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Painter Thomas Kinkade Drank Heavily on the Night Before He Died
Faith issues ^ | 4/13/2012 | Mark Ellis

Posted on 04/13/2012 6:22:44 PM PDT by sreastman

by Mark Ellis, FaithIssues/Godreports

Rescue workers who raced to “Painter of Light” Thomas Kinkade’s California home on the morning he died responded to a call concerning an unconscious, 54 year-old man who had been “drinking all night,” according to a report in "The Daily."

A Santa Clara County dispatcher was recorded at 11:16 AM last Friday saying that a “54 year-old male, unconscious, not breathing. Apparently he has been drinking all night and not moving … CPR in progress.” Santa Clara County officials would not elaborate.

Kinkade was legally separated from his wife, Nanette, and the two had been living apart. Nanette and three of their daughters had traveled to Australia to visit a fourth daughter and were absent when he passed away, according to "The Daily."

Kinkade’s live-in girlfriend, Amy Pinto, 48, made the 9-1-1 call. Later, she told the "San Jose Mercury News" that Kinkade “died in his sleep, very happy, in the house he built, with the paintings he loved, and the woman he loved.”

Kinkade built one of the world’s most profitable art empires from his idyllic work, which often featured Christian themes. But his company was in bankruptcy and he had well-publicized problems with alcohol. Two years ago, he was sentenced to 10 days in jail for drunk driving.

The Los Gatos police said they had responded to several calls to his Monte Sereno house related to domestic disputes between Kinkade and his girlfriend.

An autopsy was conducted Monday, but the cause of death could take weeks to release while awaiting a toxicology report.

Thomas Kinkade left behind hundreds of unreleased paintings, sketches and writings, close friends told "The Daily."

“He has things that nobody has ever seen that are beautiful, that are absolutely beautiful,” said Linda Raasch, who had known the late painter more than 25 years.

Raasch said his personal work is mostly in the plein air style of French expressionism — quick paintings that capture the ambiance of the light and air — in contrast to his more popular, highly-detailed renditions of bucolic settings, "The Daily" reported.

“He was brilliant, he was beyond talented. Far beyond what the public has ever seen,” Raasch said.

The Kinkade Company, which licenses and distributes his work, has not decided how it will reveal his unreleased work, a spokesman said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alcohol; death; thomanskinkade
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1 posted on 04/13/2012 6:22:52 PM PDT by sreastman
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To: sreastman

Not the “Painter of Light” but the Drinker of Bud Light.


2 posted on 04/13/2012 6:26:10 PM PDT by Uncle Slayton
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To: sreastman

I guess he was a real artist after all :-(


3 posted on 04/13/2012 6:27:26 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: sreastman

Sad. A true G-d given talent gone.


4 posted on 04/13/2012 6:27:48 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition Is Sad - Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: sreastman

What was really up??’i had a. 48 once. I didn’t die. Im either lucky or he was unlucky..


5 posted on 04/13/2012 6:28:43 PM PDT by goseminoles
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To: sreastman
Anyone is potentially vulnerable to depression and alcohol abuse is a common symptom. By the way, what's your point?
6 posted on 04/13/2012 6:29:46 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: goseminoles

By having a .48 and not dying, tells me that you are not an amateur drinker, you are truly a professional!


7 posted on 04/13/2012 6:33:12 PM PDT by MagUSNRET (I have always been proud of my country, it is my government that I am ashamed of!)
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To: sreastman

Those $1,000 prints will go up in value now. Last I heard they went for 45 bucks apiece on eBay (and nobody was buying.)


8 posted on 04/13/2012 6:34:46 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: goseminoles

You must have felt wonderful the next day.


9 posted on 04/13/2012 6:35:44 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: sreastman

“Kinkade was legally separated from his wife, Nanette, and the two had been living apart. Nanette and three of their daughters had traveled to Australia to visit a fourth daughter and were absent when he passed away, according to “The Daily.””

“Kinkade’s live-in girlfriend, Amy Pinto, 48, made the 9-1-1 call. Later, she told the “San Jose Mercury News” that Kinkade “died in his sleep, very happy, in the house he built, with the paintings he loved, and the woman he loved.””

“Kinkade built one of the world’s most profitable art empires from his idyllic work, which often featured Christian themes. But his company was in bankruptcy and he had well-publicized problems with alcohol. Two years ago, he was sentenced to 10 days in jail for drunk driving.”

Married, live in shack-up girlfriend, drinking all night, happy, drunk driving, bankruptcy and jail time.


10 posted on 04/13/2012 6:37:06 PM PDT by Uncle Slayton
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To: sreastman
Kinkade’s live-in girlfriend, Amy Pinto, 48, made the 9-1-1 call. Later, she told the "San Jose Mercury News" that Kinkade “died in his sleep, very happy, in the house he built, with the paintings he loved, and the woman he loved.”

The girlfriend sounds like a class act. Lets see how much he loved her when the will is read.

11 posted on 04/13/2012 6:37:22 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: sreastman

I have a couple of kinkaid miniatures that I use as night-lights. Sorry to see that he was suffering.


12 posted on 04/13/2012 6:38:24 PM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
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To: goseminoles

The only two people I know/knew of with those kind of numbers were dead - you are very lucky, FRiend.


13 posted on 04/13/2012 6:39:18 PM PDT by dainbramaged (OMG - Obama Must Go)
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To: sreastman
Kinkade’s live-in girlfriend, Amy Pinto, 48, made the 9-1-1 call. Later, she told the San Jose Mercury News that Kinkade “died in his sleep, very happy, in the house he built, with the paintings he loved, and the woman he loved.”

Sounds as if it was more like "Leaving Las Vegas" to me.

14 posted on 04/13/2012 6:41:30 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Over half of U.S. murders are of black people, and 90% of them are committed by other black people.)
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To: sreastman
Apparently Kinkade was a lousy businessman and not entirely trustworthy.

"Kinkade is a … deadbeat," said their lawyer, Norman Yatooma, who accused the artist and his Los Angeles attorney, Dana Levitt, of "breaching their agreement" to pay up. "Kinkade's word is as worthless as his artwork. His lawyer is no better."

15 posted on 04/13/2012 6:42:45 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: sreastman; a fool in paradise

It looks like Pinto’s ride is over!


16 posted on 04/13/2012 6:43:04 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: sreastman

Nobody who is in Hollywood who claims to be a Christian really is it seems.


17 posted on 04/13/2012 6:45:00 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: Uncle Slayton

sick and twisted but funny as heck!


18 posted on 04/13/2012 6:45:47 PM PDT by surfer (To err is human, to really foul things up takes a Democrat, don't expect the GOP to have the answer!)
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To: sreastman

The bigger they are the greater the attack from our vicious, all too capable enemy, Satan. When someone becomes famous and is a known Christian most have no idea as to the extent that they become under spiritual attack. Unless someone is really blanketed with prayer, isn’t under any false teachings that cause vulnerability, is constantly reading the Bible and seeking The LORD, it is nearly impossible to come out unscathed. The average person has no idea.

Excerpt from “A mighty Fortress is our God”:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Saboath His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.


19 posted on 04/13/2012 7:01:00 PM PDT by Bellflower (The LORD is Holy, separated from all sin, perfect, righteous, high and lifted up.)
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To: Beowulf9

He’s from Los Gatos (Monte Sereno), not Hollywood. Los Gatos is between San Jose and Santa Cruz in the central region of California.


20 posted on 04/13/2012 7:06:16 PM PDT by MASS-2 FAC (Get premium health care - run for congress)
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