Artist joins groundbreaking
Thomas Kinkade, the self-styled “painter of light,” added a shovel to his toolkit when he came to Coeur d’Alene on Saturday to talk about lighting up five luxury living rooms.
Kinkade joined architect Rann Haight and developers Roger Stewart and Steve Torres in breaking ground for a development intended to translate five of Kinkade’s manor house paintings into the real thing.
“We’re actually taking art and bringing it to life,” Stewart told about 20 friends, relatives and reporters.
People can “step into the canvas of a Thomas Kinkade painting” if they have $4 million to $6 million for one of five homes in the proposed Gates of Coeur d’Alene development. The hillside lots near Wolf Lodge Bay have a splendid view of Lake Coeur d’Alene if not arable soil.
Stewart worried about whether there would be enough dirt for the ceremonial shovels, but Kinkade reminded him of the Biblical wisdom of building one’s house on solid rock.
“This hillside was just waiting for the opportunity to have homes built here that are timeless and classic,” Kinkade said. “I’ve been standing here all day watching the clouds come and go, and it’s as though you can feel the presence of God’s hand.”
The California artist, known for idyllic scenes with glowing lights, exercised his brush before he began shoveling. He spent the morning painting the view from the hillside.
“What you see here is fresh inspiration,” Kinkade said, displaying his canvas to news cameras. “There was nothing premeditated about it. I showed up on the site and was mesmerized by the beauty.”
He said “epic-size” prints of the painting will be installed in each of the new homes as his gift to the buyers.
“For those of you not fortunate enough to own a home here,” Kinkade joked, “the print will be available at our galleries. Dial 1-800-KINKADE.”
Kinkade said he had never before painted in Coeur d’Alene, although he passed through about seven years ago. His wife, Nanette, was pregnant with their first child, he said – error starting to register on his face even before she reminded him that the pregnancy and the trip were 18 years ago.
The couple now has four daughters, and the girls’ initials often are worked into the artist’s paintings along with an “N” for his wife.
So, can owners of the Gates of Coeur d’Alene homes expect to find Nanette Kinkade’s initials in their homes?
“I insist on it,” she said.
Her husband conceded the point: “It’s our 25th anniversary coming up next year, so I should do something to tributize her.”
Mansion buyers also might wonder what measures are planned to incorporate the artist’s trademark lighting into the proposed development. Kinkade’s painting of the first home to be built, “Ivy Crest – Beyond Autumn Gate,” has every window aglow with warm light.
Architect Haight said he likes to use a lot of yellowish incandescent lights, but the details haven’t been worked out.
“Love is the light that will glow out of the windows,” Kinkade said.
And, Stewart added, “We hope that the county planners are going to love us.” He thinks planners and buyers will like the way the homes are designed to fit the terrain, which largely will be left in its natural state.
The developers, who have come together as HST Group, have a list of prospective buyers and will begin taking deposits when the project is approved, Stewart said.
Future plans call for similar developments elsewhere, including some less-expensive homes based on Kinkade’s paintings of cottages.
“We are looking at several sites in three different states, including the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area,” Stewart said.
If county approval is granted in time, construction of the first Gates of Coeur d’Alene home will begin late this summer and will be completed late next summer, Stewart said.