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Three miracles in 1988 set artist Thomas Kinkade on his path
On a whim one Christmas season, I picked up Thomas Kinkade’s A Village Christmas at a used bookstore, drawn in by the picturesque winter scene on the cover. Flipping through the hardcover, I was greeted by page after page of sublime holiday settings. I was sold—I’m a sucker for this style of art.
The paintings in A Village Christmas are best viewed in soft, low light, perhaps under the quiet glow of a Christmas tree. Most are nighttime illustrations featuring extravagant, lit-up homes nestled in snowy yards, busy streets lined with horses and carriages, and people bundled against the cold. Though Kinkade sets these scenes in darkness, his paintings seem to glow from within, radiating off the page—a trademark technique that would go on to define his artistic legacy.
Yet Kinkade’s prose is just as warm as the wintertime images that hearten the soul.
When I first bought the book, I overlooked its subtitle: Personal Family Memories and Holiday Traditions. That personal narrative proves to be every bit as captivating as the art itself. Beyond the mesmerizing, idyllic illustrations, Kinkade reveals the gritty, uncertain origins of his career. Within these 111 pages, he recounts three key miracles from a pivotal year—1988—when he and his wife, Nanette, welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Merritt.
One of those early turning points was a breakthrough hometown show in Placerville, California. But far more compelling is the story of the sheer persistence Kinkade poured into his craft long before the public took notice.
As a teenager in Placerville, Kinkade deeply admired Glenn Wessels, an artist and former head of the art department at UC Berkeley (where the free-spirited Kinkade would later study). At just fourteen years old, Kinkade offered to help around Wessels’ studio in exchange for mentorship, only to be flatly rejected.
Years later, tragedy shifted their paths. Wessels was involved in a severe car accident alongside renowned photographer Ansel Adams, leaving the elder artist with crippled legs. Kinkade reached out once more, offering his help in the studio. This time, Wessels accepted.
A deep friendship blossomed. Wessels expanded the young painter’s horizon, forever shaping Kinkade’s worldview and artistic philosophy. As Kinkade writes, Wessels was “one of the great thinkers on the importance of art culturally and on the trends of art as an expression of humanity.”
Kinkade deserves immense credit for honoring his passion as his young family grew, pursuing a distinct artistic vision on his own terms and succeeding. Tucked inside a festive holiday volume, this touching backstory makes A Village Christmas an unexpected gem—a rewarding read for aspiring artists, creatives, or anyone working to build a life around what they love.
Discover A Village Christmas on Amazon.
Illustrations by WordPress and Thomas Kinkade, respectively.