Norman Rockwell, known for his slice-of-life art...

Norman Rockwell, known for his slice-of-life art style, is the inspiration for two television specials airing this Thanksgiving week.

The artist’s life and work will be depicted in “Norman Rockwell: An American Portrait” Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Channels 28 and 15, and 9 p.m. on Channels 50 and 24 (also Saturday at 9 p.m. on Channel 50). Mason Adams is the narrator.

Rockwell sold his first cover to the Saturday Evening Post in 1916 at the age of 21. Over the next 50 years, his illustrations depicting life in America graced more than 300 covers. One of those drawings from a Thanksgiving time many years ago--Nov. 28, 1942, is reproduced on the cover.

Another Rockwell painting is the inspiration for ABC’s “Norman Rockwell’s ‘Breaking Home Ties’ ” to be seen Thursday, Thanksgiving night, 9-11 p.m., on Channels 7, 3, 10, 42. Jason Robards, Doug McKeon and Eva Marie Saint are in this coming-of-age story about a young man and his parents.