Thomas Kinkade

http://news.yahoo.com/kinkade-artist-drew-many-fans-few-critical-raves-223158752.html

Thomas Kinkade, self-described painter of light, died Friday. Mr. Kinkade's works were wildly popular with fans, but were never embraced by art critics.

Kinkade's idealized view of life was reminecessent of Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers. Kinkade explained he was greatly influenced by Rockwell. Kinkade's mother had a vast collection of Saturday Evening Post magazines and he grew up studying the art.