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.

Historical Pigments

Dendera Temple Ceiling Colors

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At several places within the Temple of Dendera the colors from antiquity were visible. Here you can see the remains of a bluish pigment on the ceiling. The ancient Egyptians used two blues. One is the Egyptian blue frit described in an earlier blog entry and the other azurite. It is impossible to tell which was used here without analyzing a … [Read more...] about Dendera Temple Ceiling Colors

French Prime Time, Egyptian Style

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The next phase of the project is the priming. After the canvas is totally dry sand lightly to remove the fuzzy fibers that have lifted on the surface of the fabric. Lay the canvas flat and begin the priming process on the back. Once more, remove the staples from the corners. Using a brush apply the primer to the fabric leaving the staples off … [Read more...] about French Prime Time, Egyptian Style

Priming, by Request

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Rob, at French Canvas, graciously sent me one of their stretched linen canvases to use as a blog demonstration and to use for one of my Egyptian paintings. I have used their superior products in the past, and because so many people have requested more information about priming techniques, this will be a good way to show how … [Read more...] about Priming, by Request

Baboons and Netherworlds

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  This stunning necklace is another example of the similar theme as previously posted. This piece is exceptional in its detail and inlay of gems. The lapis scarab is again holding the sun shape. Here you can see the two baboonsflanking the scarab. They are made of turquoise and glass paste with silver. The baboons helped the rising sun come … [Read more...] about Baboons and Netherworlds

Egyptian Blue

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Though often lavishly used in decorative arts in Egypt for thousands of years, there is no evidence that lapis lazuli was used as a pigment. The ancient Egyptians invented a different and just as beautiful blue called Egyptian Blue frit, shown above. This pigment consisted of a crystalline compound of silica, copper, and lime. It is thought the … [Read more...] about Egyptian Blue