"Anticipation of Summer". Acrylic on hand made paper mounted onto masonite, signed in the lower right, framed with a gilt frame, textile covered inner panel overall apprx. 42" x 47-1/2".

He was born in West New York, New Jersey on November 15, 1913. He attended the Textile Design School of Plauen, Germany for five years and specialized in the study and painting of flowers. He was a Textile designer until World War II, when he served with the 13th Air Force Historical Section as a combat artist, illustrating a history of the 13th Air Force with ninety paintings. Laessig then studied at Art Students’ League, New York City for a year under Bernard Klonis. An opportunity to become an art consultant brought Laessig to Cleveland. He has exhibited in every Cleveland May Show since 1950. He has won prizes at the Butler International Art Show in Youngstown, Ohio and also the annual May Show held at the Akron Art Institute. He was presented a distinctive award for the best watercolor in a show and an abstract painting was purchased for the Cleveland Museum of Art at the time of the 1959 Cleveland May Show. He has exhibited work by special invitation at the Massillon Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan and in Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Laessig is listed in Who’s Who in America, and is a member of the National Academy of Design. He had three paintings exhibited at the American Embassy in Norway. Robert had the honor of designing the official White House Christmas Cards for five years during the Johnson Administration. He won the Ohio Watercolor Society Gold Medal in 1988 for Autumn Beckons. In 1982, he won the Winsor & Newton Award for “Bleak November.” And he earned the top award in the National Academy of Design Exhibition, National Academy Galleries, New York City in 1967 for Meadow Fluff. www.askart.com