American illustration

How did artists like Norman Rockwell, Austin Briggs, Jon Whitcomb, and others create the believable unique faces that can tell a whole story by themselves? In a magazine cover, like those by Rockwell and Stevan Dohanos, the image, with its setting and, most of all, its characters, must convey an anecdote without any help from words. So each face must be carefully crafted to do its part in creating the drama⸺or comedy.

J.C. Leyendecker Saturday Evening Post June 8, 1935 study

George Tobin

Frank Xavier Leyendecker (aka Frank James Leyendecker), American (1876-1924), The Blacksmith, 1902, gouache on board, 18.5 x 15 in, cover for Collier's Illustrated Weekly, September 2, 1902

The American Magazine (September 1950) by Lonie Bee

Soldier Telling War Stories by J.C. Leyendecker

Here are some close up photos of a painting by J.C. Leyendecker to help celebrate this Independence Day. #art #fineart #illustration #illustrator #jcleyendecker #fourthofjuly #july4th #4thofjuly #independence #independenceday #1776 #declaration #bell #america #american #hat #celebrate #fireworks #freedom #bravery #brave #sacrifice #liberty #starsandstripes #thankful #thankyou #oilpainting #paintersofthepast #patriots #patriot

Al Parker "Boardwalk" (Pt. 1 of 4) Cosmopolitan, Nov. 1943

Labor Day (1947) by J.C. Leyendecker for The American Weekly

pub illustration

Dean Cornwell (American illustrator and muralist) 1892 - 1960 Confrontation at the Saloon, 1926 oil on canvas 76.2 x 114.3 cm. (30 x 45 in.) signed Dean / Corn- / Well (lower right), signed with initials DC and dated 26 (lower left) private collection