William Thomas Kinkade III was an iconic American painter noted for creating paintings with realistic, pastoral, and idyllic subjects. He started experimenting with methods in creating effects of light and atmosphere in his works while attending Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He thrived in developing a flourishing industry on his light-infused paintings depicting calm and peaceful idyllic scenes. He described himself as a "Painter of Light" and protected the phrase through trademark, however the moniker was earlier used to describe English painter J. M. W. Turner. Kinkade’s works typically included idyllic portrayal of gardens, cottages, bridges, streetscapes, and churches infused with warm glow of sunlight. He also used the brush name Robert Girrard in producing Impressionist-style paintings. During his lifetime, Kinkade achieved success with mass marketing of his paintings as printed reproductions and other licensed products through the Thomas Kinkade Company thus emerging as one of the most popular and highly collected living artists of his time. The art critics however tagged his work as being kitschy. His company also launched the Thomas Kinkade Gallery retail stores, mostly in the US. Kinkade died of an accidental overdose of alcohol and diazepam.