Norman Rockwell (1894 NY - 1978 Mass)

1. Norman Rockwell was the most popular artist in America's history.  He was a master of the art of illustration and became a hero and friend to millions of Americans.  He did not look like a hero (show Triple Self-Portrait).  He was pigeon toed and had to wear corrective shoes at the age of 10 and glasses by the time he was 12.  He could not compete in sports, so he drew pictures to impress the other children.  As his drawings skills improved, his physical problems became less important.  

2. At age 14 Rockwell went to art school and at the age of 16 he became a professional artist and by the age of 22, he painted his first cover for the Saturday Evening Post.  (show magazines - 1 is Rockwell and others are "look-alikes").  He did 324 covers for the Post.  Rockwell's work has appeared on the cover of several other magazines, such as, Boy's Life, Life, Literary Digest, Ramparts, and McCall's.

3. Rockwell illustrated several books, too, the lives of Louisa May Alcott, Benjamin Franklin, Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Finn.

4. He drew subjects from everyday happenings of which most lives are made.  His Christian values came through in his work.  He saw Americans as warm, decent, hard-working citizens of a bountiful country.  He drew pictures about the awkwardness of youth and the comforts of age and loyalty, compassion and reverence.  No other paintings have been reproduced and distributed in such numbers all over the world like these.  

5. He also  drew portraits of presidents and astronauts, and pictures about history and heritage.  He drew pictures for the government Treasury Department War Bond Drive.  These posters were required to be hung in all post offices during the 40's and 50's.  He painted four pictures he called the 4 freedoms that were hung in all schools.  (pictures are on red paper)

6. Some of Rockwell's most famous drawings were commercials for Crest, Campbell's, Pepsi-Cola, Coca-Cola, Skippy, Sun maid, Orange Crush, Pan Am, McDonald's and Hallmark.  Once he posed with a Lincoln Continental car for a commercial.  Ford gave Mr. Rockwell the car as a gift.  Later, he gave it to an orphanage because he felt he was out of place in such a big car.

7. Rockwell likes to use color to get your attention.  What are the warm colors? (red, yellow, orange)  These are advancing colors that come toward you.  What are the cool colors? (blue, green and purple)  These are receding colors that give depth.  What are neutral colors? (gray, black, white)  Why did Rockwell make certain things red? (to get your attention)

8. Rockwell never faked detail.  If he wanted to paint a dog, he would get a dog from the pound.  He always used human models and used his wife and three sons in several paintings.  Once he used his dentist as a model of Santa Claus.  

Activity

Make your own Saturday Evening Post cover (see next page). Think of something you want to celebrate about your life, your town, or your neighborhood. Sketch all the different ideas you have, then select the very best one. Using a sharp pencil, lightly trace the outlines of the image in the box provided. Add more details by tracing from different images. When you are finished, use crayons or paint to color in the image.