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.

Margret's Blog

Earth’s Pigments & Beauty: Sometimes a Dangerous Combination

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While at a recent First Thursday in Portland, I talked at length with Kay McGraw, wife of one of the gallery owners. She brought up a topic I hadn't thought of since writing about it in my post All for Beauty in 2006: historical pigments used in women's makeup throughout the ages. The Innocuous Colors Now mind you, some colors are perfectly … [Read more...] about Earth’s Pigments & Beauty: Sometimes a Dangerous Combination

Repoussoir: An Odd Name for a Powerful Compositional Effect

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Ever wonder about the tricks the masters used to compose their paintings? Of course, there are many tricks such as color intensity, perspective, size, placement, and so forth, but one that most people don't know about is repoussoir. This centuries-old method creates drama and engages the viewer. Many of the masters such as Chardin, Vermeer, … [Read more...] about Repoussoir: An Odd Name for a Powerful Compositional Effect

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

Learning from a Master Oil Painter: Johannes Vermeer

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As you know, faithful readers, painting copies of masterworks has long been a favorite learning technique for me. Over the past 40 plus years, I have painted many including Rembrandt's The Polish Rider and Vermeer's Girl in the Red Hat both of which hang in my foyer. I have painted a number of other Rembrandts, a Franz Hals, and so many others I … [Read more...] about Learning from a Master Oil Painter: Johannes Vermeer