Posted: 5/2/2005 4:42:00 PM EDT
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My wife is on a Thomas Kincade kick and I know nothing about art. We visited a gallery in Nashville over the weekend and the young lady explained the various levels of "proofs." I googled, but didn't find what I was looking for. I really would like to learn a bit more before she drops several thousand on a worthless reproduction. I appreciate any help. Eddie |
| If I had the spare cash I would buy it. cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20143&item=7319862799&rd=1 |
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When you buy a "Kincade" I believe you are just buying a print of his work on canvas with some of the features painted on by hand by some lackey. You aren't buying anything that Thomas Kincade has ever touched much less worked on personally, you are just buying a picture with paint on it. If you like art, check out Museum Replicas They do some damn fine reproductions but you'll pay for them. Even though they didn't have any Jaques David (I like the Oath of the Horatii Brothers and his other Neo-classical pieces) their selection was quite nice but pricey. There should be some terrific landscapes if your wife is so inclined. |
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The man makes Christmas cards and jigsaw puzzles for Gods sake. He's might as well be Lisa Frank. If you really like his stuff and want to decorate your house, then buy a cheap poster, because no matter how much you pay for a Kincade print its going to be a lousy investment long term. |
Or you can buy real original art from contemporary artists for much less and help support poeple that are trying to earn a living painting paintings instead of manufacturing them. |
Indeed, my main problem with "artists" today is that they are harking back to the Dada era of contemporary scatological expressionism. If a local artist could produce a neo-classical painting of any quality, I'd be inclined to purchase it, however most of the artists around here tend toward expressing themselves ala Jackson Pollock which is not what I prefer. |
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On top of it all, Thomas Kincaid told a few of the employees in the Downtown Fort Worth shop that people who buy his work are suckers. (not an exact quote and I'm pretty sure it was in FTW, but he did insult people who were dumb enough to buy what he's selling). I used to enjoy browsing through his FTW gallery until I learned that bit of info. I'm no fan now. By the way, Cincinnatus (an AR15.com member), is an accomplished artist. Every once in a while he'll post some of his work. Very impressive stuff. |
| Holy shit, did you just referrence Dada and Pollack together, the Dadaists should be insulted. I'm not big into paint splatters myself, being more of a surrealist, but I'm just tired of the damn livestock painted on tractor seats and saw blades that pass for art around here. |
| I don't liken the efforts of Duchamp to the works of Pollock (as much as I don't tend to like abstract expressionism), at least Pollock didn't just turn a urinal around and sign it "Rmut", Pollock at least tried. What I am saying is that I prefer impressionism, neo-classicism, romanticism, and Baroque while most local artists prefer to express themselves with crap. |
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Here is an antique engraving of mine. Women generally hate it as it's either 'icky' or would never fit any decor of their choice (like my stuff matches anyhoo, although they dig the frame). Don't let the pic fool you, it's about 3 feet across. The precision is impressive, although you might not be able to tell as photo quality is lacking due to bandwidth considerations. The main heading reads: This view of H.M. STEAM FRIGATE "GEYSER" when off Mt. Edgecombe. 
