George Ernest Colby was a revered artist in Chicago. He was a devoted illustrator, and cartoonist. In 1922 as a memorial to John Vanderpoel instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1880 to 1906, he donated a painting titled Phantom of the Desert. At that point in his career there were about six of Colby’s paintings for sale ranging in price from $200.00 to $1000.00 at the Carson, Pirie, Scott department store gallery. This was a considerable amount for this period of time. Colby and Vanderpoel were good acquaintances and they both were members of the Old Art League

Colby was also a longtime member of the Chicago Art Institute. His works have been known to be exhibited at the National Academy in New York and the Salon in Paris and Salon.