It may be that all of us carry in our souls a memory of Eden, the glorious garden where we came to know our Creator. That could account for the attraction I’ve long felt for gardens – resplendent in riotous colors and tranquil in their shadowy private spaces. Nanette and I take advantage of the romance of gardens to enrich our love. We’ve sought out their sheltered nooks to meet and talk and dream and remember.

Pools of Serenity, second in The Garden of Prayer Collection, speaks to those personal associations… and to something more profound. I’ve reached into the core of my spiritual life to express what I can only call the wonderfully comforing friendship I feel with my God.

This serene haven – a breathtaking, mirror bright pool reflecting an abundance of flowers, embraced by the shelter of a monumental stone gazebo – expresses the “peace that passeth understanding” that rewards my communion with the divine. There is an air of breathless anticipation here…and up on the distant hill, is that a gentle stranger who awaits?

Danish flags fly proudly on the streets of Solvang – some five thousand miles west of Copenhagen. When the Kinkade family visited the Danish Capital of America right here in Santa Barbara County, California, we found ourselves transported in spirit to the enchanting land of Denmark.

We strolled the lush, blooming streets of Solvang, past thatched-roofed inns and quaint half-timbered houses, and savored the rich perfume of Danish pastry shops, sampled old-world cuisine, and admired the little wooden trolls and other Danish crafts in the gift shops. I was enthralled by what I saw and, as so often happens, was moved to set up my easel and paint the town. It was a lovely, sunny day and the shadows dappled the tree-lined streets as I worked.

The old-world flavor of the town struck me as deeply romantic, so I made my Solvang painting into a tribute to my lovely wife Nanette. If you look closely, you’ll discover a sign bearing my wife’s name, as well as the number of hidden N’s scattered among the houses.

My family has enjoyed the chance to travel together in Europe on occasion; what a pleasure it has been to discover this bit of the old country right here in my beloved California. I invite you to enjoy Solvang with us.

“I try to walk a new pathway to its end” ~ Journal of Thomas Kinkade

What’s around the next bend? What lies at the end of the trail? When I walk an unfamiliar path, curiosity drives me on. The Forest Chapel portrays a daydream I’ve had many times: often while hiking some wooded trail I’ve come upon a spectacular flowering meadow and thought what a wonderful place to worship God. The idea of a chapel in an unspoiled natural setting has intrigued me for years.

In The Forest Chapel I have tried to capture a harmony between what’s within and what’s without. Light glows from the chapel windows, suggesting the warm spirit of the fellowship within while shafts of morning light filer golden through the trees, dappling the forest with a divine light. The sweet melody of psalm singing rises up, to be joined by the gentle murmur of the brook that flows past the house of worship. A Holy Spirit dwells in the chapel and in the glade that houses it. Both proclaim the presence of God.

If you’re like me, the word “hometown” conjures up a whole storehouse of memories. In my new collection Hometown Memories, I would like to attempt to tap into that storehouse and recreate some of those memories on canvas.

As we stroll down the tree shrouded lane, you’ll notice the landmarks familiar to every hometown – neighborhood houses, people of the village, sidewalks, even a pet or two. These are the places where families thrive, children grow up and memories are made. In the distance, you will see the village church – the spiritual foundation of every hometown. One can image, the service is about to commence on this rainy spring evening. The man with a pipe at the lower left of the painting is a tribute to one of my favorite artists – can you guess who it is?

I painted Hometown Memories I, Walking to Church on a Rainy Sunday Evening in the late 1920’s to early 1930’s, and did research on the cars of that time period so that I could accurately paint them in this composition. There will be other stops on our tour of my ideal hometown, and I hope you will join me as I attempt – in these paintings – to record my Hometown Memories.

A garden is a chance to celebrate the joy of pure color. As I explored the secret garden of one of England’s grand country estates, I was struck by the overwhelming fragrance of many blooms – so overgrown and almost hidden by the vast majority of flowers, it inspired me to paint The Victorian Garden.

Back home in California – as I worked on the final painting – I was reminded of the beautiful light, color, and delightful floral scent of this secret English garden. Though painters usually deal with qualities of light and color, I must say I hope The Victorian Garden captures some of that fragrant bouquet on canvas.