Farewell to the "Painter of Light"

Thomas Kinkade struggled with alcoholism over the last several years of his life, according to his brother Patrick Kinkade, brought about largely by what he says were terrible personal attacks against his art work, which was loved by the ordinary person, but hated by jealous art elites, whom if they were honest, would admit despised his dedication to Jesus Christ, which was the real source of rage against the popular artist.

"He would shoulder the world, pull the naysayers on his back and smile when he was doing it," added Kinkade. "As much as he said it didn't bother him, in his heart deep down inside it would sadden him that people would criticize so hatefully his work and his vision when people didn't understand him."

Patrick Kinkade added that the paintings of Thomas came from his vision of what he hoped the world would be like. Millions of people agreed with him, as evidenced by the millions of paintings and products sold bearing the beautiful and inspiring images coming from his relationship with Jesus Christ and expressed through his imagination.

So-called critics were inordinately vocal, abusive and hateful of Kinkade's works, with the attacks arising from their rejection of Christ and what He stands for, as well as professional jealousy.

I don't think it's that people misunderstood Kinkade, it's that they understood him all too well, and the hatred of the world for beauty and things representing the light of Jesus Christ resulted in the inevitable attacks against Kinkade, which evidently he wasn't able to personally handle.

What all Christians should learn from this is it doesn't matter what we do, the world will hate us if we self-consciously point to Jesus Christ as our source of inspiration.

Fame is fickle, and attempting in any way to please the world and look for affirmation in any way from it is a quick way to destruction, as I think Thomas Kinkade found out; although he may not have understood how deeply the hatred of the world is for Jesus Christ, and how that blanketed him and his work.

Hopefully you don't take this as a negative comment in any way against Thomas Kinkade, as the vast majority of people will never know what it's like to be as well-known and loved as Kinkade and his work were, and how that translates to jealousy and hatred from a world that despises success those professing Christ and attempt to express the beauty of his person hood in a way that is accepted by so many people.

Neither is any of this an excuse of justification for Kinkade's failings, whose personal struggles were reported in the media for all to see; many of them blown our of proportion, or in some cases, not true at all or based upon unproven hearsay.

No matter what is personal struggles and failures were, there were also numerous victories for him, and generations ahead will be blessed and encouraged by the works of the "painter of light," who will be longed remembered for touching on something of the invisible attributes of Jesus Christ expressed on canvass.

In eternity Christians will be rewarded by how much of Christ was in their lives and work, and there is no doubt the glorification of Jesus Christ through the art of Thomas Kinkade will be rewarded, as he endured much hardship and pain from the extraordinary attacks on his art which were far from justified and based upon hatred of the Savior.

And while the media loves to point out the personal failings of Christians, no one could paint what Thomas Kinkade painted without seeing and touching the Master Himself, and while his strengths are hidden by his widely reported failures, over time, hopefully, his good qualities and traits will be revealed in a way that will balance how we all view him and glorify the work of Jesus Christ within him.

Farewell brother, we'll miss your creativity and expression of your vision and love of Jesus Christ, and the potential you wished to see through His effect upon this world.



More articles on Thomas Kinkade and his work:


Gift Ideas from Thomas Kinkade

Disney Works of Thomas Kinkade

Books by Thomas Kinkade

Thomas Kinkade Lighthouses