The Garden of Friendship: Celebrating the Blessings of Loved Ones

by Thomas Kinkade

"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature," said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Thomas Kinkade celebrates the joys of friendship with this new full-color book. Featuring quotes on friendship and thoughts on walking together through life with others, "The Garden of Friendship" offers a beautiful way for readers to share how much a friendship means. Peaceful garden scenes that inspire quiet reflection, as well as Scriptures and thoughts on friendship from wise men and women, make this a book to treasure like a favorite companion. Thomas Kinkade says, "I intentionally seek out companions who enjoy good conversation and positive activities; people who, like me, believe that life still offers a lot to be hopeful about and that many of the problems in the world are fixable." "The Garden of Friendship" reminds us all of that rare gift: a good friend.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2000

About the author

Thomas Kinkade was known as the "Painter of Light." His works, although spurned by the secular art establishment, were very popular with Christians and many others.

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a non-painter or drawer who loves artwork, with a fondness for landscapes and studies of nature. I buy second-hand art books when occasions arise and take special pleasure in absorbing their pages; a savoured experience of a unique kind. When taking in art, one is neither reading nor viewing a story; which on paper and on camera, breezes by at a trotting pace. Contemplating art is an absorption; looking at leisure, until it has registered through the eyes that we have seen and understood something inside each scene. We might equate it with properly tasting, except that artwork also delivers a message or a mood. We can call it visual music, that inspires personal taste, made with the artist’s message or mood.

“The Garden Of Friendship: Celebrating The Blessings Of Love Ones”, 2000, by Thomas Kinkade comprises gardens, trees, houses, cottages, inns, and gazebos. I love growing and being surrounded by these beautiful, natural things. In this book, perhaps because Thomas favoured pink hues; many pages look alike. The visual feast staves off. An impression that millions of portraits appear in frames, books, and stationery weakens the experience. I am glad for his success but paintings being churned out comes to mind; not of an artist with an impassioned idea, or meeting an inspiring real subject and creating individual, recognizable masterpieces.

The miscellaneous quotations accompanying every portrait, however nice, interrupt the experience. When one reads three quotations on every facing page, focus is drawn out of the artwork. My additional criticism is that what I want to see, are the paintings’ names and years. If they are real places, identify them. Brief identification builds a connection for appreciators and should be the only text we glance at. I appreciate that all of Thomas’s flowery, scenic paintings are happy.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been collecting beautiful books that are a combination of quotes, poetry, scripture, and illustrations, for years. This caught my eye because I love Thomas Kinkade's artwork. This particular collection is about friendship, and I love sharing the thoughts, in this book, with others in my letters and cards. This will inspire me for years to come.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the pictures and friendship quotes. Good for the soul.

[Cake4me · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is of course mostly a picture book, but I am loving the adoring thoughts