Tag Archives: The Particular Arts

Fresh Art: Norman Rockwell & The Photographs

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Norman Rockwell’s subject was average America. He painted it with such benevolent affection for so many years, that a truly remarkable history of the 20th century has been compiled. Most of Norman Rockwell’s iconic paintings were inspired by photographs. Prior to beginning a painting, Mr. Rockwell would first plan out the scene to be photographed, often inviting family and neighbors to help act out his vision. It was then from a photograph, or a series of photographs, that Mr. Rockwell would begin painting:

Norman Rockwell

The Runaway. Oil painting for Post cover, September 1958.

girl at the mirror

Norman Rockwell

Girl At The Mirror. Oil painting for Post cover, March 1954

norman rockwell

norman rockwell

After The Prom. Oil painting for Post cover, May 1957.

Norman Rockwell One

norman rockwell

The Tatooist. Painting for Post cover, March 1944.

Browse the Norman Rockwell Collection (both paintings and photographs) online at the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Rockstar Photographers: Iain Macmillan & The Abbey Road

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Iain Macmillan

Photographer Iain Macmillan shot the iconic image of The Beatles crossing the street for the 1969 album cover, “Abbey Road”. At around 11:30 that morning, Mr. Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo while he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up the traffic. Mr. Macmillan’s other shots from that day in 1969 – the ones that didn’t make the cut – show just how tricky it can be in getting such a simple shot to look ‘just right’.

Iain Macmillan

Iain Macmillan

Iain Macmillan

Iain Macmillan

Iain Macmillan
Iain Macmillan

View live webcam of the actual crosswalk on Abbey Road HERE

Abbey Road
Side One
1. Come Together Lennon
2. “Something” Harrison
3. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” McCartney
4. “Oh!Darling!” McCartney
5. “Octopus’s Garden” Starr
6. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” Lennon

Side Two
1. “Here Comes The Sun” Harrison
2. “Because” Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison
3. “You Never Give Me Your Money” McCartney
4. “Sun King” Lennon, with McCartney and Harrison
5. “Mean Mr. Mustard” Lennon
6. “Polythene Pam” Lennon
7. “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” McCartney
8. “Golden Slumbers” McCartney
9. “Carry That Weight” McCartney with Lennon, Harrison, and Starr
10. “The End” McCartney
11. “Her Majesty” McCartney

Rockstar Photographers: Living Pictures By Mole & Thomas

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Photographers Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas created a series of ‘living photographs’ in the early 1900’s using thousands of United States soldiers just returning home from World War One.

Human Statue of Liberty, 1918 at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, IA
Arthur’s great nephew Joseph Mole, 70, says: “In the picture of the Statue of Liberty there are 18,000 men: 12,000 of them in the torch alone, but just 17 at the base. The men at the top of the picture are actually half a mile away from the men at the bottom.”

Living Portrait of President Woodrow Wilson, 1918
Formed of 21,000 officers and men at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio

The Human U.S. Shield, 1918
Formed of 30,000 men at Camp Custer, Battle Creek, MI

See more of Mole & Thomas HERE

Build It: Handmade Harry Potter

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A young man named Leon turned 21 years old and for his birthday party, his father built a detailed replica of Hogwart’s Great Hall using mostly styrofoam, cardboard, recycled wood and paint. These unbelievably simple and inexpensive creations are documented step by step on his website for all to learn:

The Harry Potter Potions Light Box was made from a simple box holding a flourescent light bulb. The recycled bottles were filled with water and food coloring.

The Floating Candles and the Enchanted Ceiling were made from thrifted queen size bed sheets, toilet paper rolls, and inexpensive flickering electronic lights.

The wands were made from sticks found at the park and varnish. The wand cases were made from styrofoam and a bit of velvet.

The books for the library were made from foam and paint.

The Great Hall Banquet Table was made extra long with a simple construction of recycled wood.

The Nimbus 2000 was made of wood, palm tree fronds, glue, and a bit of aluminum.

The Hour Glass was made with 2 liter plastic bottles, styrofoam, aluminum rods, sand, and gold paint.

The Owl Lecturn was made of foam, wood, a cardboard roll and gold paint.

The Monster Book Of Monsters was made of foam, a cardboard roll, fur fabric and gold puffy paint.

See all Harry Potter tutorials HERE