Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Blue Moon]

Here is link to photo & story: http://www.elvis.com/graceland/vtour/potw.asp

[Rainbow Light]

Thanks for sharing this information, Laurie! Great to read and hear about as he's done so many beautiful paintings, one of my favorite artists and believe he will do Elvis' home true justice!

[Blue Moon]

He's one of my favorite artists too Sue. I like his snow scenes the best. And I agree; I fully expect he will paint Graceland beautifully. I would love to have his Graceland painting on my wall, but they are so pricey. Even the touched up lithographs are more than I can afford. Here's hoping he'll make some cheaper prints available.

[Rainbow Light]

Here's hoping he'll make some cheaper prints available.

Yes, that would be great for sure! I agree his prints, lithographs are very pricey!

[Lighthouseseeker]

wow!..what a dream to make a painting of the home while sitting in that garden..
yes I love too,his winter and Christmas scenes..

[Rainbow Light]

I guess we will know the likely prices at some stage, whether we can afford them is another matter specially if the estate is selling them!

[Rainbow Light]

Has anyone any further news of this?

[Blue Moon]

From what I have read, the finished portrait will be released in March of 2007.

[Blue Moon]

On the web we found this update on the unveiling of painter Thomas Kinkade's painting of Elvis' Graceland mansion which is scheduled on March 24, 2007 as part of Graceland's 50th anniversary. Kinkade was chosen by Elvis Presley Enterprises to create a commemorative painting of Graceland in celebration of Presley's purchase of the historic home 50 years ago and to celebrate the 25 years that Graceland has been open to the public.

Kinkade will appear at The Light & The Legend event at the Gibson Beale Street Showcase on Saturday, March 24 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. During the event, collectors will be able to view Kinkade's original painting, "Graceland, 50th Anniversary." Priscilla Presley will also be there. Source: Google / Updated: Mar 3, 2007

[Blue Moon]

Thomas Kinkade's Graceland Anniversary Painting Unveiled

50 years ago, on March 19, 1957, Elvis paid his $1000 deposit to buy Graceland. On Friday March 23, 2007 Thomas Kinkade's commemorative painting of Elvis’ mansion will be unveiled at 10am on the Graceland front lawn, with Priscilla Presley in attendance.

Tickets for the unveiling are priced at $250.

Artist Thomas Kinkade visited Graceland last September to work on the painting "Elvis Presley created rock and roll and changed music forever.” He told the press on his visit. “Graceland was his refuge from the demands of his fame. My hope is that I will capture on canvas a bit of the home that he loved so much." Source: Elvis UK On-line

[Wanda June Hill]

I was trying to look at the painting here with a magnafying glass and see if the figures on the porch are Elvis and his mom or Elvis and Priscilla? Which do you think? It looks like it is Elvis by the way he stood, but I'm not sure about the other figure-wearing a long pink dress? I can't see his mom doing that somehow...
What ever, it is beautiful and I am sure very beautiful in person-and the couple most likely represent a Southern couple in the Antebellum "castle" of home. Elvis would be pleased, he so loved that place. It represented everything he wanted so much as a kid-and better than he ever dreamed of he said, he saw it and he "had to have it for us" he and his parents. He HAD to have it-and he said he "bargained with the devil" to get it....what he meant by that I have no idea! Maybe he argued with the colonel? To get the money in cash? I have no clue.
I can't hardly believe he had borrowed money using it as collateral in those last months-he shows that he was desperate as he said he would never ever do that, never take a chance of losing Graceland unless it was beyond his ability to save it. Then he said, he could go back, it wouldn't kill him, he could start over and get it all back and more. He was younger and healthier then though....
wjh

[Blue Moon]

To me, the couple on the front porch seem more like Elvis and Priscilla. The woman looks petite. Priscilla was and is a petite gal; Elvis' mother was not.

However, the green car, presumably a guest's car since is not the famous pink cadellac, looks like a 50's car. Elvis did not have Priscilla at Graceland in the 50's. Of course, the car could be an old one for the time. I mean I have a 1991 car and here it is 2007! I was trying to see if there was someone in the green car "leaving". It looks like there might be, but need to see a bigger version.

I'm sure Thomas Kinkade thought about the details very carefully and I would love to ask him his thoughts. I think the pic I've posted is really too small to have it fully appreciated. If I can find a larger size of the pic, I will post it.

I didn't know Elvis had borrowed $ using Graceland as collateral in the last few months. If he had lived longer and become invalid, unable to perform & make money, he may have lost Graceland. He was at least spared that stress and burden.

[Blue Moon]

For the time being, Kinkade has the Graceland painting showing on his home page. It is a larger version of the picture. As it is html protected, I can not save the picture for posting, but here is the direct link:

http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servl ... omeServlet
OR
http://www.thomaskinkade.com

In looking at the larger pic in the above link, I can see the woman has longer hair, so that would lend itself even more for it to represent Priscilla since Elvis' mother had short hair.
The coloring shows up better for the house too.

[Wanda June Hill]

I couldn't get the painting to come up on the link but I read above and I thought it would be her. She was the "official" mistress of Graceland after his mom passed away-that is what Elvis himself said...before they got married too- they were engaged. wjh

[Amanda Viola]

It is such a remarkable art work! There is soul in it. Thank you for the link, Laurie-Elisia.

By the way, Elisia is a name that suits you so well...