William Gilkerson
William Gilkerson is a professional marine artist, author and historian whose ongoing work is internationally recognized in each of these categories:
ARTIST
Gilkerson's drawings, watercolours, and oils have been featured in a dozen major institutional exhibitions; they have been anthologized and reproduced in scores of books, magazines, and on film. As of this moment, some 50 prints and lithographs of his pictures have been produced (see Prints & Lithos). He has been dubbed “the father of modern scrimshaw” by various scrimshaw authorities (see Scrimshaw).
For a selection of original work, currently for sale from the artist's studio, see: Gallery. Gilkerson's original works have been commissioned or purchased by some 40 public and private institutions, among them:
Frammuseet, Oslo
Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia
Collection Archéologie Navale Francaise,
Jean Boudriot
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology,
Hart Collection
Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston
Nantucket Whaling Museum
National Geographic Society
National Library Of Scotland
National Library Of Congress
National Maritime Museum, San Francisco
Kendall Whaling Museum
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Peabody Essex Museum Of Salem
Sea Education Association, Woods Hole
South Street Seaport Museum, New York
U.S. Naval Academy Museum
USS Constitution Museum
U.S. Naval War College, Newport
Ventura County Maritime Museum
Whaling Museum Of The Pacific, Honolulu
AUTHOR
William Gilkerson has authored 10 books to date (see Books), with two more in production. They have ranged from hardcore history through satire, art commentary, and fiction, plus on-the-spot journalism for various newspapers and magazines. He was one of WoodenBoat Magazine's earliest contributors, with a continuing series of articles on various nautical topics spanning a generation.
HISTORIAN
Underlying Gilkerson's art and writing is a grounding in genuine history that saturates both. His quest for visual and factual authenticity has led to substantive historical contributions of his own. For instance, his two-volume treatise on the development of ship's weapons, Boarders Away I & II, (see Books), have proven the standard texts in their field as has Jean Boudriot's book on John Paul Jones's lost flagship BonneHomme Richard, inspired and illustrated by Gilkerson, in collaboration. On a more general level, Gilkerson's historiography is best summarized by a further reading on this website, and the comments of his peers.
For an illustrated interview with Bill Gilkerson, click here.
Wm. Gilkerson | Books | Gallery | Prints & Lithos | Scrimshaw