There are few places as beautiful as the Carmel Mission at the very moment the sun breaks out from behind a mass of clouds. The beautiful rays pierce down through the trees and light the way to this monument of the great missionary of the Cross, Padre Junipero Sera. — Thomas Kinkade

The stately, elegant American past lives on in unexpected places. One of these is in San Diego, where the Hotel Del Coronado - one of the grand dames of stately nineteenth century wooden hotels - looms like a dowager empress over its picturesque shore.

When I visited, I found that the Del, as it's called, is haunted by memories of gentlemen in top hats strolling the grounds, with ladies in long evening gowns on their arms. Traditions such as high tea, and memorable Thanksgiving and New Years celebrations, hearken back to that fashionable era. Indeed, the Hotel Del Coronado, the glamorous setting for such classic movies as "Some Like It Hot," is an authentic American treasure.

I set up my easel in the sand, and began to paint just as the morning fog lifted and golden light broke through, bathing the dignified old hotel in a radiance that seemed to banish the years. I tried to capture the almost rapturous sense of renewal that was a gift of the sparkling ocean air, the crisp green ice plants, and the graceful palm trees swaying in the breeze.

Hotel Del Coronado reflects my determination to capture American landmarks on canvas. I hope it will become a landmark in your collection, as well. — Thomas Kinkade

The impressionistic technique of Island Afternoon, Greece allowed me to explore the interplay of color on this sun-drenched hill. The sun was high in the sky, the Aegean was a radiant sapphire blue. The hues of rock and vegetation interweave in a tapestry that expresses the glory of God's creation. — Thomas Kinkade

The Kinkade family is charmed by the romantic vistas of Monterey Bay; in fact, I've established the Thomas Kinkade Museum and Cultural Center in this heavenly setting to give us a reason for our frequent visits.

My girls and I especially love to set out on our bikes along the winding trail that skirts the dramatic shoreline, revealing spectacular ocean vistas like the one I've captured in Sunset On Monterey Bay. I'd loaded my painting setup on my bike that day in the hopes that I'd discover just such a breathtaking view, and I wasn't disappointed.

As I set to work, the setting sun painted the clouds and the mirror surface of the ocean with luminous sunset colors; I worked feverishly to capture the glorious radiance. Monterey pines outlined the rocky promontories with their bold silhouettes. Somehow, the cries of seagulls only enhanced the rapturous quiet of the calm Pacific.

I make it my practice to show the originals of my plein-air paintings at Kinkade Museum, and I recently had such a showing of Sunset On Monterey Bay for a private gathering of collectors. Since most of my collectors are romantics at heart, with a special fondness for sunsets over the ocean, the reception was gratifyingly enthusiastic. I hope that it will awaken the romantic in your soul as well. — Thomas Kinkade

No matter where you are in the world, the colors from a sunset are always magnificent. Here in this peaceful London scene, is a wonderful example of the soothing transformation of day into night. The river surface brilliantly reflects the colors thickly smeared across the sky. In this beautiful piece, Thom has given the impression that the sky does not simply end once it touches the earth. — Thomas Kinkade

Recently I had the chance to visit the enchanting Baltic city of Riga in the tiny Baltic republic of Latvia. During this trip my wife and my two oldest daughters participated in an arts camp for orphans that we had helped sponsor, and throughout the week I had the opportunity to set up my easel and capture some of the beauty of Latvia.

For my painting Sunset Over Riga, Latvia, I attempted to capture the elusive light of dusk. When you paint as the sun is setting, God sets the timetable. My awareness of the evanescent quality of the light is heightened as the radiant glow ignites the low clouds in bursts of orange and flame, as the street lamps and auto headlights flicker on, as reflections and shadows dance in the cold waters of the river Daugava.

Riga, Latvia, is one of the grand old cities of Europe, considered to be the romantic heart of the Baltic. It was opened to tourism with the fall of the former Soviet Union - how fortunate we are to live in an era when this historic treasure with its picturesque medieval districts can once again be celebrated by all.

Sunset Over Riga, Latvia displays the vast sweep of the ancient city, in the manner of El Greco's "View of Toledo." Dominated by the soaring spires of St. Peter's on the square and the Dome Church, the skyline flickers with a thousand points of light, creating a festive atmosphere. Enjoying the sunset view, I am not surprised to learn that Riga is the historic home of the world's very first Christmas tree. — Thomas Kinkade

The most memorable place in Kansas City must be the Country Club Plaza with its old world architecture, you may gave a hard time distinguishing this famous shopping and entertainment neighborhood from similar districts in Barcelona, Rome, or Lisbon. — Thomas Kinkade