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As Featured in U.S. Art Magazine's
Future
Hall of Fame
We're willing to wager that Thomas Kinkade,
who has 13 years and more than 100 prints under his belt,
will be a sure bet for the Hall of Fame in 1999.
by Sara Gilbert
Age: 40
Current Home: Santa Cruz Mountain Foothills
Number of Editions: More than 130
First year of Hall of Fame eligibility: 1999
Publisher: Lightpost Publishing, (800) 366-3733
Yosemite Valley
Late Afternoon Light at Artist's Point
With almost as many print releases to his credit as this year's four Hall of Fame inductees combined, Thomas Kinkade has already established himself as a prolific, proficient painter. Because his body of work is both so large and so accessible (Kinkade has over 100 stores that sell his work exclusively, as well as another 3,000 retail outlets that keep his work in the public eye), he has one of the most recognizable names in print today. Collectors across the country recognize his nostalgic landscapes and cozy cottages, each imbued with the luminescent glow that earned Kinkade his trademarked moniker "Painter of Light".
Kinkade and Lightpost Publishing have also broken new ground for marketers of Limited edition prints. They've pushed the boundaries of print products and come up with both canvas reproductions and home decor items that are just as popular as paper prints. They've so successfully created an industry around Kinkade's work that we can't imagine the Hall of Fame without him. Look for him to join the illustrious ranks when he's eligible in 1999.
Art History
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1958
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Thomas Kinkade is born in Sacramento, Calif.
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1976
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Attends the University of California and receives his formal training at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena; he spends the summer after graduation on a sketching tour with college pal, James Gurney.
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1982
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Marries his childhood sweetheart, Nanette, and co-authors "The Artist's Guide to Sketching" with Gurney.
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1984
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The Kinkades begin to publish his work.
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1989
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Thomas Kinkade and Ken Raasch form Lightpost Publishing.
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1994
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The National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED) honors Thomas Kinkade as the Artist of the Year, and U.S. Art names Kinkade one of its Artists to Watch in 1995.
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1995
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NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year, and he is a charter inductee into the Bradford International Hall of Fame for plate artists.
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1996
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NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year, and he is awarded the Graphic / Lithograph of the Year for the fifth year in a row.
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1997
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Thomas Kinkade was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander in Chief Award.
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Life Story Award-Winning Paintings
Copyright © 1998 Thomas Kinkade
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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