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Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator
Outstanding reproductions of more than six hundred of Rockwell's finest illustrations and paintings highlight a close-up look at the artist and his graphic record of nearly sixty years of American social history.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 31, 2021
3.5 stars (since so many of the pictures are too small to truly see and appreciate the details, as well as being reproduced in B&W vs original colour)
It provides a very good look at Norman's body of work from advertisements to his famous Saturday Evening Post covers and everything in between, though many of the pieces are shown in too small a scale to really see them or get a grasp of the intricacies that set them apart.
It also gives a biography of the artist himself through the decades.
Buechner previously authored Norman Rockwell: A Sixty-Year Retrospective and that is obvious as much of the biographical information is directly lifted from that volume.
It provides a very good look at Norman's body of work from advertisements to his famous Saturday Evening Post covers and everything in between, though many of the pieces are shown in too small a scale to really see them or get a grasp of the intricacies that set them apart.
It also gives a biography of the artist himself through the decades.
Buechner previously authored Norman Rockwell: A Sixty-Year Retrospective and that is obvious as much of the biographical information is directly lifted from that volume.
June 29, 2021
"People somehow get out of your work just about what you put into it, and if you are interested in the characters that you draw, and understand them and love them, why, the person who sees your picture is bound to feel the same way."- Norman Rockwell
If you're a fan of Norman Rockwell paintings, check this one out! It has over 600 of his various prints, paintings, and magazine covers. The book is humongous! It's mostly a coffee talbe/picture book but has a fair amount of writing giving an overview of his work and life. It is organized by the various decades of his life. His work is classic and his contribution to this nation's history is profound. My only quibble was that some of the black and white prints were quite small and harder to see.
An interesting tidbit on painting chickens -
On getting chickens to pose for a portrait - "You pick up the chicken and rock him back and forth a few times. When you set him down he will stand just as you've placed him for four or five minutes. Of course, you have to run behind the easel pretty quickly to do much painting before the chicken moves. But it's better than trying to paint him while he's dashing up out the studio.
"If you want to paint the chicken full face the procedure is even more complicated because the eyes of a chicken are on the sides of his head and when he looks at you he turns his head. I puzzled about that for quite a while. Finally, I got a long stick and after I'd set the chicken down and gone behind my easel I'd wrap the wall at one side of the chicken and he turned his head toward me to look at the wall. It's very strenuous painting a chicken..." - NR (Pg 22)
If you're a fan of Norman Rockwell paintings, check this one out! It has over 600 of his various prints, paintings, and magazine covers. The book is humongous! It's mostly a coffee talbe/picture book but has a fair amount of writing giving an overview of his work and life. It is organized by the various decades of his life. His work is classic and his contribution to this nation's history is profound. My only quibble was that some of the black and white prints were quite small and harder to see.
An interesting tidbit on painting chickens -
On getting chickens to pose for a portrait - "You pick up the chicken and rock him back and forth a few times. When you set him down he will stand just as you've placed him for four or five minutes. Of course, you have to run behind the easel pretty quickly to do much painting before the chicken moves. But it's better than trying to paint him while he's dashing up out the studio.
"If you want to paint the chicken full face the procedure is even more complicated because the eyes of a chicken are on the sides of his head and when he looks at you he turns his head. I puzzled about that for quite a while. Finally, I got a long stick and after I'd set the chicken down and gone behind my easel I'd wrap the wall at one side of the chicken and he turned his head toward me to look at the wall. It's very strenuous painting a chicken..." - NR (Pg 22)
November 13, 2017
This is a book to peruse, study, enjoy, and treasure for a lifetime. For the Rockwell fan, this is one of the few must-haves.
This is a very large, very heavy book. The works presented span Rockwell's oeuvre from the beginning through his heyday and after, while presenting the magazine covers for which he is famous along with other works that aren't as well known, such as advertisements and calendars.
Though blurbs for the book trumpet the presentation of all of Rockwell's covers for the Saturday Evening Post, most of them are included only as 2 1/2" by 3 3/8" black-and-white "thumbnail" images. (Those wanting to see all the SEP covers full-color and full-size must get Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post, 3 Vols.) Some of the covers are indeed presented full-size and full-color, though, and the original oil paintings are reproduced for some of the more significant covers.
One of the more notable features of this book is the inclusion of beautiful fold-out reproductions of some of Rockwell's murals and other "landscape" oriented paintings.
The editor's intelligent commentary helps to put Rockwell and his work into historical perspective.
This is a very large, very heavy book. The works presented span Rockwell's oeuvre from the beginning through his heyday and after, while presenting the magazine covers for which he is famous along with other works that aren't as well known, such as advertisements and calendars.
Though blurbs for the book trumpet the presentation of all of Rockwell's covers for the Saturday Evening Post, most of them are included only as 2 1/2" by 3 3/8" black-and-white "thumbnail" images. (Those wanting to see all the SEP covers full-color and full-size must get Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post, 3 Vols.) Some of the covers are indeed presented full-size and full-color, though, and the original oil paintings are reproduced for some of the more significant covers.
One of the more notable features of this book is the inclusion of beautiful fold-out reproductions of some of Rockwell's murals and other "landscape" oriented paintings.
The editor's intelligent commentary helps to put Rockwell and his work into historical perspective.
May 8, 2019
4½ Stars
This book is huge.
Heavy and full of brilliance...and, seriously, it's got weight like a cinder block.
