Norman Rockwell: My Adventures As an Illustrator [Hardcover]

Norman Rockwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1988

In this autobiography, Norman Rockwell describes his early struggles to become an artist: his rising career as a popular illustrator of magazines and advertisements; his experiences with colleagues, models, and clients; his periods of self-doubt and how he overcame them. Examples of Rockwell's art include both old favourites and less familiar works. Tom Rockwell, the artist's son, who worked with his father to produce this book in 1960, added an afterword on the artist's last years for this edition.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams; First edition. edition (October 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810915634
• ISBN-13: 978-0810915633
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #842,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Rockwell is the author of a number of books for young readers. He was the recipient of the Mark Twain Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Sequoyah Award for How to Eat Fried Worms. He lives in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great illustrator, and a pretty decent writer, May 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Adventures as an Illustrator: Norman Rockwell (Paperback)

Often we are discouraged from finding out too much about our heroes and icons, lest we be disappointed with what we find. Rockwell, however, shines as one who is thoroughly interesting, although different from what one might imagine in his memoir/autobiography.

I suppose one might expect the celebrated illustrator (he was careful to always distinguish himself as an illustrator and not an artist) to something above the fray, laughing at the foibles of the human condition. Here we find that Rockwell was just as neurotic, and full of fancy as any of his subjects. His life, however, wasn't always a Rockwell painting. After a very unsuccessful first marriage, Rockwell found love in the arms of his second wife.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the book is when Rockwell takes us through a Saturday Evening Post cover from concept to painting. You couldn't imagine all the second guessing Rockwell did, even after the painting was done.

If you're more than just a casual Rockwell fan, you must read this. You may be stripped of a few illusions, but you will definitely appreciate the personality behind the brush.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Adventures As an Illustrator Review, August 13, 2001

By 

Frank E. Howard (Chesterton, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Adventures as an Illustrator: Norman Rockwell (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book about the life of Norman Rockwell as only he could have written. I enjoyed the book from start to finish and I have recommended it to all my friends. It gives you an understanding of his life and his discriptions of all the characters in his life are really fun. I have never read a book with such fun descriptions. He went through a lot of phases in his life and moved whenever he found he was lacking of ideas. If you like Norman Rockwell paintings, this book will help you enjoy the painting even more. What can I say - This book is really fun!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Norman Rockwell Rocks!, June 20, 2009

By 

Glenna K. Merillat "eager reader" (Plymouth, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Norman Rockwell: My Adventures As an Illustrator (Hardcover)

Following that somewhat irreverent title, I want to say I have nothing but respect for this man. He is truly an American icon. I had a paperback version of his life way back in the '70s and found it delightful (as the man, himself, must have been). Fast forward to 2009 and a trip to the Detroit Institute of Art where a huge body of his work was on display for several months. As I toured the exhibit, I recalled the honest and endearing words from that long ago paperback and realized that I wanted to read them again. "Adventures of a Illustrator" arrived and I was amazed. I now have a beautiful book on my coffee table that is filled, not only with his life story, told with humor and humility, but a generous number of illustrations; early and late, color and black and white. including all of his POST covers. Anyone who has admired this man's work over the years, from his story-filled Saturday Evening Post covers to his sensitive Freedom posters and presidential portraits, will enjoy learning the life story behind this gentle man's work.