April 7, 2012
Reports released from various news sources confirmed today that artist Thomas Kinkade died Friday at age 54 in his Los Gatos, Calif., home. The Associated Press reports: "He claimed to be the nation's most collected living artist, and his paintings and spin-off products were said to fetch some $100 million a year in sales, and to be in 10 million homes in the United States. Those light-infused renderings are often prominently displayed in buildings, malls, and on products — generally depicting tranquil scenes with lush landscaping and streams running nearby. Many contain images from Bible passages." Kinkade, a devout Christian, described his art on his own website, saying: "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."