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$53 million in art sales, RIP Thomas Kinkade

by EvolBaby
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Thomas Kinkade dead: Millionaire 'painter of light' dies aged 54 | Mail Online

Just about 1 in 20 households has some artwork from Thomas Kinkade. Kinkade painted tranquil environments etc., real sappy stuff but he made $53 million in less than 10 years from the late 90s to mid 2000's.

What's remarkable and relative to IM is that Kinkade wasn't the best, nor innovative, he had two things going for him, he catered to his audience and he had marketing!

Marketing to the freakin' max. He made more money than any other fine artists. He used traditional marketing and IM.

He passed away too young but his family won't want for anything.

I know thousands of artists in comics, animation, fine art. I never waited on others to make me. I've had high and low points but I've survived where other artists have gone poof. Kinkade's lesson of production and marketing is an inspiration and shows what you can do when you take action, take charge. That's the message you see here on WF.

Thomas Kinkade will be missed but he leaves a legacy of tens of millions of fans, lessons, and a legacy.
#$53 #art #kinkade #million #rip #sales #thomas
  • Profile picture of the author trytolearnmore
    Well, may his soul rest in peace.
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    Originally Posted by EvolBaby View Post

    Thomas Kinkade dead: Millionaire 'painter of light' dies aged 54 | Mail Online

    Just about 1 in 20 households has some artwork from Thomas Kinkade. Kinkade painted tranquil environments etc., real sappy stuff but he made $53 million in less than 10 years from the late 90s to mid 2000's.

    What's remarkable and relative to IM is that Kinkade wasn't the best, nor innovative, he had two things going for him, he catered to his audience and he had marketing!

    Marketing to the freakin' max. He made more money than any other fine artists. He used traditional marketing and IM.

    He passed away too young but his family won't want for anything.

    I know thousands of artists in comics, animation, fine art. I never waited on others to make me. I've had high and low points but I've survived where other artists have gone poof. Kinkade's lesson of production and marketing is an inspiration and shows what you can do when you take action, take charge. That's the message you see here on WF.

    Thomas Kinkade will be missed but he leaves a legacy of tens of millions of fans, lessons, and a legacy.
    Good points and he was a good example - using the old Andy Warhol adage, he took his 15 minutes of fame, ran with it...and it turned into a marathon.

    When I read this yesterday, I was surprised he went of "natural causes" at 54.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
      Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post

      Good points and he was a good example - using the old Andy Warhol adage, he took his 15 minutes of fame, ran with it...and it turned into a marathon.

      When I read this yesterday, I was surprised he went of "natural causes" at 54.
      He seemed to have a bit of an alcohol problem. That stuff will tend to shorten the lifespan of your essential "parts"...
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      • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
        He wasn't one of my favorite artists by a long shot but you can't argue with his success. He made a LOT more than $53 million though. It is estimated he was making $100 million a year at his peak. I also didn't know he lived in the Bay Area, in Los Gatos, until he died.

        By the way, the guy who painted my avatar had one painting sell for over $80 million and another for over $70 million.
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  • Profile picture of the author EvolBaby
    Yes, he was only 54.

    What's odd is that we comics artists average around 80+ in life span and that will increase. We don't know why but it just happens.

    Kinkade had his own in-house production facility that just dominated. One of his associated companies is reportedly filing for bankruptcy but it's not his.

    The key thing is that he had fun, has a beautiful family, left generations of his family money and a legacy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    Wow - shocking - so many stars die young.

    You might call his art sappy and and I would even say commercial - but I loved his sense of color - to take a scene from reality and enhance the colors and contrast to be 'better' than reality (fantasy).

    RIP Thomas Kinkaid.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr.Daydream
    Originally Posted by EvolBaby View Post

    Thomas Kinkade dead: Millionaire 'painter of light' dies aged 54 | Mail Online

    Just about 1 in 20 households has some artwork from Thomas Kinkade. Kinkade painted tranquil environments etc., real sappy stuff but he made $53 million in less than 10 years from the late 90s to mid 2000's.

    What's remarkable and relative to IM is that Kinkade wasn't the best, nor innovative, he had two things going for him, he catered to his audience and he had marketing!

    Marketing to the freakin' max. He made more money than any other fine artists. He used traditional marketing and IM.

    He passed away too young but his family won't want for anything.

    I know thousands of artists in comics, animation, fine art. I never waited on others to make me. I've had high and low points but I've survived where other artists have gone poof. Kinkade's lesson of production and marketing is an inspiration and shows what you can do when you take action, take charge. That's the message you see here on WF.

    Thomas Kinkade will be missed but he leaves a legacy of tens of millions of fans, lessons, and a legacy.
    that guy painted some of the most beautiful paintings, I had no idea he passed away
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    Saw this in another story...
    Kinkade's family said the artist, 54, died alone at his home in Los Gatos near San Francisco, and that his death appeared to be from natural causes.
    Los Gatos is just south of San Jose for anyone who might want to know...it is an hour away from SFO...
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  • Profile picture of the author rekerlolz
    I have some of his paintings in my home ...(they don't belong to me) ...and I must say that he has some inspiring work.
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    The dollar amount of his sales is totally irrelevant.
    He's not a DaVinci but, he is talented.
    His paintings have a unique quality that is obviously appealing.
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