• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Margret E. Short Fine Arts

Margret E. Short Fine Arts

Portland, Oregon artist Margret Short - a modern day master of 17th Century Dutch art using the chiaroscuro technique to create still life and floral paintings.

  • Home
  • About
    • Margret E Short Bio
    • Resumé
    • Artist’s Statement
    • Artist Resources
    • The Lessons Series
    • Oregon Honor
  • Commission
  • Prints
  • Events
  • Galleries
  • Projects
    • Quintessential Blue
    • Iso-LACE-tion: A Thirty Day Painting Project
    • Indigenous Naturals Project
    • Lessons from the Spider Woman
    • Girl Jazz Singers
    • Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part 1
    • Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part 2
    • Lessons from the Low Countries
    • Greek Pigment Project
  • Contact
  • Blog

Chiaroscuro and Other Oil Painting Techniques

Chiaroscuro is from the Italian language and the root meaning is chiaro, light, and scuro (obscure), dark. It is a perfect technique to use in oil painting to achieve drama of contrasts such as that used by the 17th Century Dutch. Another technique that helps attain this look is impasto oil painting, which is used freely in the main focus of the composition and then to a lesser degree in the shadow areas. It is very effective in all sizes and subject matter such as oil paintings of flowers, still life, and even landscape. Fumed Silica gel is a great medium to use for getting texture in oil painting. It is a combination of linseed oil and silica mixed together which forms a fluffy clear medium. When mixed with paint, the consistency retains its shape and stays put with no slumping.

Cannon Beach Arts Fest

June 23, 2015 by Margret Short

painting using oil paint on linen of felucca ships on the water

Scorching temperatures are predicted for this coming weekend, but you can beat the heat on the splendid Oregon Coast at the Cannon Beach Art Fest. Plein Air and More is a city wide event and all the galleries will be participating with artists all around town and on the beach doing and talking about their art. I will be at the Bronze Coast … [Read more...] about Cannon Beach Arts Fest

All That Glitters – Oil on Gold Leaf

April 5, 2015 by Margret Short

Gold Leaf painting showing lace, silver dollars, and green jar

It's been a while since doing anything on gold leaf, and it was quite fun to get back into this medium. This technique is really much easier than it seems, and the trick really is not to put very much paint on the surface. Let the gold leaf itself shine and be the star performer. Remember the adage, less is more. I did not put any paint at all in … [Read more...] about All That Glitters – Oil on Gold Leaf

Oil Painters of America First Online Auction

November 28, 2014 by Margret Short

30x30 Oil on Linen painting of vase full of flowers on top of red cloth

Oil Painters of America's First Online Auction Auction Begins December 4, 2014    Oil Painters of America's First Online Auction is now up and running. Collectors have the opportunity to preview and bid on the highest quality works of art from today's leading fine artists. It is an honor to be part of this event which will commence on … [Read more...] about Oil Painters of America First Online Auction

Randy Higbee 6″ Squared Exhibition and Sale

November 28, 2014 by Margret Short

oil paint on copper medium fine art

Randy Higbee Gallery is hosting the fifth annual 6"Squared Exhibition and Sale Through December 31, 2014       See images, exhibit, and purchase information here   … [Read more...] about Randy Higbee 6″ Squared Exhibition and Sale

Oil Painting Critiques

June 2, 2014 by Margret Short

detail of red flower painted howing impasto and brushstrokes

This past week, I had the pleasure of participating in the Oil Painters of America Critique Program. For the nominal fee of $25.00 (which goes to OPA), artists have the opportunity to have a signature or master level member review their oil paintings and give instructional advice on how they might improve their technique. Because I do not do any … [Read more...] about Oil Painting Critiques

Tagged With: cinnabar, colors, historical pigments, Lessons from the Low Countries, Minerals Metals and Dirt

Iron Oxide Pigments, Colors and Uses in Oil Painting

March 19, 2014 by Margret Short

Ercolano Red raw paint pigment

George O’Hanlon’s Best Painting Practice Class held in Portland this past weekend was a treasure trove of valuable information.  Much of the information presented was material I have studied over the years since my art quest began, and happily, there were many nuggets presented too.  The topics of materials, techniques, mediums, oil painting … [Read more...] about Iron Oxide Pigments, Colors and Uses in Oil Painting

Tagged With: colors, historical pigments, Lessons from the Pharaoh's Tomb, Margret E. Short, Margret Short, oil painting, painting, paintings

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 11
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

Sign up for Margret’s Newsletter

Join Margret while she explores imagery and pigments used since 3500 BC!

Email Address:

Recent Blogs

Doing the Mazurka with Emma Sandys

Adelaide Labille-Guiard; Folkdancing Backwards

The Queen of Capri Waltzed Backwards in Button Boots: Sophie Gengembre Anderson

Dancing the Rigaudon Backwards: Rachel Ruysch

Dancing Backwards with Elisabetta Sirani: 1638-1665

[More Blog Posts]

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Looking for Something Special?

© 2006 - © 2025 Margret E Short, all rights reserved