Ernest William Watson (American, 1884-1969) was a painter, teacher, author, and linocut print master. Ernest William Watson was born in Conway, MA and became a nationally famous innovator in the use of linocut prints. Educated at the Boston Normal School finishing in 1906, he extended his education at the Pratt Institute in New York in 1907. Watson joined the Pratt faculty where he taught from 1908-1929. In 1915, he founded the Berkshire Summer School of Art.
Watson wrote many books on art techniques including one in 1929 on his specialty, Of Linoleum Block Prints. He also wrote, Color and Method In Painting in 1943, 20 Painters and How They Work, 1950, How to Use Creative Perspective, 1955, and the Watson Drawing Book in 1962.
In 1937, he co-founded the publishing company of Watson and Guptill, which was the important, first company to specialize in art technique and instruction. The publishers also created the American Artist magazine. Watson had a passion for promoting American artists and acted as the magazine editor from1931-1955. His 1942 interview of Andrew Wyeth was among the first to bring Wyeth to national attention.
Watson also created illustrations, pencil drawing and watercolors, but his legacy along with the work of his artist-wife, Eva was his work on the linoleum color print. These pieces found their way into the collections of the Smithsonian, Boston Public Library, Library Of Congress, New York Public Library, the Print Club Of Rochester and the Brooklyn and Baltimore Art Museums. Watson was awarded a gold medal by the Pratt Institute in 1965 for his distinguished service.
(Source: AskArt.com, prior biographical submission by Robert Savage of the Wellesley Collection.)
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