William Hoffman (1924âÂÂ1995) was a self-taught American painter known for his seascapes and Western-themed oil paintings. Born and raised in Montana, he worked on cattle ranches before serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
After the war, Hoffman pursued several careers and briefly attended three colleges. While working as a regional manager for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1964, he visited a San Francisco art gallery, which inspired him to begin painting.
Hoffman's early works featured the Pacific Ocean. A Los Angeles art dealer offered to buy his entire output sight unseen. Over the following decade, he completed 22 paintings that were widely reproduced. Later in his career, he turned toward Western scenes, focusing on Native American subjects and frontier landscapes.
Hoffman's paintings have appeared in national art auctions, with prices ranging from $50 to $3,300. His Moonlit Seascape sold for $3,300 at Altermann Galleries in 2000.
Hoffman illustrated or provided cover art for the following books:
He also illustrated covers for: