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.
To learn more about Thomas Kinkade's upcoming
events, visit the Events page.
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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 pal, James Gumey.
1982
Marries his childhood sweetheart, Nanette, and
co-author's The Artist's Guide to Sketching
with Gumey.
1984
The Kinkades begin to publish his work, with his
first print, Dawson.
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, and U.S. Art names Kinkade
one of its Artists to Watch in 1995.
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, and Lamplight Bridge is named
Graphic Lithograph 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 and The Light of Peace Print of
the Year. Publishes Year of the Horizons.
1998
NALED names Thomas Kinkade the Graphic Artist of
the Year and Gardens Beyond Spring Gate
Print of the Year.
1999
Celebrates 15th year as a published artist.
Inducted into the U.S. Art Hall of Fame.
Publishes Lightposts for Living.
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