George Ayers Cress (Alabama/Tennessee, 1921-2008) oil on paper expressionist landscape painting depicting a valley with colorful hills and sky. Signed and dated "1964" lower right. Housed and matted under glass in a wooden frame. Sight - 15 3/8" H x 21 1/4" W. Framed - 23 3/4" H x 28 3/4" W. Mid 20th century. Biography (courtesy Tennessee Historical Quarterly Vol. XLIV No. 2: "Landscape and Genre Painting in Tennessee 1810-1985"): 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 and 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.