Thomas Kinkade, Dead at the Age of 54
Thomas Kinkade, an American Artist, died of natural causes on Friday at the age of 54 at his home in Los Gatos in the San Francisco Bay Area as reported by his family.
Kinkade born and brought up in Placerville, Calif. He studied at the University of California at Berkeley and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
"Thom provided a wonderful life for his family," his wife, Nanette, said in a statement. "We are shocked and saddened by his death."
He is one of the most significant artists as can be guessed from the fact that his paintings are present in more than 10 million homes in U.S. and generated $100 million a year in sales. His paintings were mostly focused on idyllic landscapes and cottages costing from hundreds of Dollars to more than $10,000. Kinkade's Media Arts Group took in $32 million per quarter from 4500 dealers across the country before the company went private in the middle of the past decade.
"I share something in common with Norman Rockwell and, for that matter, with Walt Disney, in that I really like to make people happy," Kinkade said.
Rockwell was just like his hero. "I remember my mom had a big collection of copies of (Saturday Evening Post) magazines, and that was really my introduction to those great illustrators," he said.
(Picture: Thomas Kinkade with his picture Heading Home in 2005, Credit: Wikipedia)
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