My Adventures as an Illustrator: The Definitive Edition

by Norman Rockwell, Tom Rockwell, Abigail Rockwell

Overview

The life of America’s most beloved artist, in his own words—back in print with restored text and drawings, new illustrations, and more.

The wit, humanity, and many-sided talent of Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) are on full display in his classic autobiography. Rockwell’s New York City boyhood, his apprentice days at the Art Students League, his first fateful visit to the Saturday Evening Post, his adventures abroad, his move to rural Vermont—all are recounted with a mix of sharp observation and self-deprecating humor. Throughout Rockwell invites the reader into his artistic process: he introduces his favorite models, candidly reveals his biggest flops, and documents the creation of a Post cover step by step.

This Definitive Edition restores the original 1960 text of My Adventures as an Illustrator, as well as the playful vignettes that Rockwell drew to head each chapter. Thanks to a massive image digitization effort undertaken by the Norman Rockwell Museum, it is also illustrated with more than 150 of Rockwell’s paintings and drawings, many of which highlight lesser-known aspects of his work. A new introduction by the artist’s granddaughter Abigail Rockwell adds reference value, as do an illustrated chronology and an annotated bibliography prepared by the staff of the Norman Rockwell Museum.

This attractive volume will be the essential source on the life of Norman Rockwell, and delightful reading for anyone who enjoys his art. Plus, its publication coincides with a major new exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum concerning the autobiographical elements in the artist’s work (Norman Rockwell: Private Moments for the Masses, June 8 through October 27, 2019).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789213112
Publisher:	Abbeville Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/14/2019
Pages:	536
Sales rank:	198,648
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 2.10(d)

About the Author

Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) is one of America’s most celebrated artists.

Abigail Rockwell, granddaughter of Norman Rockwell, is a jazz singer and songwriter.

Table of Contents

Foreword Steven Heller 7

Introduction Abigail Rockwell 10

I "Scairt as a rabbit, bold as a bear" 21

II I sign my name in blood 35

III I meet the body beautiful 52

IV Charcoal, perspiration, and turpentine 72

V Pass the prunes, Mrs. Frothingham 94

VI Great Expectations 119

VII The battle of Charleston 145

VIII Lost-$10,000 166

IX The mansion on Mount Tom Road 196

X 36-24-36 Wow/ 215

XI My models 247

XII The Deacon goes society 280

XIII Mary 309

XIV Trials, tribulations, and Twain 325

XV Three o'clock in the morning 354

XVI I rise from the ashes 386

XVII Flops! 414

XVIII The wayward pill 431

XIX I paint another Post cover 443

Afterword Tom Rockwell 486

Chronology 508

Bibliography 524

Index 527