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.

Pigments: Historical and Modern

There is a distinct difference between modern day pigments and the natural pigments used prior to the middle of the 1700s. In the past, artists had apprentices who ground the colors for them throughout the oil painting sessions. Because they were made by hand, the pigments retained a natural grittiness and consistency with larger particle size. Today's oil paint manufacturers make synthetic colors in huge vats where the end result is exceptional smoothness. Prior to the middle of the 1700, natural pigments came from dirt, minerals, and even plants.

Mad Scientist Who Never Sleeps

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In many ways, we are all students of a certain endeavor at some time or another. My mad scientist/experiment-or/student self never sleeps. Come to my studio and most days you will find a pot of stand oil/varnish medium bubbling away on the hot plate. Alternatively, perhaps a small batch of Red Iron Oxide or Egyptian Blue Frit will be lingering on … [Read more...] about Mad Scientist Who Never Sleeps

Doorman’s Record Tulipa

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Cupid's Arrow 11x10  Oil on Linen Margret E. Short copyright 2010 CM Russell Museum Masters in Miniature 2010 July 29 through September 11 Great Falls, Montana Being the hopeless and helpless mad scientist, I just can't help playing around with colors. Over the past while, RED has been on my palette and has been manipulated and pushed like … [Read more...] about Doorman’s Record Tulipa

The Metamorphosis of Ray Mar

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Raymar Art Fine Art Competition Finalist, February 2010   Metamorphosis, 12x12, Oil on Linen, © Margret E. Short 2009, OPA. AWA Collection, Grant and Elizabeth Beech Metamorphosis is from my Lessons Series Project collection of eleven paintings which I completed in 2006-07.  All eleven were based on the color palette from … [Read more...] about The Metamorphosis of Ray Mar

Hatshepsut’s Gift

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Hatshepsut's Gift Sold 10x8 Oil on Gold Leaf  © Margret E. Short, OPA, AWA 2009   Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb   Lawrence Gallery, Portland, Oregon, September & October   Hatshepsut's Gift   is the first painting attempted using the Egyptian pigments and was a huge challenge. As I have said many … [Read more...] about Hatshepsut’s Gift

Figs from the Pharaoh

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Figs from the Pharaoh Sold 10x11 Oil on Linen © Margret E. Short, OPA, AWA , 2009 Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb   Lawrence Gallery, Portland, Oregon   September & October 2009 This small format painting is the second in the series. Figs from the Pharaoh is symbolic of the offerings to the gods found in the tombs of the pharaohs. The … [Read more...] about Figs from the Pharaoh

Osiris Iris

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Osiris Iris Sold 12x12   Oil on Linen © Margret E. Short, OPA, AWA, 2009  Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb   Lawrence Gallery, Portland, Oregon September & October 2009 This 12x12 inch painting, Osiris Iris, is a play on words and dedicated to the god of the Netherworld, Osiris, husband of Isis and father of Horus. This God of the … [Read more...] about Osiris Iris