THOMAS KINKADE - IMPRESSIONS OF ISRAEL COLLECTION

I worked on Caesarea at sunset, as the sun touched the wispy clouds with gold and painted the azure Mediterranean a rich cobalt blue. I worked at a frantic pace as I struggled to keep up with the setting sun. I think you'll note the broken colors and bold brush strokes that give plein air studies like this their energy and dramatic power. Caesarea may not be a vigorous port any longer, but I certainly attempted to make my Caesarea a vigorous painting. -T. K.

Following the Last Supper, Jesus and some of His disciples returned to the Garden of Gethsemane to pass the night. It was here, under just such massive, ancient trees that our Lord wrestled with the great spiritual dilemma of His life: would He accept the destiny that God the Father intended, or would He choose to follow a different course?

I wanted my Garden of Gethsemane to suggest the brooding yet tranquil setting where Jesus passed the night before His crucifixion. -T. K.

Modern archaeology questions The Garden Tomb . as the actual place where Christ's body was taken, but the setting remains a site of uncommon dignity and tranquility. As I painted The Garden Tomb, . I allowed myself to believe that this could have been the scene of the miracle after all. The open tomb is empty; its shadowy interior is thrilling to enter - it seems to whisper words of comfort to my spirit. On the wooden door a small plaque bears an inscription from scripture: He is not here, For He is risen. -T. K.

I set up my canvas on holy ground when I painted Jerusalem Sunset , then chased the rapidly setting sun so I could establish the effect of God's presence in this sacred spot. Christ is known to have slept among the ancient trees of the Mount of Olives during the last week of His ministry. The Dome of the Rock, sacred to three religions, is on the left.

Jerusalem Sunset was the first painting I created in the Holy Land - this is appropriate since the timeless walls of Jerusalem are a symbol of faith to countless people. -T. K.

I carried my paint and canvas up the windy heights of Mount Arbel to capture this dramatic view of the Sea of Galilee. Galilee is the heart of bible country; nearly a half-dozen of the small towns that figure prominently in the New Testament are visible (if barely) from these heights.

    My vantage point was none-too-secure, so I painted with a real sense of urgency. I think this sense of excitement adds an element of drama to Mount Arbel . -T. K.

My newest work, A Prayer for Peace , is a poignant reminder that peace in our world is always possible for those who believe and pray.

    The dramatic figure of a prophet occupies the rocky heights above the city. To my mind, he is a Christ figure, but I have treated him with a deep spirituality that could well be embraced by people of other beliefs. Illuminated by a radiant moon, this holy person prays with all the fervor of his faith, that the warm glow of moonlight can wrap the walled city in a spiritual blanket of serenity.

    The hope that pervades A Prayer for Peace is a profound reminder that through fervent prayer each of us might find peace - for our soul first and perhaps for our world as well. - T. K.

My wife and I spent the night at a kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee, near locations which were the very heart and soul of Jesus' ministry. I awoke early to capture the effect of sunrise on these holy waters. But I wanted Sunrise, Sea of Galilee to celebrate the grace of the fishing boats that work these waters today, as they did when Jesus choose fishermen as His first disciples. I shifted my position imaginatively, so that I could include both the handsome fishing boat and the distant hills painted gold by the glory of morning sun. -T. K.

The Tower of David has become a recognized landmark, viewed by many as the symbol of Jerusalem. I think the view is, quite simply, one of the most dramatic and inspiring that I know. I was pleased to see that biblically significant plants - the dignified cypress and the broom plant with its luxurious yellow flowers - are abundant in this place.

    For a vision of the Old City that encompasses a great sweep of time, taking us to the era of Jesus and hundreds of years before, the vista of the Tower of David is unsurpassed. - T. K.

In the Middle Ages, the Via Dolorosa was identified as the route along which Christ carried His cross; I've set my easel at the very spot commemorating where Christ received His crown of thorns.

    In addition to being a spiritual landmark for Christians, the Via Dolorosa is also a modern street in the Arab section of the old city. As I worked, small Arab children gathered about me and at one point playfully pelted me with pebbles. Happily, Arab shopkeepers immediately came to my rescue and chased off the pint-sized intruders. I later bought a decorative tile from one of my rescuers as a small gesture of thanks. -T. K.

The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem expresses the devotion of the believers who come here to pray. Several formally dressed Orthodox Jewish men join with others in modern dress to cry out to their God. Some will press notes into the cracks; others will fold their messages into the shrubs that grow in the shade of these ancient stones.

    The impulse of the visitor is not to intrude on the passion of these pilgrims. In The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem I have tried to keep a respectful distance from the faithful, while rendering the light and drama of this historic location. -T. K.