I’ll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I’d like to.   Norman Rockwell

Norman Perceval Rockwell was a 20th-century American author, painter, and illustrator. His work is loved by Americans for its reflection of American culture, making him one of the most famous artists of the USA.

Looking at Rockwell’s love for provincial life, one could imagine he was born and raised on a farm. But in fact, he was born in New York City, and raised in a popular neighborhood, experiencing all the violence of city gangs. The family used to spend holidays in the countryside, and, from an early age, the artist developed an idyllic vision of rural life. The family house was full of books and Rockwell copied illustrations, improving his technique. At the age of 14, he enrolled at the Chase Art School in Manhattan, and later the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. His aim was to become not a painter, but a professional illustrator.

At 16, Rockwell started professionally illustrating Christmas themes for greeting cards. Then in 1911, he illustrated his first book Tell-Me-Why: Stories about Mother Nature by C.H. Claudy. The artist began to collaborate with some youth magazines, such as Boy’s Life, and created the first cover, Scout at Ship’s Wheel (1913). In 1914, at the age of 19 Rockwell became an artistic director of the magazine.

Categories: Quotes

Tags: Boy Scouts, Norman Rockwell, paint, time