Lot 964: 56 George Cress Watercolor Paintings & Drawings

A collection of fifty-six (56) George Cress (American/Tennessee, 1921-2008) small studies, sketches, and other miscellaneous works on paper including one (1) watercolor stick landscape painting and one (1) abstract watercolor painting, both in vivid colors on watercolor paper; thirty-four (34) graphite and crayon landscape study drawings including one drawing of a tree in purple crayon plus Monhegan Island, Maine (1974), Schuylkill River, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Wells, England scenes; eight (8) pen, crayon, and graphite architectural drawings including one in pink and purple crayon and Salem, Massachusetts and Venice, Italy subjects; three (3) watercolor or ink abstract paintings in black including one watercolor stick painting; seven (7) abstract graphite drawings; one (1) graphite drawing of two flowers; and one (1) figural study drawing of a man's back in black crayon and pen. Some housed in sketchbooks and some loose, with nine total sketchbooks. Dimensions range from 17 x 14" to 5" x 9". Biographical note: "George Cress was born in Anniston, Alabama and studied at Emory University, American University, and the University of Georgia, where he studied under fellow Southern contemporary artist Lamar Dodd. He was a central figure in Chattanooga's arts community and served as President of the Tennessee Arts Council. He sat on the board of the Hunter Museum of Art. From 1951-1984 he was painter in residence at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. The Cress Gallery of Art at UTC is named in his honor." (Source: The Tennessee Historical Quarterly Vol. XLIV No. 2: Landscape and Genre Painting in Tennessee 1810-1985).

PROVENANCE: Deaccessioned by the Hunter Museum of American Art.

CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Some sheets with toning and some with museum accession numbers.