Barb and I are at the home of Ernie & Diane Balch tonight. They live just N. of Albany, NY on 5 beautiful acres. Adrienne was here just about a year ago and we were just marvelling at her dolphin mural on the front entrance wall.
Speaking of great artists, we had the most wonderful afternoon. Driving W. on I-90, we took Exit #3 South to the lovely town of Stonebridge, MA. The Norman Rockwell Museum is located on a large piece of property, just out of town.
Rockwell spent the last 25 years of his life in Stonington. The Museum boasts the largest collection of his originals in existence. His Studio, originally located in Stonebridge, has also been relocated to the Museum grounds.
I've never had any formal fine art training, but I know who Norman Rockwell is. To finally get to see his originals up close was a thrill. This man had a special gift for revealing the human spirt and telling a story without saying a word. If you ever get a chance to visit Stonebridge, you are in for a treat.
Norman was a wonderful artist, but he wasn't so good at lettering. One of the tour guides told us how he admired sign painters and often hired them to help him out with lettering. I like that.
We're going to spend the night with Ernie and Diane. I swear Ernie has a jar, can or bag of just about any food you can think of stashed in his pantry. My kind of guy!
Posted by John Smith (Member # 1308) on :
Steve, tell us tomorrow how his Western Omelets are !!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jeffrey Vrstal (Member # 2271) on :
My wife and I saw the Norman Rockwell collection on tour in Chicago a couple of years ago. Very inspiring. He has always been one of my favorites. There is also a Norman Rockwell museum in Reedsburg, WI. I don't think that any originals are there but tons of historical info on Rockwell along with all of the original POST covers.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Having spent a considerable amount of time with the wonderful Balch family,...I can tell you you are in for a treat!
It takes a special kind of people to drag a stranger (and I'm stranger than most) along for a week on thier family vacation!!
I had a great time and was amazed at how they just made me part of the family!
Ernie and I got into dueling salsa battles...which continue today!
A:)
Posted by Steve Barba (Member # 431) on :
I collect Rockwell Post magazines. That guy was a master illustrator, and I would love to go see originals of his work. I'm jealous Steve.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
since were on the subject.... i need a picture of the rockwell farmer and wife standin in front of their porch...but the one i want is a sort of cartoon version......iam i the only one thats seen this?
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
norman rockwell is an american institution. someday i hope to see his homeplace.
i have only once viewed a rockwell painting up close, it was a collabration between him and a student. it was truly amazing. the painting was displayed with others works such as N.C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth, in a corporate art show at the montgomery museum of fine arts.
steve and barb, i know this had to be such a great experience!
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
He couldn't have been that good of an artist IF he HAD to use a mahl stick all the time!
Maybe he knew more than these ANTI-MAHL STICK people that consider this TOOL as a "crutch"
Time for another(back to the basics)Timi Barrows
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
For those who want a visual of the museum here is the link,...http://www.nrm.org/
Pat as for a back to basics,...Rockwell attended the New York School of Art, the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League.These are probably 3 of the most impressive art schools in the nation to have on one's resume. The mahl stick or er "crutch" as some folks put it has been an accepted tool for artists for centuries. Rockwell more than likely was taught traditional academic illustration by some of the finest and most prestegious instructors of his time.It was probably during this instruction that he was required to use the tool, as it was considered to be an essential tool to all persons practicing the art of illustration.When illustrating with oil paints one has to keep in mind that certain colors will take up to a month to dry, thus the need for a hand rest without having to touch the wet paint to use a hand over hand method,as this is considered a novice approach with oil illustration.
[ May 07, 2002, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: timi NC ]
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Barb & Steve, I'm glad you had an oppertunity to see Normans work. We live about 30mins away and we visit the museum often (especially when friends visit). However, (just so nobody gets lost with your directions), you got off the Mass Pike (rt 90) at exit 2, (Lee MA) and you went to Stockbridge, also home to Tanglewood (summer home of the Boston Symphony) and Chesterwood (summer home of Daniel Chester French)the sculptor of the Lincoln Memotial in DC and the famous Minute Man Sculpture in Lexington. Maybe you picked up something at the witches museum that got ya a little confused? Hehehe! It was great to see you again at Mayhem. When do we get to see the pics from your Spring Letterhead Odyssey, "02"? See Ya on Mars! Joe, Makin Chips and Havin Fun! Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Years ago there was a small collection of Rockwell's work on temporary loan to the LBJ Library in Austin. It was a tremendous thrill to see his work "up close and personal".
In one of his many books that I have in my library there is a paragraph highlighted in which he states how much he admires those who can do lettering. He also said that if any of his paintings had lettering in them he got a sign painter to draw the copy and then he copied it onto his layout.
I'm going to be in Providence, RI next month, so I may just have to take a side trip to see his museum - what an experience that would be.
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
I love Norman Rockwell. What a treat for you and Barb to see his work up close. ...I get lost in every one of his pictures. I could look at them for hours.
Posted by Robert Larkham (Member # 2913) on :
Steve-
You got off exit three on the mass pike? Did you take route 20 from there? If you did then you went past my house. I'm a stones throw from Stockbridge where Norman Rockwell grew up.
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
I love Rockwells work. In fact I have his painting of a signwriter sitting on a plank painting a woman's face on a wall as my wallpaper on my work computer. Think it is titled "The Kiss" ... very subtle humour
Anybody who wants a copy, just e-mail me.
[ May 07, 2002, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Steve, that Cowboy museum in Oklahoma had a wonderful portrait by Rockwell of Walter Brennan..... what a treat it is to see original art like that, nothing can compare to seeing famous art in person....
I've seen Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Starry nights in London, Monet's when the show came to San Francisco,I never apprieciated thier work till I saw it up close and personal!
How's the visit with Ernie and Diane, BTW?
A:)
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
Old Paint, are you talking about "American Gothic" by Grant Wood? If so, the image is everywhere on the net. For art lovers, a trip to Chicago's Museum of Art is well worth the trip.
Posted by J.G. Kurtzman (Member # 1736) on :
Steve and Barb: Kurtzman here.....next time your going to be in N.Y. State, let me know so I can mail you the key to my weekend log cabin on lake Sacandaga, 70 acres, with 1800' on the lake, black flies, mosquitos, local bear, 26 blueberry bushes, too many deer, 22 hundred sq. ft. workshop for weekend projects, with woodshop and welding facilities if you so desire. I also have been to Rockwell's museum in Stockbridge Mass., and respect his attitude of mind reflecting our great Democracy in his time. Norman Rockwell was a constituent of the "Famous Artist Group" in the 1950's in Westport Ct. and contributed to it's internal functions and activities along with other internationally known artists. This I know because I received an art scholarship from that school in 1957 with the help of my high school art teacher. Never going that route, continued srtiping and lettering for cash on the street. Back then most Rte. 95 283 Chevy's were really 301 cu. in. and Dick Moroso was grinding out valve jobs along with Hank in their Stamford Ct. high performance garage on the West Side......
J.G. Kurtzman
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
Steve,
Did I tell you that Diane was on chat looking for you right before the meet? LOL.
Thanks for posting about this Steve! I can just see you now, drooling through the museum, drinking in every nuance that was his life. His work is so inspiring!
Timi, thank you for posting that link! I found it very fascinating! I bookmarked it to show my sudents.
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