"Learning From The Masters: The Famous Artists School"

On view through November 19, 2017 at Norman Rockwell Museum
Established in 1948 by a group of artists led by Norman Rockwell and former Society of illustrators President Albert Dorne, the Famous Artists School became a household name during the mid-twentieth century. It offered aspiring artists correspondence courses in illustration, painting, and cartooning as a viable path to a creative and successful career, or, as the School put it, to a "Richer Life Through Art."
This video, based on a special exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum, explore the artworks and creative methods featured in the program, during the 1940s and 1950s. Featured interviews include: Robert and Magdalen Livesey, owners of Cortina International and donors of FAS collection to Norman Rockwell Museum; Walt Reed, FAS instructor and founder of Illustration House; and illustrators and FAS students Elwood Smith and Howard Cruse.
Video produced by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved. www.nrm.org

[@paintingwithray8550]

In the mid 70's I took only one year while in the US Air Force but that had opened up so many art doors n still a full time artist/ cartoonist

[@Pickernik]

I took this course back in the 1960's....my dad offered it to me, or I could go on to college, but he only had money for one. :-)

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Lucky you.

[@cameronhill9267]

Like anything in life.You get out of this(the course) what you put into it! Truth is you can learn the fundamentals of art, but having a successful career in art can be fleeting.

[@TheTruth-cy4le]

I wish I had been of age to take this course in the 1950s. I had the misfortune of going to college in the early 1970s when teachers were strictly into Abstract Expressionism. I didn't get access to real knowledge until I was hired by Disney Animation in the 1980s-- and I only got that job because a whole generation of students my age had been denied a decent art education and Disney had to hire whom they could and train them. Since the 2000s I have been doing concept art for both animation and animation and I intend to continue working through my 70s.

[@strongindependentblackwoma1887]

Thank you teachers! :)!

[@bozoclown2098]

I met Walt at Illustration House

[@TheCombatartist]

Charles Schultz had a different take on this school. It was rare that any of the “famous” illustrators critiqued anything...

[@elwoodhsmith]

I'm sure Schultz had a bad experience, but I took the course back in the late 1950s and every one of my lessons submitted were critiqued. I only finished about half of the lessons while working in a factory in my home town, but they were very helpful to give me a leg up when I headed off to art school in Chicago 9 months later. -Elwood H Smith

[@peacerose8024]

What’s the year to look for in these lesson books. The 50’s or 60’s.

[@VylyskaTechkov]

Too bad art isn't looked upon with favor like it use to be.....

[@timowthie]

did frank reiley also participate in this course?

[@williamschlenger1518]

How old is this? I'm a 78 yr old self taught portrait painter.No one had big money back then so I studied the masters.

[@peacerose8024]

Does anyone have this course.?

[@bozoclown2098]

Haw many women did good from the school ?

[@TheFiown]

NOW you have Photoshop