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

Using Violet and Purple Pigments in Oils: Challenges and Solutions

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Painting objects using violet and purple shades is always a challenge because it is easy to land on the garish side of this hue. We have all seen a house painted this color and we say "Whoa! That's intense!" Another example is painted flowers and fabrics that make your eyes water. So how to avoid this error in the use of purple/violet … [Read more...] about Using Violet and Purple Pigments in Oils: Challenges and Solutions

Lapis Lazuli Pigment Discovery: You’ll Never Guess Where

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Last week I read a story about - no kidding - the 850 year old skeleton of a woman whose teeth were recently examined alongside other specimens in the same cemetery in Germany. According to the story in the journal Science Advances, scientists like to poke around in very old dental skeletal calculus to find evidence of food, bacteria, and … [Read more...] about Lapis Lazuli Pigment Discovery: You’ll Never Guess Where

Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life

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Besides making paints, now there is a newly found use for the ancient pigment, Egyptian Blue Frit. This pigment, made by heating a mixture of copper, quartz, sand, lime, and an alkali, dates from 3250 BCE and was used to decorate tombs, statues, coffins, and temple walls in Egypt during the long reign of the Pharaohs. Who Knew Pigments Could Be … [Read more...] about Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life

Camouflaged – The Final Unveiling

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Camouflage Pigments Like You've Never Seen Before As promised, the final piece in the Indigenous Naturals Pigment Project, is revealed: Camouflage Modello, Oil on Linen 6x8. The previously-mentioned twist is disclosed and oh my - is it an interesting twist! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that researching historical pigments would have … [Read more...] about Camouflaged – The Final Unveiling

Indigenous Naturals: Earth and Mineral Pigments Found in Oregon and Pacific NW

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Pigment Project Unveiling - Five New Paintings One of the most exciting aspects of doing an historical pigment project is the unexpected discovery and this one is has been over the top fun! Initially, my plan was to investigate the location and type of pigments found in deposits and mines around Oregon. Right away, I hit a mother lode of … [Read more...] about Indigenous Naturals: Earth and Mineral Pigments Found in Oregon and Pacific NW