CNN reported this weekend that popular artist Thomas Kinkade died in his home in the Bay Area on Friday. At 54, Kinkade was the self-described “painter of light” who depicted more than a thousand peaceful scenes of cottages, gardens, lighthouses and other simple pleasures in an attempt to “capture those special moments in life adorned with beauty and light,” as he said on his website. Friends described him as “generous” and “inspiring,” and his wife said he provided a “wonderful life for his family.” An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday.
