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The Art of Illustration

Find your inner artist in this fun workshop focused on the art of Norman Rockwell.

Focus:

Following (or preceding) a guided, interactive tour of the museum's Norman Rockwell exhibit and after a discussion of the basic techniques of illustration, students will work cooperatively in groups to create their own illustrations.
Overview:

To show students the large collection of original illustrations by Norman Rockwell and other famous illustrators, and allow students to examine firsthand the creation process of a visual art form. To compare illustration to other art forms and to give students the opportunity to create their own illustrations. All of the students will be given a narrated tour of the National Scouting Museum Rockwell paintings.
Goals:
  1. Students will gain an understanding of the basics of illustration as a visual art form.
  2. Students will learn how illustration differs from fine art.
  3. Students will identify Norman Rockwell's artistic style and will understand the process Rockwell used to create an illustration.
  4. Students will practice the illustration process.

Pre-Visit Activity

Direction-Finding Activities

Teachers, we recommend that you choose a book from your school or local library containing reproductions of Rockwell's illustrations to share with your students as part of the pre-visit activities. Teachers read "A Visit in Autumn" (excerpt from: Norman Rockwell Vermont, The Arlington Years, 1939-53.) Have students form a visual image from the selection and draw a picture based on this visual image. The enclosed resource list contains several suggestions.

Who Was Norman Rockwell?

Norman Rockwell was a famous illustrator who was born during the Golden Age of Illustration in New York. Rockwell did not see himself as an artist; he saw himself as a storyteller who used pictures rather than words.

What Is the History of Norman Rockwell, the Illustrator?

  • Rockwell knew that he always wanted to be an artist; at the age of 16 he attended art school full time. Rockwell worked as an extra in the New York City Opera, drew sketches and painted cards for wealthy people, and also delivered mail for 25 cents a day to each resident on his route.
  • Rockwell sold his first illustration at the age of 18.
  • Rockwell mainly illustrated for children's books and magazines.
  • Rockwell was the chief illustrator and art director for Boys' Life magazine.
  • Currently, the National Scouting Museum has over 50 original paintings, choral drawings, and oil studies by Rockwell; you will have seen many of these today.
  • The Red Cross hired him to paint some of his first color illustrations. These paintings were given as a gift to the Boy Scouts of America from the Red Cross.
  • In 1925 Brown and Bigelow published Norman Rockwell Scouting-theme calendars, and continued to publish calendars for the next 51 years.
  • Rockwell painted "A Good Turn" and donated the painting to the NSM as a thank-you gift to the BSA for helping him start off his career.
  • In 1939 Rockwell received the highest award Scouting has: the Silver Buffalo.
  • In 1977 Rockwell received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, the highest civilian award in the U.S.
  • Rockwell died in 1978 at the age of 84.