Thomas Kinkade: Gardens & Civilization

Thomas Kinkade had an amazing talent, PERIOD. This California native was a graduate of  The University of California, Berkley. He was well instructed by local talented artists, including Charles Bells (a photo realist artist) and Glenn Wessels, a student and teacher at The Art College of Design in Pasadena, where he received his B.A., B.F.A, and M.A. With every stroke of his brush, Thomas Kinkade’s admirers could easily understand his genius and creativity. Today is not necessarily a sad day, because of the loss of this great artist. It is a day of reflection, and remembrance of a great American emblem. He passed away on April 6, 2012. On Kinkade’s homepage, he has the following bible verse displayed: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will for they will be comforted- Mathew 5:4.

I believe that Kinkade wanted to pay a tribute to god’s most wonderful creations (gardens and civilizations). I love this biblical verse because the majority of his paintings remind me of a serene Garden of Eden, a place of perfection and now remorse. Kinkade is known worldwide as “The Painter of Light.” On Kinkade’s homepage, for every painting, he has a long explanation of why he did it. It really brings you in touch with his upbringing, and how he wants that to affect his style. In fact, one of his works is a painting showcasing Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” My favorite, and clearly the most spectacular piece in his enormous portfolio is the “Gazebo of Prayer.” Kinkade explains his creation: “In my heart, gazebos are truly peaceful places. They seem to exist apart from the world and beacon all of us inside the confines of the small world they capture. Children use them in their fanciful play delighting their young imaginations… Join me in the Gazebo of Prayer where we can connect with providence often lost in hectic, everyday life. God Bless.”

This “Gazebo of Prayer” depicts a plush garden with an Athenian style Gazebo, full of rich colors, and of course no people. His work is inspiring. In Kinkade’s “Garden Collection” he has three other tremendous works of art: “The Garden of Prayer,” “Pools of Serenity,” and “The Hour of Prayer.” These pieces completely resemble each other, but at the same time they are quite different. Each painting seems to capture “light” in a different way. One is clearly darker than the other, and one is illuminated in a heavenly fashion. His images of faith are unbelievable. Kinkade has several other major works with light as the main attraction. The titles are “Walk of Faith,” “Stairway to Paradise,” “Bridge of Faith,” “The Cross,” “Sunrise,” “The Good Shepard’s Cottage.” It’s a depiction of paradise. Kinkade recently passed away at the age of fifty four and his work will never be forgotten.

Kinkade also depicts civilization with a clean eye. In his “City Scapes” collection he features several overwhelmingly good pieces. The titles are “Holiday at Central Park,” “Central Park in the Fall,” “Viva Las Vegas,” “San Francisco: Powell Street,” “Boston Celebration,” “London,” and “The Spirit of New York.” His portfolio contains a little bit of everything. In regards to his work, he explains, “my mission as an artist is to capture those special moments in life adorned with beauty and light. I work to create images that project a serene simplicity that can be appreciated and enjoyed by everyone. That’s what I mean by sharing the Light.” Kinkade was also well known for his tremoudous ability to mass market his work. He was also a very charitable man. Before he died he was a spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2003.

Dear Thomas Kinkade please rest in the place you depicted so well.

-Stan Walters