Hometown Christmas Memories by Thomas Kinkade ~ I’ve been called “the official artist of Christmas,” and my rich holiday memories began in the town that still means hometown America to me. The Placerville of my youth was a place where people took time to know their neighbors, to stroll the village lane with a hello to passers-by, and even to walk the family dog.

In a sense my Hometown Christmas Memories sums up my twenty-five year career as a published artist. I published my first print while living in Placerville, and my always supportive wife Nanette made it available to locals via a small sales table at the town shopping center.

Years later my memories of small town life inspired a painting entitled Hometown Memories that embodied the nostalgic images of my youth. The current offering recreates that painting but with the blaze of holiday light. A freshly fallen snow has rendered the village lane pristine. The luminous radiance dancing upon the ground and the twinkling glow from the holiday decorations reminds us that Christmas is truly the season of lights.

I believe that everyone has a dream hometown buried somewhere in their subconscious. Hometown Christmas Memories recreates the fondest aspects of my own childhood hometown dream.

Key Points

1. Thom has placed a total of five N’s in Hometown Christmas Memories as a symbol of love for his wife Nanette.

2. In Hometown Christmas Memories, vintage cars and a vintage motorcycle line the street. In this case, a classic Indian® Motorcycle is seen in the distance.

3. In 1995, Thom painted Hometown Memories as a loving tribute to the neighborhood he grew up in.Now in 2008, he presents Hometown Christmas Memories as a two-fold tribute to Christmas and his hometown, Placerville, California.

4. Hometown Christmas Memories includes a tribute to one of Thom’s favorite artistic mentors — Norman Rockwell. Do you see him on the left walking his dog?

5. Look closely! Do you see the spire of a distant church? This is a reminder that God in His grace gives us communities to nurture the deepest part of who we are.

6. Thom has a wonderful connection to Christmas, both in his own family and in his memories. He has been called the “official artist of Christmas” repeatedly by collectors, and occasionally in the press. - Thomas Kinkade