That's not such a bad thing, though, because it makes the details easier to see, especially with the full-page and overleaf illustrations. If I had a crane, I'd hang it open and backed against the wall, changing the picture on display every so often. 😂
My only complaint, for which I've docked a half-star, is that so many items were still pretty small, with a limited amount in colour. Even in black-and-white, they're certainly mesmerising and alluring (Norman Rockwell's art is positively wonderful regardless), but I wish the editor would've enlarged the Post covers to maybe four-per-page or so. The book would've doubled in thickness, but it would be totally worth pulling my back muscles anyway. Many of the pieces in the book are difficult to see in detail without lots of light; though a fair amount are duplicated as full-colour pages at other points, about 2/3 of them would be considered on the small side by regular-sized-book standards.
If you're Nuts About Norman like I am, though, you will definitely want this behemoth book in your collection.
This book is huge.
Heavy and full of brilliance...and, seriously, it's got weight like a cinder block.
That's not such a bad thing, though, because it makes the details easier to see, especially with the full-page and overleaf illustrations. If I had a crane, I'd hang it open and backed against the wall, changing the picture on display every so often. 😂
My only complaint, for which I've docked a half-star, is that so many items were still pretty small, with a limited amount in colour. Even in black-and-white, they're certainly mesmerising and alluring (Norman Rockwell's art is positively wonderful regardless), but I wish the editor would've enlarged the Post covers to maybe four-per-page or so. The book would've doubled in thickness, but it would be totally worth pulling my back muscles anyway. Many of the pieces in the book are difficult to see in detail without lots of light; though a fair amount are duplicated as full-colour pages at other points, about 2/3 of them would be considered on the small side by regular-sized-book standards.
If you're Nuts About Norman like I am, though, you will definitely want this behemoth book in your collection.
February 18, 2018
Huge book! Oversize in height & pages!! This did not have as many color prints in it as I would have wished. The ones that were in color were excellent, but in the quest to put as many prints as possible into this book, it had many as small b&w. I give it a 5, but it is not my favorite collect of Norman Rockwell paintings.
I need to learn to rate books better - I tend to not read crappy books, so I should save my 5's for true "Must Buy" books. Put 4's on my "A-". Then 3's on grade B or B+. I've rated my music 1-5, and find that a '1' is trash and even 2 is don't need to listen to again. Just rambling here on how I can better rate these books when I'm thinking a 4.5 for this particular book.
I need to learn to rate books better - I tend to not read crappy books, so I should save my 5's for true "Must Buy" books. Put 4's on my "A-". Then 3's on grade B or B+. I've rated my music 1-5, and find that a '1' is trash and even 2 is don't need to listen to again. Just rambling here on how I can better rate these books when I'm thinking a 4.5 for this particular book.
November 30, 2018
Found this book in a thrift store for $4, have treasured it ever since. Has been my coffee table book for a bit now, amazing artwork by one of my favorite artists. Beautiful, large book. His Saturday Evening Post prints take up the full page. Opening this book can put anyone in a happy mood.
March 17, 2017
'tis marvelous and wonderful
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June 18, 2025So big!!!! I could look at his pictures over and over again
February 4, 2020
This is a huge oversize (17.5" x 12.5") book with multiple double-fold-out pages. I happen to own a signed copy by Rockwell of this book. It contains 128 fantastic prints.
Here are some of my favorites in this book:
1. Shuffleton's Barber Shop
2. Scouts - Boy Diving Into Water
3. The Stay at Homes
4. No Swimming
5. Doctor and Doll
6. Boy Lean back left sitting with coke
7. Boy fishing with Coke and dog on stump above water
8. Phil the Fiddler
9. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Switched
10. Rosie the Riveter
11. Freedom of Speech
12. Freedom of Worship
13. Freedom From Fear
14. Freedom From Want
15. Homecoming GI
16. Homecoming Marine, The War Hero, Storyteller
17. The High Diver, The Diving Board, High Board
18. Leaf Raking
19. New TV Antenna Set
20. Saying Grace, Thanksgiving
21. Breaking Home Ties
22. Doctor's Office, Before the Shot
23. The Discovery, Bottom Drawer
24. Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins Co: Four Seasons, kid with pups
25. Scouts - America's Manpower Begins with Boypower
26. Scouts - A Good Sign All Over the World
27. Scouts - Our Heritage
28. Scouts - Scouts of Many Trails
Here are some of my favorites in this book:
1. Shuffleton's Barber Shop
2. Scouts - Boy Diving Into Water
3. The Stay at Homes
4. No Swimming
5. Doctor and Doll
6. Boy Lean back left sitting with coke
7. Boy fishing with Coke and dog on stump above water
8. Phil the Fiddler
9. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Switched
10. Rosie the Riveter
11. Freedom of Speech
12. Freedom of Worship
13. Freedom From Fear
14. Freedom From Want
15. Homecoming GI
16. Homecoming Marine, The War Hero, Storyteller
17. The High Diver, The Diving Board, High Board
18. Leaf Raking
19. New TV Antenna Set
20. Saying Grace, Thanksgiving
21. Breaking Home Ties
22. Doctor's Office, Before the Shot
23. The Discovery, Bottom Drawer
24. Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins Co: Four Seasons, kid with pups
25. Scouts - America's Manpower Begins with Boypower
26. Scouts - A Good Sign All Over the World
27. Scouts - Our Heritage
28. Scouts - Scouts of Many Trails
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June 27, 2012loved this book:)
norman rockwell is amazing artist.
norman rockwell is amazing artist.
October 3, 2012
For anyone who has an interest in the artwork of Norman Rockwell, or just feeling nostalgic, this collection of pieces is amazing. Tons of illustrations throughout the book. An American classic.
November 19, 2012
This is a pretty good book of Rockwell illustrations, in large format with a lot of color. It keeps kids busy on a rainy Sunday afternoon and slows me down when I'm having a bad day.
October 14, 2016
Pour tous ceux qui aiment Norman Rockwell... C'est un très beau livre.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews