About Thomas Kinkade Studios
A Legacy of Light
Thomas Kinkade, the famed “Painter of Light,” loved to share his passion for art and his creative process with other artists throughout his career. Thom believed in supporting artist development and exchanged ideas with artists. Through this collaborative environment, Thom passed down his methods and imparted the techniques, concepts and vision for his signature Kinkadian style.
Today, the artists of the Thomas Kinkade Studios apply many of the same techniques created and used by Thom during his lifetime; from sketching to digital and oil brushwork, to image recapture and his use of light. Over time, these mastered skills have evolved into a Kinkadian style of art adored by art collectors around the world.
Thomas Kinkade
1958 – 2012 In the very beginning of his artistic career, Thomas Kinkade put his entire life savings into the printing of his first lithograph. Though at the time he was already an acclaimed illustrator, Thom found that he was inspired not by fame and fortune, but by the simple act of painting straight from the heart, putting on canvas the natural wonders and images that moved him most.
Throughout his life Thomas Kinkade shared his joy and used his paints in support of hospitals, schools, and humanitarian relief. Though the recipient of countless awards and honors, it was Thom’s profound sense of purpose that his art was not just an accessory, but also a ministry, that continues on as his legacy. From custom images that were sold for The Salvation Army, Hurricane Katrina relief, Rotary International, to donations that now grace the halls of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the White House, The Vatican, and Britain’s Tate Museum, Thom raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over his lifetime for charity.
Thom’s dearest wish had always been that his artwork would be a messenger of hope and inspiration to others – a message to slow down, appreciate the little details in life, and to look for beauty in the world around us. As millions of collectors around the world sit back and enjoy his artwork in their homes, there is no doubt that Thomas Kinkade had indeed achieved his goal of Sharing the Light.
Dirk Wunderlich
Dirk’s interest in drawing Disney characters came at an early age. He was eight years old when Disneyland opened in 1955. Dirk became inspired by the art and sent Walt Disney Studios what he thought were fabulous drawings of their characters.
In the early 80’s, Dirk began to design advertising layouts and catalogs for Disney’s non-theatrical film rental division. That opportunity would lead to work on the launch of The Disney Channel. There Dirk created an image of Mickey from ‘Fantasia’ that showed Mickey pointing up to the channel’s logo. This artwork would soon be used on posters, ads and brochures.
After freelancing for some time, Dirk met Thomas Kinkade who saw real talent and took him under his wing. Through several years of working under Thom’s direction, perfecting his techniques and styles, Dirk became a Thomas Kinkade Studios Legacy Artist.
One of Dirk’s most memorable moments with Thom was accompanying him and his wife at Disney World for its Thirty-Fifth Anniversary to unveil” A New Day at the Cinderella Castle”. As the three made their way down Main Street in a vintage car, they were greeted by hundreds of Disney collectors.
Monte Moore
Monte Moore has been a professional illustrator for nearly 30 years for dozens of top-tier companies and properties having worked on book covers, video games, movie posters, card games and comic books. Along with having 8 books published exclusively featuring his commercial artwork in the pop-culture industries Monte has won the World Fantasy Art show twice for Best Black and White work and has been a guest of honor artist at conventions and art shows around the world including Italy, Scotland, Belgium and Germany and 2001 Guest of Honor at the San Diego Comic-Con International.
Monte’s list of clients that he has created licensed artwork for include: DC Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Image Comics, IDW, Wizards of the Coast, Jose Cuervo, Lucasfilm Ltd., Hard Rock Cafe, The U.S. Marine Corps, Coors, Harley-Davidson, The Boy Scouts of America and many others. Recent projects for Monte have included cover art for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #100 and Transformers vs. The Terminator #1 and recently People’s Choice Award Winner in 2019 Western Art Rodeo Association World Finals.
Zac Kinkade
Zachary Thomas Kinkade, Thomas Kinkade’s nephew, was born in 1991 and has been passionate about art his entire life. At the age of 11, Zachary began entering and winning national and regional art competitions and shows and has since gained regional, national international recognition for his work as well. As a teenager, Zac attended the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Art in preparation of formal university training the arts. During this time, Zac began apprenticing at the Thomas Kinkade Studios to explore his own aesthetic vision. Zac continued this relationship while attending Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he eventually graduated with honors from that academy’s prestigious school of art and architecture. Following in his uncle’s footsteps and in service of his own life as an artist, Zac attended the internationally known Art Center School of Design in Pasadena California. Zac has taken a position as a publishing artist for Art Brand Studios and is rapidly starting his own legacy with pencil and brush.
Scott Smith
An award-winning painter and former Art Gallery owner, Scott Smith received his formal art education at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and has established himself as both a talented artist and a trusted product development expert in the fine art community.
Scott was elected to the Advisory Board of the American Academy of Art in 1995, and in 2005 to the steering committee of this prestigious institution. Throughout Scott’s illustrious career as a fine artist he has been featured in high-profile art events and installations, has won numerous awards, and has been invited to judge many fine art shows.
As a Creative Director and Product Development Professional, Scott has designed many top-selling products and has worked with numerous nationally known artists and licenses, including Thomas Kinkade. Reflecting on his work with Thomas Kinkade, Scott has shared, “I could see the genius in Thom during our brainstorming sessions. His mind worked quickly, coming up with many very successful ideas. He was always about seven steps ahead of everybody else in the room.”
After working with the Thomas Kinkade brand for over 20 years, developing many successful programs, Scott was honored to accept a role as a Thomas Kinkade Studios Artist. This opportunity enables him to utilize his fine art talents and carry on Thomas Kinkade’s legacy of making the world a better place through uplifting art.
Kristen Barthelman
Kristen Barthelman is the Vice President of Licensing and Artist Management at Art Brand Studios. She joined the Company in 2007 as a Licensing Marketing Manager. Kristen currently manages over 50 licensing partners representing our portfolio of artists and sublicensed properties. Kristen strives to build strong relationships with exceptional manufacturing partners representative of our top tier artists and brands.
Kristen has worked as a Sales and Marketing Category Manager for the home and home office website of Hewlett Packard and as a Product Manager/Buyer for the corporate offices of JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts, a retail chain of over 900 stores.
Kristen graduated from Kent State University where she earned an MBA and her undergraduate degree is from Philadelphia University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Design.
In her spare time away from Art Brand Studios, Kristen enjoys volunteering, cheering on her children as well as Cleveland sports teams and spending time with her family, friends and six rescued pets
Denise Sanders
One afternoon in 1997, a mutual friend from church had learned Thomas Kinkade was looking for a new personal assistant and instantly thought that Denise’s background at the bank, along with her strict adherence to details would make her the ideal candidate. One interview later Denise was ready to tackle her new career and challenge of working alongside the famous painter Thomas Kinkade. What she didn’t realize is that she was much more than an assistant, she was the keeper of all artistic records, better known as a historian.
Being the historian is not a “job” but a privilege according to Denise. The experience of working with Thom for almost 15 years gave her a front row seat to his unique genius. It is her duty to preserve his legacy, which according to Denise is, “…not only was he a great painter but first and foremost he was a doting family man. He always wanted his art to connect directly to the viewer but, he also, wanted his art accessible to everyone. Thom considered the legion of collectors to be part of his extended family. This was the driving force for he and Nanette to start their publishing company. My role is not to just keep his art “alive”, but to reinforce his passion for connecting with human emotions.”
Guadalupe Delgado
Guadalupe Delgado, or “Lupe” as she goes by at the Studio, always dreamed of being an artist. At the age of 19, with no professional artistic training, she started working at the Thomas Kinkade Studios in the Production Department. In this position, Lupe fell in love with the paintings she was working on, and she was captivated by Thom’s profound use of light and color.
Lupe’s love for the artwork quickly turned into a passion, and she observed the process of painting. Again, and again, she inquired about openings in the art department, and eventually perseverance paid off and she was given a chance. Lupe started working on highlighting a canvas and it instantaneously came naturally to her. Her peers noticed her passion for exquisite detail and how she would completely submerge herself into a painting. It didn’t take long for Lupe to be promoted, and she soon found herself working on Special Editions right next to Thomas Kinkade himself. Now after years of hard work and dedication, she oversees the Highlighting Department at Thomas Kinkade Studios and is a Master Highlighter.
Lupe’s favorite moment as a Master Highlighter was when she received a hand-written letter from a collector who was so grateful for the work Lupe had done. It was a response to a question that she had always wondered, did her work mean anything to anyone out there? That very letter is what drives Lupe to put all her love into her work day in and day out.
Dr. Patrick Kinkade
Dr. Patrick Kinkade, brother of Thomas Kinkade, received his Bachelor degrees from the University of California, Berkeley in Psychology and Anthropology, his Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the California State University at Los Angeles, and his PhD in Social Ecology and Research Methodology at the University of California at Irvine. He is currently a full professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.
Since 1995, Pat has been an integral part of the Thomas Kinkade Studios. His personal passion is writing travel and children’s books of which he has published four- all under the Thomas Kinkade Studios brand. One of the most popular books, Chasing the Horizon, was co-authored with his brother, Thom. Most recently, Pat serves as a Thomas Kinkade Studios Studio Artist, working with Thomas Kinkade Galleries and their collectors in the very popular Generations Tour, where he acts as an ambassador for his brother’s message of hope, joy and inspiration through art.
Jessica Koon
Jessica Koon is an aspiring graphic designer who graduated from San Jose State University. She has an artistic and thoughtful personality that leads her to explore different areas in art. She has loved art since her childhood and was fascinated by how some arts and designs can embed deep messages into people’s minds and last for decades. As a production design coordinator at Thomas Kinkade Studios, she was introduced to traditional oil painting and immersed in the details and meanings of the different paintings by artists.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys taking photos and exploring the natural beauty and historical charms of her community with photography. Besides photography, she also loves discovering new food and places and finding inspirations for her designs through observations and exploration.
As an active learner with a strong passion in art, Jessica joined multiple art contests where she participated in creating websites and rebranding companies. In the Adobe Creative Jam Contest with Twitch, she won the honorable mention award with her team.
