While the Thomas Kinkade certainly had his flaws...a good and bad side- as all complex figures do - the movie's did focus on shortcomings and the negative which somehow missed the boat and how loved and admired his creations are. In choosing to highlight mostly the negative, the filmmakers missed an opportunity to present a fuller, more honest portrait that includes the good he produced alongside his flaws. True storytelling demands nuance, but this depiction leaned heavily toward critique without offering the necessary context or acknowledgment of his many contributions.
As a dealer/collector for 25 years I feel I have a more 360 degree view :>>
he captured the hearts of millions across generations.
He remains the only artist in history commissioned by two major studios - Disney and Warner Brothers - to memorialize the spirit of their most beloved stories. Disney's "Disney Dreams" collection sold out immediately, while Warner Brothers commissioned him to capture the magic of "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone with the Wind."
Beyond Hollywood, Elvis Presley Enterprises personally commissioned Kinkade to paint Graceland, preserving the legend of Elvis through his signature glowing light.
Even the White House was graced with Kinkade's work when he presented his painting Lights of Liberty, and he mingled with not one, but two former U. S. Presidents: George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
Kinkade's legacy reached beyond art galleries:
He memorialized iconic moments like the 2002 World Series (Anaheim Angels vs. San Francisco Giants)
He commemorated legendary venues like Yankee Stadium before it was rebuilt, Fenway Park, and even events like the Daytona 500.
At the peak of his career, there were over 600 official Thomas Kinkade galleries across America.
In 2003, he was named a National Spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, raising over $750,000 in just one year to grant wishes for children battling critical illnesses.
By the mid-2000s, Thomas Kinkade Company sales topped over $4 billion, a testament to how deeply the public loved his work - regardless of what critics said.
As a dealer and collector for 25 years, I witnessed firsthand the passion people had for his art.
In just four days after his passing, I completed over half a million dollars in sales - not because people saw his art as a commodity, but because they felt his art in their hearts and wanted to hold a piece of him forever.
And they still do today. Typical Email received hundreds of times over and over:
Hi Karen,
We were so delighted when we received 'The Cottage' yesterday! Absolutely beautiful! I told my wife it reminded me of her and our daughter picking flowers for arrangements in our own home . . . It brought tears of joy to both of us! It's truly amazing . . . It looks so much better and more impactful than photos . . . Thank you so much for thinking of us and making our dreams a reality!
With love,
Stan & Rose
Karen's Kinkade Art Store.
