1994 Official Clinton Christmas Card - The Red Room. "Our family wishes you and yours a joyful holiday season and a new year blessed with health, happiness, and peace." The First Lady was partial to a romantic figurative artist, Thomas F. McKnight, one of the country’s most popular contemporary artists, known in the art world for his silkscreens utilizing the bold use of color and invited him to paint the art for their Christmas card.

McKnight gave the Red Room an enchanted, almost humorous look, a marked departure from the traditionally formal Red Room scenes of the Kennedy and Reagan Christmas cards. Keeping with his unique, recognizable style, McKnight brought the Washington and Jefferson monuments into full view as if one were standing in the Red Room looking through a window by the light of a dreamy moon. “I attempt to evoke with color, form and imagination the essence of a place or thing without so much regard for historical accuracy.me, a work of art is first and foremost a visual experience.”

In his depiction, McKnight removed 19th century paintings from the walls of the Red Room and replaced them with his own personal images. Above the door, he portrayed himself and his wife’s dog, Shadow, gazing over the rolling hills of Middletown, Connecticut. Above the fireplace, he created a fanciful rendering of the White House.

Traditionally, there had never been a Christmas tree in the Red Room. However, the artist superimposed images that were sentimental to the First Family, including a tree, into his rendition. Tucked into the sumptuous interior, McKnight hung three stockings on the mantel; placed a new saxophone for the President and a sled for Chelsea under the gracefully decorated tree; caught the Clinton cat napping under the chair; included a tea set on the table for Hillary, who loves tea; and included books for the Clintons, who were avid readers. Mrs. Clinton required no changes. She loved it. American Greetings reproduced 250,000 Christmas cards and 15,000 Gift Prints.