A face in the picture would bother me, so I'd rub it out with the turpentine and do it over. Norman Rockwell More Quotes by Norman Rockwell More Quotes From Norman Rockwell The '20s ended in an era of extravagance, sort of like the one we're in now. There was a big crash, but then the country picked itself up again, and we had some great years. Those were the days when American believed in itself. I was happy and proud to be painting it. Norman Rockwell artistcountryyears I'm not going to be caught around here for any fool celebration. To hell with birthdays! Norman Rockwell celebrationfoolbirthday I learned to draw everything except glamorous women. No matter how much I tried to make them look sexy, they always ended up looking silly... or like somebody's mother. Norman Rockwell sexystupidmother My best efforts were some modern things that looked like very lousy Matisses. Thank God I had the sense to realize they were lousy, and leave Paris. Norman Rockwell parishumorartist You must first spend some time getting your model to relax. Then you'll get a natural expression. Norman Rockwell relaxexpressionfirsts I didn't know what to expect from a famous movie star; maybe that he'd be sort of stuck-up, you know. But not Gary Cooper. He horsed around so much... that I had a hard time painting him. Norman Rockwell hard-timesstarsartist The remarks about my reaching the age of Social Security and coming to the end of the road, they jolted me. And that was good. Because I sure as hell had no intention of just sitting around for the rest of my life. So I'd whip out the paints and really go to it. Norman Rockwell artistsittingage Here in New England, the character is strong and unshakable. Norman Rockwell englandstrongcharacter Everyone in those days expected that art students were wild, licentious characters. We didn't know how to be, but we sure were anxious to learn. Norman Rockwell studentscharacterart I used to sit in the studio with a copy of the (Saturday Evening) Post laid across my knees ... And then I'd conjure up a picture of myself as a famous illustrator and gloat over it, putting myself in various happy situations, surrounded by admiring females, deferred to by office flunkies at the magazines, wined and dined by the editor. Norman Rockwell magazineseditorsoffice Very interesting for an old duffer like me to try his hand at something new. If I don't do that once in a while, I might just turn into a fossil, you know! Norman Rockwell tryinghandsinteresting Travel is like a tonic to me. It's more than just getting away from the studio for a brief rest. I need it to recharge my batteries. Norman Rockwell batteriesget-awayneeds Eisenhower had about the most expressive face I ever painted, I guess. Just like an actor's. Very mobile. When he talked, he used all the facial muscles. And he had a great, wide mouth that I liked. When he smiled, it was just like the sun came out. Norman Rockwell actorsartistmouths I'm still about as pigeon-toed as you can get. But I learned to manage pretty well on a bike. Should have had a bicycle then, when I was a kid, but our family didn't have the money for such luxuries. I saved up to buy one myself a few years later. Norman Rockwell luxuryshould-havekids It wouldn't be right for me to clown around when I'm painting a president. Norman Rockwell paintingartistpresident I talk as I sketch, too, in order to keep their minds off what I'm doing so I'll get the most natural expression I can from them. Also, the talking helps to size up the subject's personality, so I can figure out better how to portray him. Norman Rockwell artistexpressionorder I work from fatigue to fatigue at my age there's only so much daylight left. Norman Rockwell fatiguedaylightage I unconsciously decided that, even if it wasn't an ideal world, it should be. So I painted only the ideal aspects of it - pictures in which there are no drunken slatterns or self-centered mothers... only foxy grandpas who played baseball with the kids and boys who fished from logs and got up circuses in the backyard. Norman Rockwell baseballmotherkids I can take a lot of pats on the back. I love it when I get admiring letters from people. And, of course, I'd love it if the critics would notice me, too. Norman Rockwell artistletterspeople How will I be remembered? As a technician or artist? As a humorist or a visionary? Norman Rockwell rememberedvisionariesartist
