New Oregon Road, 18 x 24
Western New York artist Carl W. Illig (1910-1987) was born in East Amherst, NY. With his fellow regionalists Charles Burchfield, Carl Peters and Robert Blair, he shared a tradition of creating renditions of familiar scenic landscapes.
Illig was 40 years old when he became a serious painter. In 1951 he began to study with Buffalo artist Arthur Kowalski. Kowalski also revered outdoor scenes, and guided Illig in expressing his vision of Western New York landscapes. Carl’s working method was to explore field, streams and wooded areas in all seasons, looking for subjects. His focus was on capturing characteristics and subtleties of light and color. Because of his skill in these areas, he was invited to participate in the prestigious job of restoring the Alex Fournier murals at the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora. Carl Illig won many prizes exhibiting his work, including the coveted George Inness Award from the Fine Arts League of Buffalo.
Carl Illig’s surviving body of work is both historically worthy and an intimate testament to his love of artistic expression, nature and life. These winter scenes are explorations and celebrations of the “spirit of place” of Western New York.
All works of art are courtesy of The Estate of Carl W. Illig, Dean Brownrout and 20thCenturyFinest.com, and were photographed by Illig’s son, Pete Illig.
Strykersville, NY, 18 x 24
Outside Ellicottville, NY, 18 x 24
West Falls Farm, 17 x 23
South of East Aurora, NY, 16 x 20
Winter Sunshine, 22 x 28
Covered Bridge in Winter, 22 x 28
Barn on Hillside, Boston Valley, 18 x 24
