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.

Glue Sizing

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Img_0105The next step after stretching the linen over the bars is to prepare the glue sizing. Rabbit skin glue comes in a crystal form and looks somewhat like cream of wheat. This is truly one of the historic materials and techniques and has been used for centuries. The crystals are soaked overnight in water and then heated in a double boiler where the crystals dissolve and the mixture is becomes clear. It is applied directly onto the linen with a large brush while very warm, working quickly to cover all the fabric surfaces, sides, corners, and backs. After it is totally saturated the canvas is placed on a flat surface to dry. The slack in the linen will become taut as it dries. Only one coating is needed. The purpose of this process is to coat all surfaces so that all the fibers are sealed and prevents the primers and paints from coming into contact with the linen. Thus it becomes archival.

Chiaroscuro Painting

Oil painting with the chiaroscuro technique illuminates the focus area with a strong light. All other areas are painted with less detail, lower values, and intensity of color giving a mysterious appearance. By putting one or two objects in the important focus area, a strong but simple composition will emerge. Combining these oil painting techniques with a selection of superior natural pigments and oil paints result in the beautiful and evocative quality known as Chiaroscuro Painting.