Throughout his life, Thomas Kinkade shared his joy and used his paints to support hospitals, schools, and humanitarian relief. Though the recipient of countless awards and honors, Thomas’ profound sense of purpose was that his art was not just an accessory, but also a ministry, that continues as his legacy. From custom images that were sold for The Salvation Army, Hurricane Katrina relief, Rotary International, to donations that now grace the halls of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the White House, The Vatican, and Britain’s Tate Museum, Thom raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over his lifetime for charity.

He was also a devout and loving family man. This devotion to his family inspired him to add symbols of his love for his artwork. Numerous paintings contain hidden “N’s” representing Thomas’ lovely wife Nanette, and many other paintings include the numbers 5282 as a tribute to their wedding date, May 2, 1982. Thomas’ four daughters were also involved in his artistic process- after the birth of each of his daughters, he painted adoring images in each of their namesakes: Evening at Merritt’s Cottage, Chandler’s Cottage, Winsor Manor and Everett’s Cottage.

Thomas’ dearest wish had always been that his artwork would be a messenger of hope and inspiration to others – a message to slow down, appreciate the little details in life, and look for beauty in the world. As millions of collectors around the world sit back and enjoy his artwork in their homes, there is no doubt that Thomas had achieved his goal of Sharing the Light™.

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