Thomas Kinkade, (1958-2012), American artist who built a successful industry on his light-infused paintings of tranquil idyllic scenes.
Kinkade studied art history and took studio classes for two years at the University of California, Berkeley, before transferring to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. It was there that he began experimenting with techniques to create the effects of light and atmosphere in his paintings.