Nature's Paradise is My Newest Release

I unveiled Nature's Paradise on ShopNBC on Thursday and I'm so pleased to be getting so many positive reviews.

This is what I wrote about Nature's Paradise:

Great thinkers of the past have described God's creation as an earthly paradise - and nature herself as a reflection of God's grace and love. I suppose such romantic notions have always inspired me, and certainly have been a foundational part of my beliefs as an artist. In my newest work, I attempt to conceive of nature as existing in complete harmony in all its elements. We see rolling mountains that gather rain to fill streams that cascade into valleys forming lakes and ponds. We see clouds gathering overhead and a rainbow forming in the sky suggesting the passing moisture of distant rainfall. The skies are filled with migrating birds and wildlife is abundant. Everywhere we look, life is brimming forth with greater blessings.

In the midst of this perfect setting, I conceived of a perfect retreat: a woodsman's cabin, with lights glowing to welcome us home after a day spent fishing on the lake or exploring the woods' trails.

This is the third painting in the series that began with Mountain Retreat, and as the last piece in the series I wanted to pull out all the stops and let the detail be even more abundant than ever. As you explore this painting, may you discover that Nature's Paradise is waiting to welcome you in.

A Thankful Day

It’s my birthday today and I’d like to take this opportunity to convey my thankfulness and good wishes to all of the amazing people in my life—including family, friends, collectors, employees and our Gallery owners all across the country!

Birthdays mark the pass of time, but they also represent so much more. For over a half century, I’ve strived to compose a life of love, light and creativity. Balancing a life is not all that different from balancing the compositional elements in a painting. The very choices that contribute to creating a picture of harmony on a canvas can help me move closer to harmony in my daily life. I’m still learning and growing in so many ways, and I know that this will never change. Life is a series of transformations and I can’t wait for the next chapter in my life.

Thanks so much and God bless you all.

Shedding Light on Haiti

During times of crisis, Americans always step up to help. The earthquake in Haiti is a prime example of this, as many people in this country have donated significant amounts of money and aid. I’m certain that many of my collectors have already donated, but if you haven’t yet, you can get involved by contacting the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, World Vision and/or Mercy Corps.

The T.V. images and the news in our newspapers about Haiti are dire, but the entire world is ready to continue giving, because Haiti needs the assistance this country so requires. Share some of the light with Haiti and you’ll reap amazing results over and over again. Giving generously to people we don’t know and whom we will never meet, is one of the greatest and purest acts that anyone can perform.

Hats Off to Our Great Galleries

As we embark with great hopes for the new year, I'd just like to take a moment and tip my hat and say thank you to each of the Thomas Kinkade galleries. The owners and art consultants who I'm so proud to be involved with are simply the finest people I've ever worked with! They not only feature my most recent releases, but many of them also have prior releases or can locate a prior release if it's not in their curent inventory!

Many collectors also have a favorite art consultant who answers their questions on artwork, collectability, care of the artwork – and so much more! They're an unlimited resource and a fountain of knowledge. All of them work hard to make sure every collector has a great experience in the gallery and after they have their artwork home!

Thanks so much to all of my gallery owners and art consultants. Give them a call today and you’ll see what I’m talking about. To find the one nearest you, simply go to ThomasKinkade.com and click on the Gallery Locator.

Happy Collecting!

A Special Comment....

Every once in a while I get a really memorable comment. Here is one:

"Dear Mr. Kinkade, It is New Year's Eve and I just enjoyed watching your Christmas Cottage DVD for the first time. It was a Christmas gift from my 24 year-old daughter. I was deeply moved throughout the film, but I was especially touched at the end, as I watched you dabbing "light" onto the bushes beside a beautiful house. You said something about light that deeply touched me. I immediately wanted to write you. I wanted you to know that our Thomas Kinkade guestbooks are symbols of light and joy that has filled our home for many years now. You see, I wandered into your gallery store in our local mall in 1999. I love your work, but the only item I could afford was a small guest book. I fell in love with it. Since that time, visitors to our home, mostly teenage friends of our 5 children; have filled nearly 3 of your guest books. Each name represents joy, love, laughter...and of course LIGHT! I wish you knew of the joy your cover painting, "Home Is Where The Heart Is", has brought to me. To thank you, I would love to give you a picture of our family. However, I suppose that a short "thank you" here will have to suffice. Thank you for the light! As we all glance back over the names from days, months and years past; we feel joy that lights our hearts and home with love. God bless you, Mr. Kinkade! Sincerely, Diana from Nampa, Idaho (To paint a picture, the Christmas lights are shining, fresh snow has fallen on the ground, and we have sledded to our hearts' content!"

Enjoy your New Years weekend and covet this special time with your families.
-Thom

Glenn Wessels, Friend and Mentor

I’m so pleased and glad that my film, Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage, touched so many when it recently appeared on TV. I’ve heard from so many people telling me that that their families enjoyed the movie together during the holidays. Thank you from my family for all the warm comments.

To answer many of the questions, the film does reflect my early days, including the struggles and challenges. And there really was a "Glenn" who mentored me and taught me so much. Glenn Wessels, of course, was portrayed by Peter O’Toole in the movie and it is a wonderful, timeless performance.

Glenn was a true blessing to me and I have never forgotten his teachings. I try to this day to bring them into each piece I paint. Several people have asked about Glenn's "last painting" as depicted in the movie, but I must admit that there was a bit of Hollywood tinkering done there.

You can find more about Glenn Wessels by going to the Internet. Here's one link with a short biography.

And you may remember this photo of Glenn and me at the end of the movie:
Happy New Year to All From Us and Everyone at the Thomas Kinkade Company.

Say "Hola!" to These Huevos Rancheros

Huevos Rancheros

Here is another Kinkade family recipe featured in The Thomas Kinkade Cookbook, A Journey of Culinary Memories. This one takes us south of the border. I love to make this recipe for the family, so you know that it must be pretty easy. With both of my daughters home from college for the holidays, I’ll be making this for them. These Mexican eggs have become a part of our Kinkade family brunch.

Serves 4

Ingredients:
8 corn tortillas
¼ cup oil
8 eggs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can black beans
1 jar favorite salsa (optional)
1 recipe Rancheros Sauce (see recipe below)
Salt
Pepper

1.) Heat a small skillet until hot. Warm the tortillas until crisp and light brown, about 1 minute per each side. Keep tortillas warm.
2.) Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet until hot. Break eggs into a measuring cup; carefully slip 4 eggs, 1 at a time, into skillet. Immediately reduce heat. Cook slowly, spooning oil onto eggs until whites are set up and the yolks begin to set. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining eggs.
3.) To serve, spread 2 tablespoons black beans and spoon 1 tablespoon of salsa and/or the Rancheros Sauce over each tortilla and top each with 1 egg. Spoon additional sauce over eggs and top with cheese. If desired, serve with salsa.

Rancheros Sauce

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
½ green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups chopped ripe tomatoes
¼ cup chopped green chilies
8 drops red pepper sauce
½ teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

Makes 2 Cups

1.) In a skillet over medium heat, add oil and cook onion, green bell pepper and garlic until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.