• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Margret E. Short Fine Arts

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.

  • Home
  • About
    • Margret E Short Bio
    • Resumé
    • Artist’s Statement
    • Artist Resources
    • The Lessons Series
    • Oregon Honor
  • Commission
  • Prints
  • Events
  • Galleries
  • Projects
    • Quintessential Blue
    • Iso-LACE-tion: A Thirty Day Painting Project
    • Indigenous Naturals Project
    • Lessons from the Spider Woman
    • Girl Jazz Singers
    • Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part 1
    • Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part 2
    • Lessons from the Low Countries
    • Greek Pigment Project
  • Contact
  • Blog

Katayama Framing

June 13, 2007 by Margret Short

Katayama_frame_sample_for_blog_2 It quickly became very clear over the months of planning that it would take a huge amount of work, resources, and delegating to present an exhibit such as Lessons from the Low Countries. I knew it was important to employ the expertise of reliable companies with excellent reputations.

After much searching, I found the perfect frame supplier with all of the above qualities, Katayama Framing, located right here in Portland, Oregon. With one phone call to Marilyn Murdock, I was assured Katayama could meet my needs with several Dutch period reproduction styles from which to choose. 

Ultimately, four styles were selected, including the one shown here. We decided the blue was a little too strong so the craftspeople there masked it over with just the perfect amount of gray/black tones.

The Katayama crew was splendidly helpful and professional and all 16 frames were beautifully made to my exact specifications, all with plenty of time to spare. The other three styles are black with just bits of red or gold showing through. Guests at the reception were most complimentary of all the selections. Thank you, Marilyn, Michael, and all the crew for helping make my exhibit perfect.

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.

Footer

Sign up for Margret’s Newsletter

Join Margret while she explores imagery and pigments used since 3500 BC!

Email Address:

Recent Blogs

Doing the Mazurka with Emma Sandys

Adelaide Labille-Guiard; Folkdancing Backwards

The Queen of Capri Waltzed Backwards in Button Boots: Sophie Gengembre Anderson

Dancing the Rigaudon Backwards: Rachel Ruysch

Dancing Backwards with Elisabetta Sirani: 1638-1665

[More Blog Posts]

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Looking for Something Special?

© 2006 - © 2025 Margret E Short, all rights reserved