NORMAN ROCKWELL: Celebrating Everyday America LTC 4240: Art for Children Created by Mary Franco

Norman Rockwell Biography Part 1 (5:31) Norman Rockwell Biography Part 1 (6:18) Introduction to the Artist

“I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.” Norman Rockwell “Breaking Home Ties” 1954

Rockwell’s work is about CELEBRATION Work demonstrates optimismWork demonstrates optimism and frequently humor and frequently humor Even serious subjects offer aEven serious subjects offer a ray of hope ray of hope

Rockwell’s work is also about IDENTITY Visually conveyed IDENTITY w/Visually conveyed IDENTITY w/ familiar visual cues familiar visual cues –Costumes, props, setting –Facial expressions, postures, & gestures & gestures Common, recognizable settings & experiences help the viewer IDENTIFY with the events portrayed.Common, recognizable settings & experiences help the viewer IDENTIFY with the events portrayed.

Rockwell’s work is about RELATIONSHIPS as well. Depicted universally recognizedDepicted universally recognized RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIPS –Tapped into sociocultural & historical knowledge of viewer historical knowledge of viewer –Facial expressions, postures, gestures & proximity gestures & proximity Again, common, recognizable settings & experiences help the viewer IDENTIFY with the RELATIONSHIPS events portrayed.Again, common, recognizable settings & experiences help the viewer IDENTIFY with the RELATIONSHIPS events portrayed.

Rockwell’s work is about STORIES Contain story elements ofContain story elements of character, setting, plot, character, setting, plot, point of view point of view Draw upon visual, social,Draw upon visual, social, historical & cultural literacy historical & cultural literacy of the viewer who constructs of the viewer who constructs & reads the narrative & reads the narrative (What’s going on in this picture?)(What’s going on in this picture?)

Rockwell’s Common Themes Celebrating the common, often overlookedCelebrating the common, often overlooked Celebrating change & inventionCelebrating change & invention Celebrating tradition & the pastCelebrating tradition & the past

Studio Activity: TSW create a photography-based magazine cover design that celebrates 21 st century American using one of these Rockwell themesTSW create a photography-based magazine cover design that celebrates 21 st century American using one of these Rockwell themes –Celebrating American through the common, often overlooked –Celebrating American change & invention –Celebrating American tradition & the past To avoid potential copyright issues, you are asked to use your own, original photograph.To avoid potential copyright issues, you are asked to use your own, original photograph. (This may be a photograph you have previously taken.) (This may be a photograph you have previously taken.)

(CONT’D) Studio Activity (CONT’D) Digital PhotographyArt Medium: Digital Photography –Tools Options: Digital Camera iPad iPhone –Supplemental Technology Tool Options: Microsoft Word Photoshop Other

(CONT’D) Studio Activity (CONT’D) ProcedureProcedure: fictitious magazine cover –You will create a fictitious magazine cover using your own photography & computer-based production tools CELEBRATE AMERICA –The magazine cover will CELEBRATE AMERICA as it conveys one of Rockwell’s themes through a 21 st century lens. central photographic image created by the student –The magazine cover will feature a central photographic image created by the student that is consistent with the theme (visually tells the story). It may contain supplemental photographs to reinforce the theme or make the magazine cover “believable”. headings, abbreviated text, & other stylistic elements –The magazine cover will feature headings, abbreviated text, & other stylistic elements that make it visually recognizable as a magazine cover. (MS Word instructions provided).

(CONT’D) Studio Activity (CONT’D) ProcedureProcedure: one-page statement –The magazine cover design will be posted on your Weebly with a one-page statement that answers the following questions (this is your REFLECTION) : celebratory narrative about 21 st century AmericaWhat celebratory narrative about 21 st century America have you attempted to convey with this magazine cover design? elements/artistic choicesWhat elements/artistic choices support that message? most successful aspectWhat do you think is the most successful aspect of your cover design? learn future studentsWhat did you learn that might help you use this activity or a rendition of it with your future students?

Instructor Exemplar

References Norman Rockwell Museum (2013). [Images]. Retrieved from Rockwell, P. (2007). American chronicles: The art of Norman Rockwell, Part 1. Retrieved from Rockwell, P. (2007). American chronicles: The art of Norman Rockwell, Part 2. Retrieved from Rockwell, N. (1920). [Image]. Shadow artist. Retrieved from oct05.jpg