012 #70

I never knew that kitsch was a natural cause Tom Ripley Apr 2012 #11

it can kpete Apr 2012 #15

OMG talk about grave dancing proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #17

i liked his stuff 90-percent Apr 2012 #19

One of my closest friends is a gifted painter proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #28

Read up on Kinkade--he was a scoundrel marions ghost Apr 2012 #97

"Being defrauded is awful enough, but doing it in the name of God is really despicable." WorseBeforeBetter Apr 2012 #172

not surprised marions ghost Apr 2012 #178

L&O:SVU 90-percent Apr 2012 #216

Agree, 90%, with your assessment Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #51

LOL! randome Apr 2012 #61

No, of course you don't, and nor do I... Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #82

Agree with that, too. randome Apr 2012 #87

Also very important-- Rockwell actually PAINTED his paintings... marions ghost Apr 2012 #103

+1,000 ! n/t Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #119

yes, Rockwell chronicled great social changes of his era... grasswire Apr 2012 #145

Norman Rockwell was a real artist, not a scammer eridani Apr 2012 #142

How was he abusive? redqueen Apr 2012 #20

It's a combination of his nauseating art and his fraudulent business practices, I think. Bolo Boffin Apr 2012 #180

He was no Bob Ross. edbermac Apr 2012 #21

Something ANY "series" artists should see... Hubert Flottz Apr 2012 #43

Bob Ross' schtick was teaching other people to paint XemaSab Apr 2012 #109

There are times you just have to tell it like it is and damn the torpedos. Excellant post. hayrow1 Apr 2012 #23

Did he run over your dog or something? Typical NYC Lib Apr 2012 #25

He peed on Winnie the Pooh. progressoid Apr 2012 #66

He was only 54 years old. I'm 54 years old. I never liked his work, but this post is insensitive. slackmaster Apr 2012 #26

It is also a dupe thread Typical NYC Lib Apr 2012 #27

No it is not, it is an opinion piece about Tom Kincade HangOnKids Apr 2012 #152

Kincade was to art what cotton candy is to nutrition. Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2012 #30

Really? "Finally"? Old and In the Way Apr 2012 #32

He was however, a scam artist and a fraudster...n/t Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #90

so that makes it okay to cheer his death? what is wrong with you? dionysus Apr 2012 #226

No cheering and nothing wrong, dionysus--just a reaffirmation Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #227

i agree he seems to have been a rotten guy, i just find the zeal with which some folks seem to be dionysus Apr 2012 #228

Very very ugly... He was only 54. hlthe2b Apr 2012 #35

You've been waiting for him to die? Iggo Apr 2012 #36

Hate is an acid that destroys the vessel in which it is stored......n/t Rowdyboy Apr 2012 #37

Who? ElboRuum Apr 2012 #38

What an assholish way to announce someone's death. You should be ashamed of yourself. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2012 #39

My sentiments exactly Typical NYC Lib Apr 2012 #68

I have no idea about his business practices or personal problems, but polly7 Apr 2012 #40

Agree about the quality of his commercial Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #41

History is littered with dead artists who, during their lifetime necessarily pipoman Apr 2012 #42

Most excellent post. Atman Apr 2012 #49

Yeah, these people remind me pipoman Apr 2012 #65

Maybe you should avoid cigar bars. Comrade Grumpy Apr 2012 #91

Who complained about cigar smoke? pipoman Apr 2012 #99

actually, YOU complained about cigar smoke. provis99 Apr 2012 #111

LOL! HangOnKids Apr 2012 #156

Nice. redqueen Apr 2012 #67

Not to mention that it's controlled by rich people whose primary interest is in elevating the value HiPointDem Apr 2012 #144

Not interested in appreciating art--just in art that appreciates n/t eridani Apr 2012 #157

First edhopper Apr 2012 #147

Interesting That Someone Up Thread Mentioned Those Exact Artists HangOnKids Apr 2012 #162

You're the only one so far to catch that pipoman Apr 2012 #195

Scram dude HangOnKids Apr 2012 #197

That's what I thought.. pipoman Apr 2012 #200

It's art edhopper Apr 2012 #217

Beauty is in the eye... pipoman Apr 2012 #218

Oh, his is bad art. edhopper Apr 2012 #221

What is art? kentuck Apr 2012 #44

this thread. uncle ray Apr 2012 #54

:D BlancheSplanchnik Apr 2012 #212

Beats me. But I'll tell you one thing . . . Strelnikov_ Apr 2012 #89

It is a sense pipoman Apr 2012 #101

Because it's always worth celebrating when "alcoholic assholes" die in their 50s. Nye Bevan Apr 2012 #50

Well said DavidDvorkin Apr 2012 #52

+1! If only TalkingDog had left off the Surya Gayatri Apr 2012 #60

What did he ever do to you that you hate him that much? n/t doc03 Apr 2012 #55

Overcharged for paintings misleadingly described as originals, is all I've seen so far. redqueen Apr 2012 #56

Geez. You'd think the guy started an illegitimate war or something. n/t lumberjack_jeff Apr 2012 #58

Grave dancing is bad enough over politics RZM Apr 2012 #62

Unrec. emilyg Apr 2012 #63

Unrec. Johnny Rico Apr 2012 #64

Why don't we have an UNREC button? n/t K Gardner Apr 2012 #71

We used to. I miss it too. nt Skip Intro Apr 2012 #131

I thought his stuff was lousy. But some artists we love today were once considered trashy CTyankee Apr 2012 #75

Kincade ain't no Caravaggio. Bad behavior doesn't make a sentimentalist hack a great artist. kwassa Apr 2012 #168

