I've never painted the White House before. One reason I'm
doing it now is that I've been asked to take part in the inspiring ceremony that marks the
lighting of the National Christmas Tree.
 How I look forward to the
moment when the Kinkade family joins the American family in honoring this grand tradition.
I intend to present The
Lights of Liberty, the first in my new Season of Lights collection, to both the
outgoing and incoming first families. This painting celebrates the national security and
prosperity that flows from decisions made in this building. As we enter a new millennium,
we are again reminded that the peaceful passing of the American mantle of power is a most
important achievement.
I haven't painted the
tree ceremony; indeed, there are no people in The Lights of Liberty. This is a
scene of profound solitude and quiet serenity as the flag flies over the White House
bathed in the flow of the sunset.
One can be distracted by
the pomp and circumstance surrounding a national tourist attraction. Here, instead, I
portray the home of our national first family - and, by extension, of all American
families.
Perhaps then, the
"lights of liberty" suggested by my painting's title could be either the
peaceful lights of an American home, or the symbolic glow of the tree, which is suggestive
of our precious religious freedoms. I pray that each year, this painting will cause many
to celebrate the blessings of the season of lights.
-Thomas Kinkade |
