Thomas Kinkade's Bio

It was while growing up in the small town of Placerville that these simple, life-affirming values were instilled in him. It was also during this time that Thomas began to explore the world around him. He once spent a summer on a sketching tour
with a college friend, producing the best-selling instructional book, "The Artist's Guide to Sketching". The success of the book lead the two young artists to paint background art for the animation feature, "Fire and Ice", where Kinkade was able to
explore light and imaginative worlds with abandon.

After the film, Kinkade continued to earn his living 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 art. 

Thomas Kinkade is a devout Christian and credits the Lord for both the ability and the inspiration to create his paintings. His goal as an artist is to touch people of all faiths, to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he creates. The letters he receives every day testify to the fact that he is achieving his goal.

A devoted husband and doting father to their four little girls, Thomas hides the letter 'N' in his paintings to pay tribute to his wife, Nanette, and the girls find their names and images in many of his paintings. 

Thomas Kinkade has even traded his paintbrush for a pen and has completed over 20 books throughout his career. Two of his books, "Simpler Times" and "Lightposts for Living" have become national bestsellers! These books of spiritual counsel and consolation marry Thomas' art and his words and are at once challenging to the mind, consoling to the heart and pleasing to the eye.