Please, I didn't mean to insinuate at all that I put those two artists in the same category... CTyankee Apr 2012 #188

How nice that you've "given yourself a pass" to rip on the dead rustydog Apr 2012 #83

I have 2 of his emilyg Apr 2012 #92

...and he was a crook and a fraud marions ghost Apr 2012 #105

Hiring underpaid staff to 'touch up' reproductions and pass them off as originals is not-- eridani Apr 2012 #155

Sorry, but unless it's Hitler, Stalin liberalhistorian Apr 2012 #93

where's the rejoicing? marions ghost Apr 2012 #104

Er, in the OP ("finally," too), where grave-dancing is explicitly mentioned. (nt) Posteritatis Apr 2012 #106

Kinkade had made half a billion based on fraudulent practices by age 44 ... marions ghost Apr 2012 #112

Because to some people, what Kinkade did was 'art'. randome Apr 2012 #117

Not what I am saying... marions ghost Apr 2012 #126

The people who bought his 'art' probably didn't care if they were duped. randome Apr 2012 #141

Most people don't like to get skunked marions ghost Apr 2012 #151

^^^^THIS^^^^ n/t HangOnKids Apr 2012 #166

Glad you got that out marions ghost Apr 2012 #171

Props baby Props! n/t HangOnKids Apr 2012 #173

got it marions ghost Apr 2012 #187

Exactly. Darth_Kitten Apr 2012 #133

Wow! DU's art critics are TOUGH! TheManInTheMac Apr 2012 #94

Have you seen his painting of Piss Christ? kentuck Apr 2012 #95

That's actually true about the light. Ken Kesey had an article in Whole Earth Review-- eridani Apr 2012 #164

Maybe just maybe Seedersandleechers Apr 2012 #96

Look - I don't like him any more than you. Taverner Apr 2012 #100

+1 GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #123

Get real marions ghost Apr 2012 #132

Get real, yourself. GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #135

i dont "hate" the guy--he's a sad, twisted character deserving of pity marions ghost Apr 2012 #136

You "guess" is right. GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #138

The "life" of a figure like Kinkade marions ghost Apr 2012 #146

He's dead. GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #175

His legacy lives on marions ghost Apr 2012 #181

Empathy. Put yourself in his family's shoes... Taverner Apr 2012 #159

I have serious empathy marions ghost Apr 2012 #170

Jeez - cold - but that's just my impression here Taverner Apr 2012 #176

maybe so marions ghost Apr 2012 #184

There are better "warm and fuzzy" artists... Taverner Apr 2012 #158

Oh, for sure. GoCubsGo Apr 2012 #177

I'll never forget when he forced me to by one of his paintings at gunpoint. Throd Apr 2012 #107

Un-reccing for grave dancing. nt madinmaryland Apr 2012 #110

His paintings were to the past couple of decades, what velvet Elvises were LiberalEsto Apr 2012 #114

some typical art by Kincade. provis99 Apr 2012 #115

Is that really one of Hitler's paintings??? obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #130

He was not a terrible artist, his father did not want him to be Rex Apr 2012 #139

Not true. Yes, his father wanted him to be a civil servant, but didn't Cleita Apr 2012 #165

Weren't Hilter's works sold on postcards to tourists? Cleita Apr 2012 #137

Artists can be a strange lot. Always telling people what REAL art is. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #118

Your OP subject title made me laugh -- I agree with you! obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #120

K/R and good for you. A Jury LOCKED my OP for saying pretty much the same thing. NYC_SKP Apr 2012 #124

Fux Noise called him one of the most influential artists of the century... joeybee12 Apr 2012 #128

I used to be an abusive, alcoholic asshole. Flying Squirrel Apr 2012 #148

excellent comment marions ghost Apr 2012 #153

It also helps if you have enough money to drink yourself to death, Cleita Apr 2012 #167

Millions of people have some of his stuff in their homes customerserviceguy Apr 2012 #174

He was never ethical in his corporate structure.... Taverner Apr 2012 #179

I used to be like that, unfortunately. Union Scribe Apr 2012 #185

well, I assume you are well out of high school and you now have the chance to really look CTyankee Apr 2012 #189

False dichotomy marions ghost Apr 2012 #186

Most Americans cannot relate to, nor afford "original art" customerserviceguy Apr 2012 #223

I realize that marions ghost Apr 2012 #231

Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot...ok....this man ? I don't think so nt steve2470 Apr 2012 #191

I like him for a suicide Strelnikov_ Apr 2012 #192

An uncreative shyster. Doremus Apr 2012 #194

I for one would love to know what other random celebrities the OP has gravedancing threads on ice Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2012 #196

What A Load Of Pants HangOnKids Apr 2012 #199

Not really. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2012 #222

Art is like wine...without snobbery, 99% of it wouldn't exist. Air Marshal8 Apr 2012 #198

I loved his art TrogL Apr 2012 #201

goodbye wannabe fascisthunter Apr 2012 #208

Thank you for this thread--I knew nothing about Kincade except that he painted those pictures... tokenlib Apr 2012 #211

So you're happy a working father of four young daughters is dead? pfitz59 Apr 2012 #214

One less thief and swindler in the world. NYC_SKP Apr 2012 #220

Unrec. highplainsdem Apr 2012 #224

you just made yourself look very, very small with this OP. tiny, even. sad. dionysus Apr 2012 #225

No worries. I'm sure someone out there will be glad when you're "Dead (finally)" too. cbdo2007 Apr 2012 #232

As for his art, much like Boris Vallejo or Frank Frazetta... LanternWaste Apr 2012 #233