About the Famous Artists School Begun in 1948 and based in Westport, Connecticut, the Famous Artists School became America’s most popular art correspondence school. In the late 1940s, the executives of New York’s Society of Illustrators conceived a plan to begin a school to impart their expertise and help to support the Society. Due to the organization’s nonprofit status, the Famous Artists School operated independently for profit, with former Society of Illustrators president Albert Dorne at its head. The initial volumes of lessons gave in-depth, practical how-to instruction in the working methods from the illustrators listed on the previous spread. Over time, selected lessons from individual courses were compiled in four-volume sets focusing on narrative picturemaking, from idea to finished illustration. Revised annually, the course was occasionally updated with new lessons and contributing illustrators. In 2014, Norman Rockwell Museum was the fortunate beneficiary of a substantial collection of original art and archival materials from the Famous Artists School’s most recent owners, Magdalen and Robert Livesey. The collection reveals not just the working methods of the nation’s most noted visual storytellers, but the ways in which art was viewed as a path to a creative and successful life. Remarkably, the courses attracted more than 60,000 students during the post-war era of the 1940s and 1950s, and employed more than one hundred artists, who carefully and thoughtfully corrected assignments and judged art competitions in the hope of advancing students’ abilities and prospects for a viable career. Their lessons and observations are as relevant today as they were when first introduced. Publicity photograph of the founding Famous Artists School faculty with paintings created for Cecil B. DeMille’s 1949 film Samson and Delilah. Left to right: Harold von Schmidt, John Atherton, Al Parker, Al Dorne (laying on the ground), Norman Rockwell, Ben Stahl, Peter Helck, Stevan Dohanos, Jon Whitcomb, Austin Briggs (rear, far right), and Robert Fawcett (front, far right). Illustrator Fred Ludekens is not pictured. Photograph by Pagano Studios, New York. CONTENTS 1 The Art Of The Story For illustrator Norman Rockwell, “the story was the first thing and the last thing,” the essential underpinning of each of his illustrations — a sentiment echoed by his Famous Artists School colleagues. Their lessons and commentary explore the process of creating a visual narrative, from the initial story concept and progressive stages of editing to the finished work of art. 2 Making It Personal The creators of the Famous Artists School courses were in complete accord on one principle — artists should live life fully in order to have experiences to draw from in creating their art. “The illustrator must not only master his craft but must live, pile up experiences, and become aware of the infinite aspects of our world,” said Austin Briggs. “He must distill everything into a sensitivity to create characters and situations that communicate to viewers; he must communicate a mood he has felt and express his enthusiasm for his characters and situations.” 3 Drawing As A Tool For Seeing For each of the Famous Artists, drawing was a tool for seeing — an integral aspect of artistic expression that allowed them to formulate and capture the fleeting essence of ideas and refine picture concepts. As we’ll see in this chapter, creative approaches to drawing let the mind roam free and help ideas take shape. CONTENTS 4 Composing For Best Effect The root of a strong composition lies in relationships, through the purposeful arrangement of shapes, colors, patterns, tones, and forms. Compositional advice from the Famous Artists offers important tips on attracting and leading the viewer’s eye, establishing a center of interest and point of view, and creating a strong sense of mood and drama in your art. 5 The Well-Designed Image As the Famous Artists frequently emphasized, a well-designed page is visually coherent, technically sound, and able to convey emotion and information in a dynamic, effective way. In this chapter, position, balance, color, contrast, size and scale, attitude, and the use of symbolic elements are explored from the viewpoints of these accomplished illustrators, who were all gifted designers as well. 6 Drawing The Figure The human form has been a central focus of artists through the centuries — compelling to observe, people and their actions carry meaning in any artwork. Portraying the figure in motion and in space, casting and working with models, and creating photographic reference for your art are themes explored in this chapter in lively detail. An intimate knowledge of the figure was essential for each of the Famous Artists, who relied upon their characters to convey narrative and emotive content. 7 An Eye For Color In the eyes of the Famous Artists, color — unlike the more tangible elements of line, form, value, and composition — is greatly dependent upon imagination, ingenuity, and taste. Color’s creative uses, as well as thoughts on what color is, how to organize it, and how to employ it for greatest impact, are considered in this chapter.
✔ Author(s): Stephanie Haboush Plunkett,Magdalen Livesey
✔ Title: Drawing Lessons from the Famous Artists School: Classic Techniques and Expert Tips from the Golden Age of Illustration - Featuring the work and words ... illustrators (Art Studio Classics)
✔ Rating : 4.6 out of 5 base on (83 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1631591223
✔ ISBN-13: 9781631591228
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about Drawing Lessons from the Famous Artists School by Stephanie Haboush Plunkett
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I loved the powerful messages hidden within the story. The book tackled important social issues and made me ponder the world we live in. It's a must-read for everyone.
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