“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.”
– John Muir

Thomas Kinkade was an avid outdoorsman, and grew up in the foothills of Northern California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Throughout his life he would return to this magnificent mountain range to paint. He told me that he always kept scribbled notes and quickly drawn sketches around his studio that he would use for inspiration.

In 1989, Thomas Kinkade was inspired to paint Warming Up. If I could go back in time, it would be fascinating to have a conversation with Thom to learn exactly which hiking trip up the Sierra Nevada Mountains motivated him to paint this solitary backpacker seeking warmth from the campfire as the cold daylight wanes.

Written by: Denise Sanders, Thomas Kinkade Historian

 

“I love Carmel. The town looks like it was invented by artists, which, in a sense, it was. The houses are incredibly picturesque, and when I set up my easel on one of the boulevards, I’m just doing what so many painters do every day.” – Thomas Kinkade

From my many conversations with Thomas Kinkade, I recall his enthusiasm as he talked about Plein Air painting. In Plein Air, or open-air painting, the natural light is always changing as the sun moves across the sky and clouds can play with this natural light. Thom always traveled with a small portable studio and was ready to paint at any time.

Carmel-by-the-Sea was a favorite destination for Thom and his family. A quick, but picturesque, drive down the California Coast from his painting studio in the suburbs of Silicon Valley the family found a vibrant village tucked up against the Pacific Ocean. Thom had found a muse he could capture numerous times on canvas. Carmel’s many quaint cottages and boulevards provided ample inspiration to his artistic eye. Thomas Kinkade’s Dolores Avenue, Carmel is just one of the Plein Air paintings Thom created in his travels down the California Coast.

The French coastline was a favorite place of Thomas Kinkade’s. Much of his impressionist work is based in the beauty of small seaside villages and towns. In Along the Coast, Thom captures a quiet harbor that offers both a restful peace and an inspiring vista to those who stand on its banks to reflect and dream.

If you have seen Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘To Catch a Thief’ – “graced” by an unforgettable performance by the lovely Grace Kelly – then you have seen The Beach at Nice. The backdrop of stately old hotels, the sweep of pebbled beach, the festive beach cabanas, the dancing sailboats, and above all the unmistakable velvet waters of the Cote d’Azur, combine to make this a perfect subject for my Robert Girrard Impressionist style.

When I set up my easel to attempt to capture the grandeur and excitement of The Beach at Nice, my challenge was to convey the animation of the water – which seems like liquid crystal, alive with light and motion – and the bathers on the shore.

I used bold strokes to convey the vibrant colors of the flags and beach cabanas. The pristine white sailboats dance on the waves, making the perfect accent to suggest the vibrant movement of the water. The wispy clouds – resembling sail boats in the sky – heighten the sense of a blustery afternoon. The Beach at Nice is crowded with bathers; the almost pointillist application of colors works to dramatize the action. Anyone who enjoys sea breeze, sand, and water will surely relish their time at The Beach at Nice.

I must admit to being a full-time romantic who will always have a deep and abiding affection for France, a country that touches my heart and brings it to the forefront of my artistic expression! In Boardwalk Flowers – a painting from my Robert Girrard years – I released my emotional enchantment with this country in a variety of ways. I rendered the image in the style of the French impressionists, a school of art established and furthered by many of the most romantic painters of their time; Renoir, Monet and Degas to name but a few.

I delighted in the broad stroke approach, a very passionate way to apply oil and interpret a subject. In the foreground a relaxed couple watches the endless ocean horizon; the woman sitting, perhaps reading her latest penned poem of loving thoughts to her well-heeled husband. Beyond this contented couple, a family relishes a day together; the mother joyfully looking on while her husband and daughter walk hand-in-hand on the beach and ready themselves to brave the surf. Listen with me to the flap of the flags in the wind, the eternal wash of the waves and the lonesome call of the gull, sounds sure to arouse nostalgic reminiscence of your own times of peace at a favorite seaside retreat.

In Boardwalk Flowers I hope you can feel the romance of your own heart-mate, the unbreakable ties to your own family and the joy of your own treasured memories of peace as a gift of art from me to you. And know; even now as I write this, I yearn to return to France, a country that truly speaks the many “languages of love.” Will you join me?

The Kinkade family explored the desert southwest in an oversized RV, equipped to be a rolling artist studio. At Bryce National Park, God works on a monumental scale – the vast panorama of eroded rock stretches to the horizons.

We visited in late spring, when patches of snow still nestle on the shadowed high places. Hardy pine trees cling to the nooks and walls of the towering cliffs, creating a unique wonderland. This fantasyland carved in multi-hued sandstone presents a spectacular succession of dramatic vistas – one grander than the other.

