Thomas Kinkade

“Literature is the stringing together of pictures in words.”

“A still image attracts the viewer with an overall impact, then reveals smaller details upon further study.”

“The No. 1 quote critics give me is, 'Thom, your work is irrelevant.' Now, that's a fascinating, fascinating comment. Yes, irrelevant to the little subculture, this microculture, of modern art. But here's the point: My art is relevant because it's relevant to 10 million people. That makes me the most relevant artist in this culture.”

“Art transcends cultural boundaries.”

“What I paint touches on foundational life values. Home, family, peacefulness. And one of the messages I try to constantly get across is, 'Slow it down and enjoy every moment.'”

“Everyone can identify with a fragrant garden, with beauty of sunset, with the quiet of nature, with a warm and cozy cottage.”

“I think the art world... is a very small pond, and it's a very inbred pond. They rely on information from an elect elite sect of galleries, primarily in New York.”

“My whole life was absorbed with my art. I was known by my schoolmates as the kid who could draw.”

“The whole Modernist lie is that art is about the artist.”

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

“Balance, peace, and joy are the fruit of a successful life. It starts with recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them.”

“It is easy to have a lot of paintings or projects hanging around that are 'almost done.'”

“I grew up in a broken home. My dad was out of the home when I was five years old. I never knew him very well.”

“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.”

“I love audio books, and when I paint I'm always listening to a book. I find that my imagination really takes flight in the painting process when I'm listening to audio books.”

“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.”

“High culture is paranoid about sentiment. But human beings are intensely sentimental.”

“I've had so much positive reaction and emotional fulfillment from the creation of my art and sharing it with everyday people that I never paid too much attention to the opinion of critics.”

“I've always been drawn to artists who paint for the everyday person. I love the American illustrators.”