The Norman Rockwell Museum was sad to learn of the recent passing of illustration historian, Walter Arnold Reed on March 18, 2015 at his home in Westport, CT. Reed is the author of many books on American illustration, including The Illustrator in America, 1860-2000 (2001), the invaluable chronological compendium of illustrators and their art which
The Gerber Products Company recently announced the winner of its 5th Annual Gerber Spokesbaby Photo Contest. After receiving over 180,000 submissions, the judges selected this endearing picture of seven-month-old Grace. In 1928, the original search for the Gerber Baby took place which resulted in the winning baby portrait becoming its iconic trademark. The popular
In the next few years, expect nearly 40 exhibitions featuring the work of Andy Warhol as a result of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts distributing last of its holdings. The final 14,000 pieces, mostly previously unseen photographic material and prints, were donated with the stipulation that the recipients would exhibit their gifts
Most of us are familiar with the iconic Thomas Nast (1840-1902) illustration of Santa Claus featured in Harper’s Weekly, 1881. Nast was inspired by Clement Moore’s classic yuletide poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, and is attributed with influencing our modern day concept of Santa Claus. Between 1863 to 1886, he submitted thirty-three Christmas drawings
On November 24, 2014, President Obama awarded nineteen Americans with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our Nation’s highest civilian honor. The subjects in Norman Rockwell’s painting Murder in Mississippi were posthumous recipients. In a statement by the White House, “James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were civil rights activists and participants in “Freedom Summer,”
On this day, August 26, 1901, illustrator Earle K. Bergey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studed at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and then went to work for Philadelphia’s Public Ledger. Bergey is best remembered for his pulp-fiction cover art, comic book cover art, and glamour illustrations.
On this day, August 25, 1959, illustrator and children's book author Ian Woodward Falconer was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut. He studied art history at New York University, and art at Parsons School of Design and the Otis Art Institute. In addition to creating a variety of Olivia story books, Falconer has also produced theater set designs
On this day, August 24, 1886, illustrator Walter Haskell Hinton was born in San Francisco, California. Hinton studied art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to cover illustration art and pulp illustration art, Hinton also produced advertising images for tractor company John Deere and images for Brown and Bigelow calendars.
On this day, August 23, 1953, artist and graphic designer F. Winold Reiss died in New York City. German born, Reiss immigrated to the U. S. in 1913. His illustration work includes graphically dynamic WWI war posters; interpretations of Harlem Jazz and Steel Workers; illustrations for Alain Locke’s book The New Negro; and this cover illustration
On this day, August 22, 1880, cartoonist George Herriman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. When he was ten his family moved to Los Angeles. By the age of 17, and after high school Herriman worked as an illustrator and engraver for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. In 1913 Herriman's best known strip Krazy Kat was created.