Thomas Kinkade

A painting has a lot of advantages over other forms of communication. Unlike a movie, you don't have to put it into a machine and turn it on. It's just there every day. It's not limited by the element of time. It's a constant part of the home.

People who put my paintings on their walls are putting their values on their walls: faith, family, home, a simpler way of living, the beauty of nature, quiet, tranquillity, peace, joy, hope. They beckon you into this world that provides an alternative to your nightly news broadcast.

I was always the kid who could draw. I had this talent, and it was the one thing that gave me some kind of dignity in the midst of my personal environment.

I remember my mom had a big collection of copies of Saturday Evening Post magazines, and that was really my introduction to those great illustrators.

I'm a warrior for light.

My paintings always feature trails that dissolve into mysterious areas, patches of light that lead the eye around corners, pathways, open gates, etc.

I am really the most controversial artist in the world.

Each of us is a small part of God's plan. I'm a small part. I create paintings that are being used by God.

Love is the stepping stone to new beginnings.

Romance makes a radiant sunrise out of every moment.

My joy burns brighter when I tend to the glowing hearth fires of home.

When I find my focus and keep my balance- I find that all is right with my world.

It's when I let myself get little that I tumble head over heels into joy.

Thankfulness <br /> can reduce stress in your life by making you more content with who you <br /> are and what you have. If you make a habit of accepting every <br /> circumstance gratefully and assuming there is a purpose in it, you'll be <br /> relieved from the worry and anxiety that go with being resentful and <br /> dissatisfied.

I believe a radiant, light-filled tomorrow should be normal to the experience of living.

The act of contributing to the lives of others is its own reward. A servant's heart is a greater motivator than financial gain.

Somewhere out there is a unique place for you to help others - a unique life role for you to fill that only you can fill.

Quiet time and solitude are vital to helping me keep perspective. I consider myself fortunate to have so much quiet built into my profession. I spend long hours by myself at my easel. And while I work, I think-of the future, of my loved ones, of God's goodness and the many exciting opportunities that surround me. I ponder the challenges I face, the needs of others, the direction my life is going.

Whether it's a pebble in a riverbed or a soaring mountain peak, I see everything in the world as the handiwork of the Lord. When I paint, I try to represent the beauty of God's creation in my art. Many modern painters see the world as a jumble of random lines and shapes with no divine beauty or order, and their works reflect their viewpoint. Because I see God's peacefulness, serenity, and contentment, I work to capture those feelings on the canvas. My vision of God defines my vision of the world.

The most important key to a more romantic life: you have to be willing to pay attention

To be romantic is quite simply to allow yourself to fall in love with life - all of life - and experience it fully, openly, passionately, and purposefully

With whatever talent and resources I have, I'm trying to bring light to penetrate the darkness many people feel.

I try to create paintings that are a window for the imagination. If people look at my work and are reminded of the way things once were, or perhaps, the way they could be, then I've done my job.

Beauty is found in anything that delights the senses, nourishes the soul, fires the imagination.

Our most important legacy will be the contributions we make to the lives of other human beings.

I'm working on a snow scene right now, and it's summer. It's hot, and I will get chilly. I'll have to turn on the heat. My wife walks in, and it's 95 degrees in the studio. I know it's nutty, but it's a projection you have where you step into the painting.

The power of prayer is like turning on a light as it illuminates God's purpose for our lives. There is no greater connection to knowing His will other than the word.

The worlds I paint leave a lot to engage the imagination by hinting at what lies beyond the four edges of the painting.

The concept that an artist would be revered by popular culture is an immediate dismissal of his relevance as an artist.

We have found a way to bring to millions of people an art that they can understand,