If you could not make it to New York Comic Con last month, you missed out on two great comic art shows: the 2nd Annual NYCC Charity Art Auction to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and DC Entertainment’s “Darkness & Light” exhibition and education tour to benefit relief efforts in the Horn of Africa. However, if you’re in the New England area you may be inclined to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. Showing now until February 24 is famed comic illustrator and painter Alex Ross’ exhibit, “Heroes & Villains.”
Ross, educated at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and known best for his lavishly painted work in Marvels (1994) and Kingdom Come (1996), is one of the comics industry’s most respected and well-loved artists. His illustrations—primarily done with gouache paint—have been highly influenced by Norman Rockwell’s iconic style.
Said Ross, “Norman Rockwell has been one of the greatest influences on my art, and it is an enormous honor to be featured in the museum dedicated to his work. I have always looked upon Rockwell’s style as the peak of what one could hope to achieve artistically. Rockwell’s realistic execution and eye for composition are things I aspire to, knowing that he performed a quality of work that isn’t easily achieved. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Rockwell’s originals for many of his greatest paintings in person before, and I know that there is an endless wonder in studying their excellence. It is a major career achievement for me to have my work be in company with his.”
The exhibit will feature original work by Alex Ross, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, Andrew Loomis, J.C. Leyendecker, and Ross’ mother Lynette. Also on display will be “a selection of comic books and related paraphernalia collected by Warhol throughout his life.” “Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross” runs from November 10, 2012 until February 24, 2013.
Learn more about Ross, the museum, the exhibit, and related events at www.nmr.org/alexross/
Gamenomics & Comicology 