I didn't realize he was as young as he was, the man made an institution of selling faux-rustic and light-within art for many years. There were scams related to franchises with his galleries. Anyway, he died at age 54.

Thomas Kinkade obit in The New York Times

Thomas Kinkade, the prolific painter of bucolic and idealized scenes who estimated that his mass-produced works hung in one out of 20 American homes, died on Friday at his home in Los Gatos, Calif. He was 54.

He appeared to have died of natural causes, according to a statement that his family issued to The San Jose Mercury News.

Mr. Kinkade, who was not well-regarded by the fine art establishment, built a decorative art empire by creating sentimental paintings that were, for the most part, relatively inexpensive and resonated with the desires of homeowners who did not ordinarily buy art. He sold his work directly, through his own franchise galleries or on cable television home shopping networks, and eventually online.

Much of his work reflected Christian themes or visions of a traditional, rustic America residing in comforting solitude. The paintings — of homey cottages and rural churches and rivers flowing gently through brilliant foliage — rarely included people, which allowed the owners to project themselves into the scenes.

Mr. Kinkade referred to himself as the "painter of light," usually with a trademark symbol, for naturalistic scenes with highlights that appeared to glow. Often his canvases were mass-produced prints to which he added small, brightly toned details. He made no apologies for commercializing the art field, comparing himself to million-sellers in, say, music and literature.

Read the rest of the story at the link.

SRS