Art Notes

Twenty years have passed since Thomas Kinkade first set in oil his cherished winter masterpiece, St. Nicholas Circle. Moved by the architecture and atmosphere of New England, Thom lovingly crafted the first image in this collection as he enjoyed the opportunity to paint in the studio of his long time "hero in art", Norman Rockwell. But the scope of Thom's vision stretched well beyond what could be held in on a single canvas. As Thom himself said, "St. Nicholas Circle is simply the first stop in a world where the joy of Christmas never leaves and the spirit of the season abides in every heart."

Just a snowball's throw from St. Nicholas Circle, we can see Sunset on Snowflake Lake. The snowy wonderland is decorated for Christmas with the town's residents skating, sleighing, making a snowman and enjoying a fresh blanket of snow. As the sun sets early in the winter, the rose-colored sky highlights a train passing through the snowy mountain-scape on its way to deliver travelers to loved-ones for the holidays.

The familiar signpost in the foreground marks the way to other wonderful places, and future canvases, where Christmas is celebrated year 'round. Sunset on Snowflake Lake is the second heart warming image in The Legend of St. Nicholas Circle collection.