Kinkade's Art Firm Loses Court Battle

Bankrupt Thomas Kinkade impaired but 'very polite': cops

(NEWSER) - "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade was arrested Friday on suspicion of DUI after being pulled over near his California home. Kinkade is having a rough month, Scripps Howard notes—his company has filed for bankruptcy in the wake of a multimillion-dollar federal fraud claim against him. "Tom is still painting and the business is still strong," says a rep. More»

(NEWSER) - A New York art dealer was charged today with stealing $88 million in investments and artwork in what may be an art-world Ponzi scheme, the Times reports. Investors and collectors say they entrusted Lawrence Salander with funds or artwork after the dealer promised hefty returns. In many cases, they were paid a fraction of the funds invested, or never saw the artwork again. More»

One gallerist sold more in a day than he sells in 2 weeks

(AP) - Galleries that sell the work of Thomas Kinkade are reporting a surge in sales following the popular painter's death at age 54 —a surge so big that outlets across the country say they're calling in extra help to handle unprecedented demand from customers placing orders in person, on the phone, and online. More»

His sentimental works are generally hated by critics, loved by the public

(NEWSER) - America's best-selling artist Thomas Kinkade died unexpectedly yesterday in his California home at age 54, reports the San Jose Mercury News . The family said the death appeared to be of natural causes, but authorities will not know officially for a few days. "Thom provided a wonderful life for his family," said his wife in a statement. "We are shocked and saddened by his death." More»

Local boy shot him, authors of ' Van Gogh: The Life' suggest

(NEWSER) - The accepted explanation for Vincent Van Gogh's death may be all wrong. While the standard story is that the artist shot himself in a field, managing to return to a nearby inn before he died, a new 900-page book paints a very different picture. In Van Gogh: The Life, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith postulate that a local teenager shot Van Gogh, likely accidentally, the Telegraph reports. The teen, one Rene Secretan, had formed an odd relationship with Van Gogh; he mocked the painter and bought him drinks. More»