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The lady explained there are about seven or eight levels from a basic print to an original. She did mention prints with "highlights" by Kincaid. Thanks for all the input. As I mentioned, I know next to nothing about art. My tastes run more to the pix Driftpunch posted, but my wife would never allow it in the house. Eddie |
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+1 on checking out local artists. My parents have taken a liking to a local artist who does work very similar in content and quality (with his own twist on the theme) as Glen Loates. This kid (age mid 20's... kid to my parents) is skilled enough he could make a living at it if only he gets "discovered". So in the meantime my parents buy some of his work because they like the style and it is quality stuff and just maybe the kid will be "discovered" and it will be worth more than they paid. They aren't really concerned with the monetary investment... They just like the kid and his art. I've got some of his work in my kids bedroom... If this thread is still alive tonight I will post a pic. Kent |
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Yeah, I'd say do some research. Kinkade's actually not as good as his massive corporation would lead you to believe- please don't take that as an insult. If it's the atmosphere you're looking for, go to a library and look for painters that evoke the feeling of what they're painting. |
| I like representational art as much as the next guy, but I also enjoy seeing what possibilites there are in the world of abstract color and shape. I used to badmouth so-called "modern art" until I learned what it was they were trying to do, and from then on it was pretty cool. I try to keep an open mind, even about the stuff I don't particularly like(such as Pollock). I agree with the previous poster who suggested you try to obtain some works by a "working" artist, rather than some excessively branded schlock that looks like it came from Target or Kirkland's. Some of the "small timers" out there are producing some kick ass stuff that hardly anyone knows about. |
Kincade 
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As someone who used to work in a art/print store (not a kincade gallery but we did sell kincade), if you're looking for an investment steer wide clear of Kincade. His edition sizes are way to big to maintain any value. Each level of proof has it's own run on printing to make the overall edition size even bigger. Most of his "limited edition peices" (in which the films are supposedly destroyed after a print run) end up in some open edition for, thereby depleting whatever value the limited edition had. He produces work so fast that even if there were only 200 or so of each print there would still be a huge supply. Additionally the markup on these things are HORRENDOUS. My employee price was our cost plus %25. And you know what? That was usually a good %50-65 off the retail price and we were selling at the Kincade mandated prices (you were allowed to charge more; but you were not allowed to "undersell" if you wanted to keep your contract) Here are some of the levels of proofs if I remember correctly- Open Edition- (just plain basic unsigned poster; mostly small 8x10's preframed) Limited Edition- Paper Proof with a "signature" (just mechanically reproduced) and a number IE 250 out of 2500 Limited Edition Canvas- Same think but printed on canvas and has "hand painted highlights" (painted on by a lackey working for the co.) Usually about 2.5-3 times as much as a paper print Artists proof- Exactly the same as the paper proof (sometimes slightly larger). Means nothing with modern printing methods; just a way to have a nother edition and charge more. At one point these would have been the first few prints selected off the production line for particular quality before the press film degrades with use. Nowadays with digital printing methods this is moot (at least in the way the Kincades are printed) as the quality of the first is the same as the last. Gallery Proof- Same as canvas but has a few more highlights (still a mechanical signature rather than a real one) Master's proof- Godawful expensive and hard to find. Probably the lowest level that will maintain any kind of value. Has highlights from a Kinkade "master highlighter" and an actual signature. Only sold one of these in my day and believe me, other than the certificate it was no different than any ther canvas other than size. There were a couple other levels of proofs but i never dealt with them and more than likely yo won't find them without some big big dollar. If you're looking for the whole "tranquil landscape" kinda thing check out Windberg, Dyke or Slaughter (and to a lesser extent Harvey). I think all of them (plus many others) are better in appearance, less expensive and much more likely to hold their value. One Windberg I got for my grandfather has more than doubled in value. Bottom line is stay away from Kincade unless your looking for a purty mousepad or mug or something. |
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Oh yes...."the mall art investment scam" Steer clear of the Thomas K. stores located in malls. Its all prints which hold little to zero in value. If you want pretty things hit DECK THE WALLS and buy that stuff cheap. The other big hustle for "art galleries" is the Wyland stores...I lvoed hearing how all the pictures I had purchased went through the roof in value. This was of course until I got bored with all the ocean prints and said " would you like to host them in the gallery for a commission?" This was met with strong resistance and a lesson learned. This holds true for any collectible which is valued at a NEGATIVE until you manage to find somebody willing to buy it from you- even then its value is solely what they will give you. Autographed baseballs- same thing. I have a collection of over 600 baseballs, not worth a penny until the day I decide to sell. If you buy decent prints you can have them framed and mounted yourself much cheaper than any "gallery". |
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