Thomas Kinkade, known as the "painter of light," died Friday (April 6, 2012). He was 54. Kinkade's pictures sold well to the average homeowner but were not appreciated by fine-art experts. He had sold paintings and prints in his franchised galleries, online and on home-shopping TV shows. He went through a period of scandal, too, and was accused of lying to franchisees, drunken behavior, and harassment of women. An autopsy is planned. His artwork included prints, oil on paper, oil on canvas, and other types. When he died, the least expensive were selling for about $50 to $150. The most expensive, the original oil paintings, were offered for $50,000 to $100,000 or more. It is the Disney-inspired paintings that sell for the most. Usually the value of a painting by a famous artist goes up when the artist dies. But because so many Kinkade reproduction prints and enhanced paintings are available and because he was the personality behind the popularity of the paintings, the higher prices may not hold for long in this case.

Photo: DuMouchelles