George Rogers Wilson

GRANVILLE George Rogers Wilson, landscape oil painter, passed from this earthly plane on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at his home as the result of a fall. George lived at his Orchard Studio, Hicks Orchard, Granville, N.Y. Born in Columbus, Ohio, on March 30, 1919, he was the first son of the late Oma and Chauncey Wilson. George received his early art training in Columbus, including a scholarship to the Columbus School of Design during high school. He earned his B.A. and master's degree in fine art from Ohio State University. In addition, he studied under Millard Sheets at the renown Chinard Art School in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1939. George's Pruett Carter Fellowship with watercolorist Elliot O'Hara was interrupted in 1942 by World War II. As a flight instructor, George flew as a captain until the war's end, in 1945. In 1943, he met and befriended fellow instructor, Mickey Spillane, in Greenwood Miss. This began a 63- year friendship that included such projects as George's illustrations of Mike Hammer for Mickey's books, to building a house together in Newburgh, N.Y., and the Virginia Home business in 1952. Transitioning from fine arts to commercial art was further enhanced when George attended Pratt Institute in 1947. He then went on to become one of the first art directors nationally in early television, from 1949 to 1951, in Columbus, Ohio. George designed and constructed sets which were theatrical in nature, involving experimental mediums and special effects. Late in 1951, he went to Adak, Alaska, and worked with naval engineers constructing models for atomic submarines, etc. A year later, he took a train to Mexico City where he lived on the second floor of a hotel, above Frida Kahlo. In 1955, George began a 19- year career in commercial advertising and dimensional work with Gordon Keith in Columbus, Ohio. During this time, he taught fine art, freelanced as a muralist, and was a member of the Pen and Brush League and the Columbus Artists Association. After his move to Granville, N.Y. in 1974, George devoted his time exclusively to easel fine art painting. In his fascination with the local landscape, he said that he "catches the feeling of this country in a given season at a particular time of day." All of his travels (including two separate years as a back-wood logger) contributed to how he saw nature in its many moods. Also regionally, George taught art classes at the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls. George had been a member of the Chaffee Art Center, Southern Vermont Art Center and the Guild of Adirondack Artists. He won awards in numerous juried shows and was in numerous one man shows. He is listed in Art in America. George was a lepidopterist as a teenager, he was given special permission to collect butterflies in Ohio's land preserves. Also, his fascination with agronomy and gardening most recently led to planting an arboretum for future generations to enjoy. Additionally, George enjoyed cooking, reading and reciting poetry. In addition to his parents, George was predeceased by his brother, Donald Wilson, his sister, Marjorie Zipf, and his grandson, Dario Orrico. Survivors include two daughters, Victoria Orrico of Mexico and Laura Newbre of California; his son, Mark Wilson of New Mexico; his sister-in-law, Dorothy Wilson of Hicks Orchard; two nephews, Scott Wilson and Dan Wilson and his wife, Susan; two grandsons, several great-nieces and nephews and his beloved companion and muse, Nanson Serrianne. There will be no calling hours. Memorials in his name maybe to the Granville Rescue Squad, the Agricultural Stewartship Association, Greenwich, N.Y., or the Hyde Collection Education Program. As George was so fond of gardening, a tree could be planted in his honor.