Summer

Okay, I'll start off with that i've finally posted an update to my website (www.bencressy.com) and made a few changes. Well, maybe i'm testing a change. Instead of forcing the viewer to navigate via 'superthumbs' to pages of a few select paintings that fit together, I've put all the thumbnails on one page. The page ends up being 315k and this is what i would call sloppy web design, or maybe design for the broadband age. Of course, it probably doesn't work so well for those lucky enought to be able to browse the web on their phones. I also implemented 'thickbox' which makes it easy to browse through images via 'next/previous' links instead of having to go back to thumbnails and then click the next image. For the time being the change is only on the studio side.

Anyway, on to painting news. I've been plugging away and trying to finish a couple of paintings. One is another exploration of a 'bar' painting. I've been battling the color relationships of the major forms, and spent some time moving tape to find the placement of the pure abstract element that i have yet to label with an easily understandable explanation. Well, here it is... I think it's close to finished, but anything can happen.

Icarus or Annunciation, 2008, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches

Another painting that I had been working on for awhile is complete. It stands out as something different, so i'm not sure how or if it will be presented within the current body of work. Perhaps a few more will follow it and flesh out the notion. It came out of the earlier hallway interiors.

Guardian Exit, 2008, oil on canvas, 48 x 36inches

I made a few studies of the figure (admitedly from a photo) before diving in and enjoyed that each time had a very different expression.