GEORGE HATZIPETROU6/6/10:

PRESENTS

The AMERICAN LEGENDNorman Rockwell

ARTIST PROJECTMrs. Tang

8TH GRADE ENGLISH

VITAL STATISTICS

• Born New York, February 3 1894•Died on November 8, 1978, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts•Very religious family with an English mom and an American father who managed the New York office of a textile business, George Woods, Sons, and Company•An American painter and illustrator on humorous American life•He was a male•Isolated from the athletic world due to a loss of interest and an absent in talent and subsided to art

Personal background

Dropped out of school sophomore year and in 1910 he transferred to the most progressive art schools, Arts Student LeagueImmediately begin to sketch and doodle and after raising commissions from common jobs he became director of “Boy’s Life” in 1913Perused potential talent and elevated to The Saturday Evening Post in 1916 as a major league illustratorHis blissful relationship with wife and children derived him towards family life and a more natural and casual, less posed directionStudio burned down in Vermont, benefited him

KEY HISTORICAL

EVENTS

He Progressed to incorporate other clients such as Collier’s LifeTwo days a week for “Afloat and Ashore” and painted for JelloHe portrayed the toughness of war in a warm and humorous wayWorkers were off duty, smoking a cigar, chatting and peacefulWar period saw the opening of the era which had a detailed setting became norm of NormanFertile period/ marked birth of mature idiomDocumentaries played role in maturityAfter first Post Cover illustrated U.S declared war on GermanyRacial tenses increase> 1961 Rockwell turns to diverse matters

INFLUENCE OF THE ART WORLD

Illustrated a book (Tell me Why Stories), association with the “Boys Camp Book” in 1914”Clyde Forsythe spoke of the favored material of the “Post” and art editor of the “Post” was overwhelmed and astounded by Rockwell’s work“Post changed cover format and encouraged a more naturalistic approach

In New Rochelle, Rockwell surrounded by Clare Briggs, Charles Dana Gibson, etcRespects Picasso and contemporary artPost covers of 20’s, 30’s reflect a concern with structural simplicity which, if not modernistic, does relate to the spirit of time

STYLISTIC TRAITS

Once Rockwell had an idea, he drew quick sketches (no larger than 6 inches) with a soft pencil on paper. He then progressed to charcoal on architect’s detailed paperThen painted with oils on canvas after tracing final charcoal drawingNorman Rockwell would isolate one or two figures against a schematic settingEvolved from cartoons and the use of photographs to expand to more concise and original artwork, documentary studies shaped his career/ when he is working with an imaginary situation he treats it as though it were a documentary Provided a commodity that people could rely on, presented the everyday story line of America in a relaxing and cheerful manner, promoted the history and controversial issues present in their livesAmerican tradition, brings fun and makes a joke, appreciative to Americans

ROSIE THE RIVETAR

POST COVER, May 29th, 1943

A muscular woman, at work, standing on a burned copy of Mein KampfHe captures the propaganda the government is enforcing on woman joining the warSymbolizes woman’s place in World War II-era workforce, ideal woman worker: loyal, efficient, patriotic, and prettyRockwell enhances her patriotism by placing a flag in the background and her feet firmly on Hitler's Mein Kampf.Loosens the pressure on woman, mimics propaganda in comedy fashion, halo, sandwichTreats this art piece like a documentary and the controversy of the warPhotographic studies allow Rosie to appear less posed and not being able to hold for any length of time

“FOUR FREEDOMS” SERIES

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Response to World War IIRockwell painted the characters as strongly contrasting. The central figure stands above the rest. inspired by A speech given before The United States Congress on January6, 1941, by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Rockwell aptly captures the essential character of free speech with this painting.Through the use of blended oils and the angles and the expressions of the audiences faces, you feel the emotion and aroma instilled in the paintingHow the central figure had drawn all attention

1943

BREAKING HOME TIESTranscended the category of illustration and produced canvases that can stand out in any companyApex of maturity, dispelled himself from cartoons, models, and props and found himself and his maximum abilityBlend of pastels, combined oils, and water colors glow of faces, from strips of combined pastelsThe dark areas representing shadows and the dark setting contrasting with the angelic faces of the father, son, and the dogThis classic Norman Rockwell painting shows a man and his son sitting together on the running board of the family's stake-sided farm truck. They are waiting on the train that will take the son away to college.Father and son isolated from the scenery of the farm truck and the lonely settingFather reluctant to see his son leave

SEPTEMBER 25, 1954

MAN ON THE SOUTHERN PORCH

Created for Saturday Evening Post Cover 2010, 25cents

Replicates Norman Rockwell’s traditional American life by representing a tiresome farmer after work gracefully and cheerfully drinking lemonade and smoking a cigarette with the comfort of his dog, he is absorbing the beauty of the night on his porch.Very realistic, copied from segments of photographs, and based on real life in the SouthFace of man and skin is blended with strips of oils and turpentine (acrylic paints) to brighten, bring to life, darken backgroundMan looks like he is a realistic position, apart from a statue, not posed, living that moment, very much aliveLines within face and detail sums up his release of stress and restfulness

MY ARTPIECE AND ITS DEVELOPMENTThe most challenging part of the production of the artwork was instilling that friendly “American” feeling in my art. Make sure that it is unique specifically to AmericansIn producing this piece I have learned the life alive in the specific current moment. How I have to capture a realistic event or routine that occurs in American life and shape it towards a calm and peaceful atmosphere, drives a bit purposefully into not exactly real like a photograph to inspire warmthThe principal strength of my artwork was its ability to show the enjoyment and pleasantness of nature and emphasizing on the posture of my old manThe weakness of my art was my lack in including an appropriate setting and expressing emotion through my setting, matching appropriate colors

CONLUSION AND VIDEO CLIPRockwell demonstrates to us the stages a person undergoes from child to getting old in the beauty of America Rockwell delights the eye with a delicate cartoon twist in every day life photo like paintingsThe dreaming American lifeHis exceptional skills and understanding shapes the 20th century American story he shares in his paintings“illustrated faces and antics of Americans of every color and hue promoted American efforts in two world wars and our enduring ideal of democracy” explains the video clip I am about to show youI attempted in cartoonizing lightly, with specific shades of color, and with isolation of character, the story of a typical southern famer and his savored break with his dog

Norman Rockwell: Meet Norman Rockwell

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/18284-norman-rockwell-meet-norman-rockwell-video.htm

THANKS, Questions?