About Jan Adkins

Jan is the one with the glasses.

JAN ADKINS is an author, illustrator, designer, storyteller, and explainer. He was associate art director for National Geographic Magazine, 1980-88, researching and explaining science, medicine, technology and archaeology to its millions of readers. It was a job described by his editor-in-chief as “getting a doctorate every third month.”  He taught editorial illustration at Rhode Island School of Design and at Maryland Institute College of Art. He has a regular 8 page feature, “Getting Started In Boats,” in WoodenBoat Magazine and contributes often to several sailing magazines.

Over the years, Jan has written and illustrated dozens of books. WoodenBoat Books includes eight of his titles in their stable:

Toolchest 
Moving Heavy Things
Craft of Sail
Line: Tying it Up, Tying it Down
Workboats
Solstice
Wooden Ship
A Storm Without Rain

And, there is also Jan Adkins' artwork on the back of a WooodenBoat T-shirt which we refer to as a "Tree Shirt". This beautiful, multi-colored tree brings together the letter and spirit of wooden boats and their source.