Al Parker: Illustrating the “Stopper”
In How I Make a Picture by Al Parker, he wrote about his creative process for magazine story assignments. The artist’s first step was to read the manuscript while keeping the target audience in mind. As characters entered into the tale, he jotted down their descriptions – hair color, eyes, age, type of clothing, disposition, etc. He also searched the narrative for a passage that would catch the reader’s attention; he termed this the “stopper”. Parker’s final tip on successful illustrations was understanding the mood of the piece. Is it romantic, humorous, suspenseful, or tragic?
SKETCHATORIAN: A Contemporary Twist on Classic Illustration
“Drawing You into History, One Illustration at a Time”
Join arts and cultural historian Skylar Smith for this series of snappy virtual art experiences exploring the social, cultural, and material underpinnings of classic illustrations, which are re-contextualized for today’s times. The continuity and evolution of American identity, branding, politics, women’s rights, and gender identity is explored with humor, wit, and a deep dive into the history and cultural context of the moment.
Essays on Illustration
This section is devoted to scholarly essays on illustration - including articles on individual illustrators, the history of illustration, and illustration collections and important movements in history.
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Rockwell Center Fellowships
The Rockwell Center Fellowship is open to senior scholars and museum professionals choosing to pursue research or projects in or relating to the subject field of American illustration art and visual studies.
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Illustration Partnership Network
The Rockwell Center is a network of prominent museums, distinguished collections, institutional partners, and scholarly resources, whose common interest is American illustration art and visual studies.
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