In 1940, America's favorite illustrator Norman Rockwell, his wife Mary and their three sons moved to the picturesque rural village of West Arlington, Vermont. The artist discovered a treasure trove of models. Norman Rockwell's Models: In and out of the Studio is the first to detail these models' lives, friendships with the artist, and experiences in his studio. Dressed in quaint work clothing, the models were dairy farmers, carpenters, country doctors, soldiers, and mechanics. Norman Rockwell's Models features non-fiction narratives telling the story of these folks during an era when they helped the war effort, farmed with horses, and received home visits from doctors. The book also describes the challenges the models faced in their own lives and how these affected their expressions in the paintings. For example, in several 1945 masterpieces, the jubilance Americans felt after the close of the second word war is revealed in their faces. Upon meeting people, young or old, the artist would say, "Call Me Norman." Rockwell learned the models' roles in the community and their personalities, which fostered genuine paintings. He strove, for example, to find real-life soldiers to model as WWII heroes and spirited boys and girls for lively paintings. In the studio, Norman was charming and polite, but painstaking. He demonstrated poses and did whatever was necessary to evoke his trademark expressions, including telling stories of his own life, sometimes laughing or crying. Spending entire summers at his family's farmhouse near West Arlington, Vermont, the author, S.T. Haggerty, grew up knowing many models, including those who posed for such iconic works as Freedom of Speech, Breaking Home Ties, and Girl at the Mirror. Along with models and their families, the author hayed the scenic fields in the Batten Kill River Valley and swam under the red covered bridge on the Village Green. This experiences give him a unique perspective for telling this story.
S.T. Haggerty is a longtime writer of adult fiction, adult non-fiction and poetry. He is known for his skill at telling intriguing, heartfelt stories with honesty as well as lively and concise language. A former editor for McGraw-Hill Publications in New York City, he is a free-lancer who has traveled the country to create features on top businessmen, business strategy, as well as general interest stories. He graduated from Southern Vermont College with a B.S. in Business Management/Communications and received his M.A. in Journalism for the University of South Carolina, attending on a full scholarship. His first book, Cows in the Fog and Other Poems and Stories is loved by many and has been praised by publishing executives, such as Amy Newmark, Editor-in-Chief of Chicken Soup for The Soul books, who wrote him a personal note saying, "Cows in the Fog is a wonderful book. I like it. I really like it." A lover of stories, his readers are the reason he writes. He especially enjoys reading at book stores, libraries and art centers.
As one who posed for Norman Rockwell, I was delighted to read the wonderful recollections and stories of his models. You will see the true dedication S.T. Haggerty has shown to honor the true, timeless work of Norman Rockwell.--Pauline Adams Grimes, Norman Rockwell model Norman Rockwell's Models captures intimate details of the artist's relationships with his models and the environment in which he created his most powerful and beloved images. The first-hand anecdotes from his children, neighbors, friends, and colleagues shed a new light on his career. A must read for anyone who is a fan of Norman Rockwell and illustration art.--Judy Goffman Cutler, Director and co-founder of the National Museum of American Illustration Steve Haggerty's unique book tells riveting stories of Norman Rockwell's Arlington, Vermont models.--Don Trachte, Rockwell model and administrator for Vermont Norman Rockwell Models' reunions This is a wonderful project.--Thomas Rockwell, model for his father Norman Rockwell and co-author of the bestseller Norman Rockwell, My Adventures as an Illustrator You've got to read these stories!--Jarvis Rockwell, model for his father Norman Rockwell and fine artist
