"Today I think that Santa Claus is no longer a mystical, magical wonderful person - it is a stereotype, a symbol. By bringing back a literal figurative spirit of Christmas, I want to remind people of what Christmas is all about: love of life. What I wanted to do with the painting was to let people recognize that this may be the St. Nicholas upon whom the symbol is based. He's glowing with good feeling and energy and real, honest love of giving."