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 painting 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.

Family and Faith
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 recently published "Simpler Times", a best selling book that shares some of his philosophy about faith and family and is illustrated with his work. In it he encourages everyone to simplify their lives, to spend time with family and friends. The book, like his paintings, offers "an off ramp from the fast lane..."

Awards and Accolades
Thomas Kinkade has received numerous awards for his works. Most recently, he has been named by the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED) as Graphic Artist of the Year, for the second year in a row. He has also been named NALED's Artist of the Year and his works have been named Lithograph of the Year for five years running.

Thomas Kinkade has won the Collector Editions Award of Excellence and was a charter inductee, along with his idol, Norman Rockwell, to the Bradford International Hall of Fame for plate artists. In 1989, he was the Official Artist for the National Parks Collector's Print and has donated his art to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Christmas program, earning him their coveted Commander in Chief Award. Kinkade is also the only artist predicted to be a "Future Hall of Famer" in US Art Magazine (Thom is eligible in 1999).