I worked on Caesarea at sunset, as the sun touched the wispy clouds with gold and painted the azure Mediterranean a rich cobalt blue. I worked at a frantic pace as I struggled to keep up with the setting sun. I think you’ll note the broken colors and the bold brush strokes that give Plein Air studies like this their energy and dramatic power.

Caesarea shows all that remains of the important Roman port from which the new religion spread and though it may not be a vigorous port any longer, I certainly attempted to make my Caesarea a vigorous painting.

 

Monterey’s famed Cannery Row is undergoing a renaissance. No longer the bustling sardine fishing center immortalized by John Steinbeck, it entices visitors today with its many fine shops and boutiques.

As I continue my odyssey as an artist, I find myself drawn to the historic seaside villages of California. One of the reasons, I believe, is that the coastal air – saturated with mist – lays down a mirror-like film of moisture on streets and walkways. Cannery Row Sunset created to celebrate Cannery Row’s 50th Anniversary makes full use of the reflective play of light and color, not only on the busy streets but upon the luminous surface of Monterey Bay.

As I worked, urged on by crowds of enthusiastic collectors, a friend drove up with his historic 1953 Chevy Bel Air, which takes us back to the glory days of Cannery Row. Many of the colorful storefronts also date back to the ear immortalized in Steinbeck’s novels. A historic Cannery Row walkway bridge crosses the thoroughfare and in the distance we see hints of the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Sunset enriches the vista with touches of pink and gold – soon it will be time for a relaxing meal of seafood fresh from the bay.

An artist strives for the ability to see familiar places as if for the first time. Capitola Village is a famous destination for an afternoon drive. I have friends there that Nanette and I dine with in this charming California coastal village – which is as familiar as my backyard; I’ve even painted it many times.

Imagine my surprise then, when I ventured onto the cliffs above Capitola to be greeted by a dazzling new vista. In the afternoon light, the buildings seemed to glisten like the Emerald City of Oz. I returned the following week and set up my easel at this precise spot. The long wooden pier divides the ocean into gemstone color swaths – emerald and turquoise. Pinks and blues shimmer in the town; the cliffs and beach are painted rose by the setting sun. I was truly seeing Capitola Village as if for the first time.

 

A century…a lifetime…a profound legacy! Few endeavors have ascended such lofty heights transcending time and generations. Yet, such is the Indianapolis 500®. Annually, its spectacle drawing untold millions to witness the glory of road hardened warriors pitting wit, courage, and their beloved cars against the very laws of physics as they hurl their way to victory and join the pantheon of racing champions. Energy is palpable and electric as drivers jostle their respective mechanical steeds in a battle of wills at the famed Brickyard. Securing its place in the noble lore of the honorable and inspiring Volunteer State, the Indianapolis 500® is much more than a race…it is a testament to the resiliency, determination, and character of our great nation. Whether pitted against the backdrop of inclement weather or radiant with approving light, for one hundred years the race has captivated the imagination, beckoned future racers, and inculcated itself as one of the greatest sporting events in history. It is a staple of every Memorial Day weekend and as American as any tradition. Yet this year – more than any other – it stands tall as a testament to the resiliency of its fans and participants to honor such lofty traditions irrespective of challenge. For one hundred years we have come to witness the harnessing of destiny, the creation of champions, and the securing of an indelible legacy!

As I painted my tribute to this amazing race, I was moved by the imprint of time on this event. Two years earlier, I memorialized the 100th Anniversary of this storied track with my image entitled Indy Excitement, 100 Years of Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway®. In that tribute, I painted the perspective from the multitudes of fans watching as their favorite drivers sped through the oval. I honored the history of the event with time-sequenced cars being serviced in the pits, from oldest to most current. Yet in this image I wondered at the thrill of viewing the race at track level where each of these amazing warriors would engage in the challenge of winning this epic race. I paid tribute to a century of competitors with yesteryears car racing against today’s elegant machines. Along the track, the smoke and dust reminiscent of one hundred years of racing billows as cars round the oval towards the renowned-checkered flag. Adjacent to the track, fans spanning generations and attired in appropriate garb, gather collectively willing their champions to victory all the while feeling the sonic impact of each lap and wincing at the roar of passing cars. In the horizon, sunlight gently adorns the clouds as sun approvingly sets on this year’s coronation of Indy’s latest champion…what a legacy is this greatest of races. Kudos, Indy, for one hundred years of thrills slowly and annually acquiescing to the storied checkered flag!