Valley Ridge Academy PTO

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)

Rockwell was born in New York City on February 3,1894. When he was nine years old, his family moved to the small town of Mamaroneck, New York. He was a skinny boy and not very athletic, so he chose drawing as his hobby. At age eighteen, Rockwell became art editor of Boys’ Life, the official magazine of the Boy Scouts of America. When Rockwell was twenty-two years old, one of his paintings appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post, which showcased the works of the finest illustrators of the period. Remarkably, in forty-seven years, 321 of his paintings appeared on the cover of the Post, making him one of the most famous painters of the twentieth century. Norman Rockwell created paintings to be enjoyed by everyone. Many fine artists create paintings and sculptures for private collectors, and sometimes this artwork is not shown to the general public.

Rockwell’s paintings were seen across America, as they appeared in books, advertisements, calendars, and on the covers of popular magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post, Look, and Ladies’ Home Journal. Rockwell often included an image of himself in his paintings. Search the painting for Rockwell’s face. Remember sometimes he is only a face in the crowd.