Thomas Kinkade, the Artist

Thomas Kinkade is America's most collected living artist, and the adventure that he's taken to get there is a fascinating and compelling story.

While growing up in the small town of Placerville, California, the young Thomas Kinkade embraced a series of simple life-affirming ideals that later would shape his future and his art. As a devout Christian, Thom uses his artistic gift as a way to communicate and spread the life-affirming values he embraced during his formative years.

As he matured into adulthood, Kinkade began to explore the world around him with enthusiasm and fervor. He spent one summer on a sketching tour with a college friend, producing a best-selling instructional book, The Artist's Guide to Sketching. The popularity of the book landed the two fledgling artists a job at Ralph Bakshi Studios, creating background art for the animated feature film Fire and Ice. Soon, Thom started exploring light and imaginative worlds with abandon. It was during this period that he acquired his moniker as the The Painter of Light.

After completing his work on the Bakshi film, Kinkade began his career as a painter, selling his originals in galleries throughout California. In 1982, he married his childhood sweetheart, Nanette, and two years later they began to publish his paintings together.

Devoted to his wife and children, Thomas strives to lead a balanced life committed to family values. Thom creatively fills his paintings with "love notes" by hiding the letter "N" in all his paintings as tribute to his wife Nanette. His four daughters also find their own messages of love from their father as their names and images often appear in many of his paintings.

Thomas Kinkade is currently involved in several collaborations that allow him to spread his message of inspiration through art.

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				Thomas Kinkade, the Artist Thomas Kinkade is America's most collected living artist, and the adventure that he's taken to get there is a fascinating and compelling story. While growing up in the small town of Placerville, California, the young Thomas Kinkade embraced a series of simple life-affirming ideals that later would shape his future and his art. As a devout Christian, Thom uses his artistic gift as a way to communicate and spread the life-affirming values he embraced during his formative years. As he matured into adulthood, Kinkade began to explore the world around him with enthusiasm and fervor. He spent one summer on a sketching tour with a college friend, producing a best-selling instructional book, The Artist's Guide to Sketching. The popularity of the book landed the two fledgling artists a job at Ralph Bakshi Studios, creating background art for the animated feature film Fire and Ice. Soon, Thom started exploring light and imaginative worlds with abandon. It was during this period that he acquired his moniker as the The Painter of Light. After completing his work on the Bakshi film, Kinkade began his career as a painter, selling his originals in galleries throughout California. In 1982, he married his childhood sweetheart, Nanette, and two years later they began to publish his paintings together. Devoted to his wife and children, Thomas strives to lead a balanced life committed to family values. Thom creatively fills his paintings with "love notes" by hiding the letter "N" in all his paintings as tribute to his wife Nanette. His four daughters also find their own messages of love from their father as their names and images often appear in many of his paintings. Thomas Kinkade is currently involved in several collaborations that allow him to spread his message of inspiration through art. TRY OUT OUR MONSTER THOMAS KINKADE TRIVIA SECTION TEST YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE




	Thomas Kinkade Timeline 1958 Thomas Kinkade is born in Sacramento, California. 1976 - 1978 Attends the University of California and receives his formal training at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena; he spends the summer after graduation on a sketching tour with college friend, James Gurney. 1982 Marries his childhood sweetheart, Nanette. Co-author's The Artist's Guide to Sketching with Gurney. He and Gurney are employed by Ralph Bakshi Studios creating background art for the animation feature, Fire and Ice. 1984 The Kinkades begin to publish his work, with his first print, Dawson. 1984 - 1989 Thomas Kinkade takes on the brushname Robert Girrard in order to experiment with artistic freedom. 1989 Thomas Kinkade and Ken Raasch form Lightpost Publishing. 1994 The National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED) honors Thomas Kinkade as the Artist of the Year. 1995 NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year, and he is a charter inductee into the Bradford International Hall of Fame for plate artists. 1996 NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year. 1997 Thomas Kinkade is awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander in Chief Award. NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year. Publishes Year of the Horizons. 1998 NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year. 1999 Celebrates 15th year as a published artist. NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year. Publishes Lightposts for Living. 2001 NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of the Year. 2002 Thom receives the World Children's Center Humanitarian Award. He is also selected to commemorate the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the 2002 World Series. Thom is inducted into the California Tourism Hall of Fame. 2003 Thom co-writes his first work of fiction, Cape Light, with Katherine Spencer.