This past weekend through today, we have had a master highlighter at our Thomas Kinkade Gallery in the Village. We generally have Kinkade highlighting events 3-4 times a year, but this one was especially memorable because it was the first since Thomas Kinkade passed away. The events normally last 6-8 hours and we keep the highlighter here for 2-3 days depending on the number of pieces we have set aside to be highlighted.

Some of you may be asking… what is highlighting?? Well, it’s quite simple. Highlighting is when the artist or an approved highlighter goes on top of the print and adds paint to “highlight” different parts of the canvas. This is done to add texture so that the prints seem more like the original as well as giving the light places to catch off of so it makes them jump out at you more.

Our clients love to see the process and meet the highlighters. This time, we were privileged to haveJanet Karn join us as our Master Highlighter. She has been with us several times in the past and always does a fabulous job.  She has been highlighting over the past twelve years for the Thomas Kinkade company, and she services approximately ten galleries. When she first started, they required her to spend around a week in training… constantly highlighting paintings while being timed and spoken to so she could get comfortable with the process. Now, she has it down to a science. The Kinkade company provides their Master Highlighters  with premixed paints to use so that the highlighting on the paintings remains consistent. When you have your painting highlighted, you receive a certificate stating the validity of the highlighting that you can keep with the painting to enhance its value.

Our next highlighting event is scheduled for June, and we would love to have you join us.

Arguably, the most popular pieces in the gallery are Grand Ol’ Gang and True Blues by Andy Thomas. Every day, the majority of our guests stop in front of them trying to figure out who each president is. The pieces almost always spark conversation. You may feel something familiar about the paintings… he modeled them after the famous paintings of  Cassius Marcellus Coolidge that depicted dogs playing poker. Thomas affectionately referred to his paintings as “The Big Dogs.”

You might notice that Thomas hid lots of fun little things in his paintings that you would only really understand if you knew a bit about American and Presidential history. For Instance, In Grand Ol’ Gang, (the first painting below),  you can see Reagan’s jellybeans, Ike’s famous Indian belt and golf clubs, Roughrider Teddy Roosevelt’s cowboy hat, Nixon in his often seen suit and tie, Bush’s cowboy hat, and Ford’s habitual pipe.  Then, in the bottom painting, (True Blues), you might notice the curve of the wheel on FDR’s chair, his cigarette, and the fact that he’s making “The New Deal,” Wilson’s signature glasses, Truman’s oft worn Hawaiian shirt, and Jackson’s pistol/cane. So much research and time went into these, and they are so much fun! He has two more in this series that show the presidents playing pool.

Left to right: George Bush Sr., Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon.

Left to right:     Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Harry Truman.

Available Prints:

Grand Ol’ Gang

24×36    Signed and Numbered       $650 Unframed     $980 Framed

12×18    Open Edition              $125 Unframed      $275 Framed

True Blues

20×30    Artist Proof               $450 Unframed     $680 Framed

12×18    Open Edition               $125 Unframed     $275 Framed

12×18    Open Edition Signed        $150 Unframed     $300 Framed

20×30    Signed and Numbered        $350 Unframed     $580 Framed

24×36    Artist Proof               $750 Unframed     $1070 Framed

24×36    Signed and Numbered        $650 Unframed     $970 Framed

Sometime within the next week or so we will be receiving some originals from an artist we plan on representing in the gallery… Sandra Kuck.

See her work here.

“Admirers of Sandra Kuck know that this talented artist puts a little of herself into every painting. Her strong sense of family and appreciation for beauty is echoed in all of her works, from which she has captured a loyal and appreciative audience.

Sandra describes herself as a “romantic realist.” Her nostalgic settings and angelic children evoke memories and emotions of childhood. With vibrant color, delicate lighting, and exquisite lace and flowers, Sandra creates a romantic and peaceful atmosphere, capturing the beauty and simplicity of days gone by.

Sandra finds her inspiration from many different sources, including the special relationship between mother and child, the beauty of country garden, or the fine furnishings and the clothing of the Victorian era. Her pursuit of perfection, exacting standards, and her attention to detail allows her to paint only eight to ten pieces per year. It is the ability to create flawless scenes of serenity, joy, and elegance that has made her one of the most beloved artists in North America.

As a child in Ohio and Southern California, Sandra always loved to doodle and sketch. It was during her education at UCLA and The Art Student’s League in New York where she realized her love for painting children and deviated from her professor’s emphasis on modern art. Later, it was her husband John, who encouraged Sandra to pursue her dream of becoming a professional artist. Though they quickly started a family, John cared for the couple’s young children on weekends, so that Sandra could have an opportunity to develop her artistic talents. Once the children started school, Sandra was able to devote more time to her art, while John sold her works to local galleries. Their confidence in her special talents would eventually find embodiment in the collection we see today.

Thanks to a steadily growing fan base, it was in 1983 that Sandra’s work received national recognition. That year she was honored with the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers’ (NALED) Plate of the Year, Print of the Year and Artists of the year awards. Since 1983, she has been honored several times with honors from NALED, including an unprecedented seven-time honored as Artist of the Year. Although she enjoys acclaim, she treasures her time at him in her studio. A modest person, she is still easily embarrassed by praise from her faithful collectors.”