SAMANTHA GARVIN
Samantha grew up in the Midwest in a small town on the Mississippi River. She was raised in a home where design, creativity, and imagination were in the forefront. Her mother and greatest inspiration was a licensed Polymer Clay Artist who spent most days creating sculptures for work and pleasure. She taught her children how to put their ideas into action. Samantha spent the beginning of her life creating alongside her mother while their favorite Disney movies would play in the background.
TAYLOR SUMMERLIN
aylor Summerlin is an Orange County native who lives and breathes art, writing, animation, and storytelling. After graduating from Cal State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art/Animation, she went back to Fullerton College to obtain the Illustration Certificate and became the first recipient of the Storyboarding Certificate. Her background became more impressive when she was hired at Titmouse, Inc. to be one of the Assistant Animatic Editors on AMC Plus’ first animated series, PANTHEON.
Now as one of the sketch artists for Art Brand/Thomas Kinkade Studios, Taylor continues to expand her horizons. She may not know what’s coming next for her, but Taylor firmly believes that more great things are headed her way.
Jenna McMullins
Jenna McMullins began her art career in 2017 after graduating with a degree in Design and Illustration. She has designed work for small businesses all across the US, and just recently began making officially licensed prints for Lucasfilm in 2021. Her passion for Star Wars and Disney has driven her to grow as an artist, and has continued to inspire her work. Jenna was introduced to Thomas Kinkade’s work in college, and that became her new inspiration, and her dream company to create for. One of her favorite uses of her artistic abilities is to raise money for charities through the sales of her prints.
JOSEPH YAKOVETIC
Joseph Yakovetic began his long association with Disney by creating illustrations for the original Vacationland Magazine under the guiding hand of Charles Boyer. Joe’s Disney illustration treasures include over 50 books, paper dolls, and coloring books.
Both artist and performer, Joe travels around the world doing live Sketch Artist shows. As a designer for the “Say ‘Hello’ to Honda’s ASIMO” show at the Disneyland® Resort, Joe created the futuristic set and exciting theatre.
Trained in painting by Bill Yelland, former restorer of the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, Joe creates Disney fine art and sculptures. By using hidden images and shadows, Joe brings elements of favorite Disney classic films to life. He has been dubbed “Painter of Shadows” by Disney fans.
ALLISON ATAMAN
Allison Ataman grew up on the east coast of Florida, by the beaches not far from the Magical Walt Disney World. As a child, Allison spent her days scribbling with crayons until these images began to come to life. She comes from a hard working family that always taught her the value of hard work and respect. Allison received her undergraduate degree in Business Sales/Marketing, and then later pursued her MBA in Information Technology Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Allison’s family and friends play a significant role in her life, and she couldn’t have gotten to this point without their support. In her free time you can catch her spending time with family, traveling, sketching or sculpting.
Allison always aspired to fulfill her dream of being an artist, and is proud to be a member of the Thomas Kinkade family. She is excited to see her lifelong dream brought to fruition, and see how her relationship and art can grow in the future.
Ed Schuppert
Ed Schuppert’s extensive background in the arts spans four decades and ranges from sketching and painting with acrylics to stage set drawing and the creation of murals up to 50 feet. His artistic education and experience include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Oil and Acrylics from the San Francisco Art Institute. He has also spent 16 years as a Master Highlighter and Event Coordinator with Thomas Kinkade Studios. In addition, Ed served many years as Director of Thomas Kinkade’s personal gallery in Alaska.
In addition to being Kinkade’s trusted aide, Ed has followed his artistic path and has created his own works of art, supervised crews in the construction of stage sets, planned, designed, and produced murals for his clients’ homes, businesses and schools and has appeared in numerous publications.
While pursuing the business of art, Ed still finds time to give back to those who have supported the personal side of his art; his creations have included the design, construction and supervision of neighborhood holiday displays and the design of stage sets for high schools and murals for Southern California cities.
Ed currently lives in San Diego, California and enjoys touring the United States meeting Thomas Kinkade Studios Collectors at Master Highlighting and Disney Dreams Collector Events.
BRIAN ROOD
Brian Rood is a professional illustrator in the entertainment industry, most known for his photo-realistic watercolor and mixed media paintings from the Star Wars™ saga. He has spent the better part of the last two decades working primarily in a galaxy far, far away…
His work for the Star Wars™ franchise can be found on everything from fine art reproductions to illustrated storybooks for Lucasfilm and Disney publishing. He has spent the last seven years creating over 1000 new illustrations for the most extensive storybook retelling of the Star Wars™ trilogies to date. His Lucasfilm and Disney publishing projects can be found in bookstores worldwide, and his work has also been used in a special Star Wars™ anniversary edition of Time Magazine.
Brian’s artwork has been commissioned and used by nearly every major licensor of Star Wars™ merchandise. He also assists in creating new artwork for Lucasfilm’s style guides.
Brian’s fine art reproductions for Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm have been a staple throughout the Disney Parks for the past decade. He enjoys meeting collectors at special events at Walt Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Ships.
Brian Rood’s original paintings are in private collections worldwide. When he’s not busy creating new artwork, he spends time with his wife and two children in Southern Michigan.
