The Old Fishin' Hole by Thomas Kinkade ~ Childhood Memories I - Published September, 2003 - Perhaps the best thing about childhood is what we make of it in our memories. I suppose that in the living there were good times and bad, but in the memory, it’s the good times that live on with a certain radiance.

I’m sure that my affection for the simple pleasures of life stems from my memories of growing up in the little town of Placerville, roaming the California foothills with my friends, savoring the freedom and security of my boyhood, dreaming the dreams of childhood and having so many come true.

Now I celebrate my own very personal childhood memories with THE OLD FISHIN’ HOLE. As the first in a new series, this is a historic and much anticipated issue. But the reception I anticipate for THE OLD FISHIN’ HOLE stems from something more basic than that. This idyllic image of childhood reminds us of the simple pleasures of a summer day.

Fishing was one of our summer pastimes, and we all had our favorite fishing holes. Covered bridges like this one were rarities in the Sierra foothills, but it seemed, at least in our boyhood imaginings, that big trout gathered in the shadowy depths under those dramatic old bridges. The morning sun dapples the scene in the radiant light of memory. - Thomas Kinkade

Key Points

1. As the first in a new series, THE OLD FISHIN’ HOLE is an historic, and much anticipated release that celebrates Thom’s own personal childhood memories.

2. As a young boy, fishing was one of Thom’s chosen pastimes. He and his boyhood friends all had their favorite fishing holes growing up in the quaint little town of Placerville, California.

3. Thom believes that the best thing about childhood is what we make of it in our memories, and that it’s the good times that live on with a certain radiant glow.

4. THE OLD FISHIN’ HOLE stems from something innate and uncomplicated. This idyllic image of childhood reminds us of the simple pleasures of a summer day.