Detail of the final painting, Festival of Opet, for the Pharaoh Part ll Exhibit, featuring the Oud. This instrument is also known as the ud. Copyright Margret E. Short, 2011 … [Read more...] about From Cairo to My Easel
Ancient Egypt
Songs for the Pharaoh
While departing Egypt in 2009, I found this splendid lute-like oudat an airport shop. I purchased it with the intention of using it as a prop in a painting because of the beautiful shades and shapes in the design. Literally, the 'ud means twig', 'flexible rod' or 'aromatic stick'. It is an instrument that remains popular in Egypt and dates as … [Read more...] about Songs for the Pharaoh
One and a Half Billion and Counting
In a television interview on February 5, 2011,Farouk Okdah, Egypt's Central Bank Governor, said Egypt's tourism industry has lost $1.5 billion since the protests to oust Hosni Mubarak began on January 25. This was according to the state-run Middle East News Agency, which ran excerpts of his interview. Having traveled to Egypt in 2009, I saw … [Read more...] about One and a Half Billion and Counting
Irresistible
The combination of malachite with azurite makes the most luscious pigment, and I just can't resist using lots of it. This detail shows a small jar in one of the new paintings in the Part ll project. … [Read more...] about Irresistible
The Vizier’s Paints
Paint Box of Vizier Amenemope Egypt, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18 (1540-1296 BC), Reign of Amenhotep II, c. 1427-1401 BC. Boxwood with inscription inlaid in Egyptian blue, 3.6 x 2.2 x 21.0 cm. © The Cleveland Museum of Art Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust 1914.680 Image Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art. This … [Read more...] about The Vizier’s Paints
Don’t Shoot the Deputy
A vizier in ancient Egypt is similar to a consigliere in the modern day Mafia, a deputy, a right hand man to the big boss, specifically the Pharaoh. Remember Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen, Don Corleone's voice of reason in the Godfather? How about FDR's Harry Hopkins. Well that would be the role of the vizier. He advised his boss in everyday matters … [Read more...] about Don’t Shoot the Deputy