His childhood dream to be an illustrator was realised in 1951 when he was commissioned to do the art for Wonderful Farm by Marcel Ayme and by 1957 he was writing his own books.
An accomplished painter, illustrator, sculptor and jewelry designer, McClelland Barclay had developed a very successful art career by the time he became a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve in 1938.
Now, however, more art critics are beginning to acknowledge, albeit grudgingly, that Rockwell was no mere illustrator but one of the finest painters in American history.