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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.

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Offerings to Isis

March 1, 2011 by Margret Short

Offerings to Isis

Offerings to Isis

8×9  Oil on Wood panel

© Margret E. Short, OPA, AWA, 2011

Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part Two

This small painting was one of the most enjoyable to paint not only for the colors but also the subject matter. One day while hunting through the aisles of our local Asian market I spied a fascinating fruit of brilliant fuchsia coloration. It was called a dragon fruit and was completely foreign to me. I purchased two and hurried home to google for more information.

During my research I learned it is popular in Thailand but also grows in parts of the Mediterranean. Can’t you just imagine the pharaoh standing over the sink eating slices of this luscious pear-like fruit, juice running to his elbows. All around the surface of the thick rind are eye-like petals similar to a cactus. A splendid brilliant white pulp and hundreds of tiny poppy-like seeds appeared upon slicing. Thus, these lovely fruits became my Offerings to Isis.

Isis, known as the Egyptian Mother Goddess, was the sister and wife of Osiris. She is sometimes shown with wings for arms and a throne sign on her head. It is said that Cleopatra, while plotting her demise with the asp, kept repeating, “take me to Isis” her favorite Goddess. The main cult center is Philae where we visited via boat.

Repeatedly, I have used the madder, Egyptian blue frit, and red iron oxide in varying combinations for many of the paintings in this project.

Cleo_sig

Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena

Tagged With: Cleopatra, Egyptian blue, Isis, offering lists, Osiris, Philae, red iron oxide

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.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paul Ashford says

    August 30, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Awesome use of light and shadow……

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