Thomas Kinkade paintings as investments?

[Kermit]

I wouldn't buy a Kinkade painting as an investment. If you like it and want to enjoy it, that's fine. But I wouldn't count on being able to resell it for much. It might happen, but it's not terribly likely.

I think that it's fine to invest some (not close to all) money in a "hobby" rather than in something that's actually classified as an investment, but it should be an area that you really know. Art can be a good investment, but you're going to have the most luck if you're someone who reads magazines related to art, visits galleries regularly, studies individual artists, and so on. I just finished reading The Millionaire Next Door, and it recommends that as well.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I definitely wouldn't buy Kincaid as an "investment"....they are mass produced and even a novice like myself knows that it is not conducive to big bucks.

That being said I think he is an amazing painter and hate to hear the "real" artist blast him. Well, all I have to say is where is YOUR highly publicized and sought after painting?! Yeah, right....in the works!

He is an artist....even if he does mass produce his items.....like PD says...he is laughing himself to the bank and....


GOOD FOR HIM!!!!!!!!!

 

[Poohnatic]

I wouldn't consider the Kinkades as investments. They are mass produced and if you buy from a larger gallery, some underling 'highlight artist' paints some more 'light' onto a computer painted canvas.

If you like looking at them, have at them. Just don't expect to put your kids through college by investing in them.

I'm a fan of realism, but I'd happily own an Alfred Bierschdat over 100 Kincades.

Suzanne

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Probably more of a fun hobby than an investment.

I was an art major for two years in college...I switched over to psych right now with an art minor, but I took many art history courses and visited the Boston Museum of Fine Arts on a weekly basis.

No doubt that he has technical skill, but I feel as though its more of a commercialized thing than actual "art". Good for him for finding a way to make money out of it and make people happy, but fine art with a high resale value isn't what this guy is doing.

Relevance to society and groundbreaking in an artistic sense? Hardly. But I must say, the man sure can paint well in the area of realism.

Evil Princess you sound like me. I had a double major in art and psych because I had some delueded fantasy of going into art therapy((I teach special needs now). I did some grad work at Mass Art a couple of summers ago and truthfully the people there would not even recognize TK as an artist . When they make art it needs to be one of a kind and no WAY as representational as his work. Jeesh they did not even like Rembrant or Monet! TK is no where in that league.

Are you familiar with Frank Stella's work? He is on exhibit at MFA. His dad was my mom's obgyn and delivered my sister and myself. He is one of the more famous contempemorary abstract artists. When he started out his dad had one of Frank's paintings hanging in the office. When my mom inquired about it DR. Stella said, "OH my son did it." Mom replied in all seriousness, " Your 6 year old?" He said," no, Frankie". A few people in my old neighborhood had been given paintings and threw them away! They are worth thousands if not millions now!

TK would be considered an illustrator in artistic circles and when you are dealing with the art community many consider that a negative thing.

In maybe 100 years after TK is dead possibly his work would increase in value as some of the better illustrators like Howard Pile and
Wyeth but there is no way it will ever reach "artist" stature.

 

[jenfur]

Buy what you like. I hate it that so much of todays "art" has to be abstract. I saw 20/20 a few weeks back where art critics were drooling over the work of a four year old...and then embarrassed and claimed that maybe the producers had found a amazingly talented child PLEASE!

An artist who cannot produce a work with some realism makes me question whether they have any real talent at all. Maybe the abstract concept is a cover. My art teacher wouldn't accept ANY work that was abstract in any way for the first 2 years.

 

[N.Bailey]

Buy what you like. I hate it that so much of todays "art" has to be abstract. I saw 20/20 a few weeks back where art critics were drooling over the work of a four year old...and then embarrassed and claimed that maybe the producers had found a amazingly talented child PLEASE!

An artist who cannot produce a work with some realism makes me question whether they have any real talent at all. Maybe the abstract concept is a cover. My art teacher wouldn't accept ANY work that was abstract in any way for the first 2 years.

I don't know if we saw the same program or not. The one I seen was several years ago. There was a contest and the dad sent in his son's "Art?" lol The son then won and the daddy loved saying it was his son who did the "Masterpiece?" If it was the same one, it was hilarious, wasn't it?

I don't understand how anyone considers that "Art," or better yet, "Fine Art!"

 

[Planogirl]

Kinkade is much like Dalhart Windberg IMO. I love some of Windberg's night scenes and have a few signed copies but I don't ever expect them to be particularly valuable. They're just eye candy and calming to me. Of course I imagine that people said that about Remington at one time.

Art is truly in the eye of the beholder though and I generally ignore the experts. I admire fine works in museums and appreciate virtually every style and period to some degree.

Students not liking Rembrandt or Monet? There's little as annoying as art snobs IMO.

 

[snoopy]

It all depends on who you are selling it to - Kinkade has a certain following who might in the future want to pay more for an original , but from a fine art point of view, this artist is considered marginal.

He's not recognized in the art community as a gifted artist, but I like his work. Its pretty, and heartwarming. I've been looked down on for saying that, though. Not that I really care.

 

[50thisyeartoo!]

MY first Kinkade is the Disneyland 50th print; I was there. Was fifth in line to buy it at Disneyland the day it was released. I met Mr. Kinkade and his family. It was a delightful experience. I can't wait to put my piece in the Disney room I'm doing. As far as an investment...it's a better investment than: clothing, jewelry, cars, etc. According to what I've seen the two pieces I purchased are selling for TWICE what I paid for them. Investment? Now that's a better return than the stock market or the bank.

 

[KelNottAt]

From a fine art point of view, Thomas Kinkade really doesn't cut it. They're mass produced, pretty pictures. Don't get me wrong, the guy has some technical skill, but it seems like a francise to me and isn't really going to make any kind of impact in the art world.

That being said, I really don't see his paintings going up in value at all.

I agree with this.

And, while we're on the subject, I'm always amused by people who buy Longaberger then lock it away as an investment.