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.

Dancing the Rigaudon Backwards: Rachel Ruysch

Dancing the Rigaudon Backwards: Rachel Ruysch

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Unlike the previous featured artist, Elisabetta Sirani, Rachel Ruysch lived a long and fruitful 86 years. It’s no wonder her passion for art developed early with a penchant for natural marvels like flowers, butterflies, lizards, and other creatures because she was raised the daughter of a physician/anatomist and botanist, Frederik Ruysch. Fortune … [Read more...] about Dancing the Rigaudon Backwards: Rachel Ruysch

Dancing Backwards with Elisabetta Sirani: 1638-1665

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After deciding on the topic for this project, I found two books on women artists in my library and began the research. Several works by certain artists stood out. As usual, vibrant shimmering color or color harmony draws me in to a composition. The work of Elisabetta Sirani instantly reveals a bold color palette often with unmuted primary and … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards with Elisabetta Sirani: 1638-1665

Getting Down to Specifics: Part Two

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This commission piece was a delight to paint, and each day a pleasure, not work at all. As the painting progressed, I found it hard to stop at the end of each painting session. Often, I took photos of the transformations and sent them along to the clients. Because of the marvels of the iPhone camera, it was easy to document day to day progress and … [Read more...] about Getting Down to Specifics: Part Two

Getting Down to Specifics: What’s in Your Mind’s Eye?

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Part One One of the most enjoyable projects in my painting life is working directly with collectors planning a commission piece, and this was no exception and loads of fun. Several months ago, a couple from nearby Washington State contacted me inquiring about a very personal painting for their collection. They wished to include a few heirloom … [Read more...] about Getting Down to Specifics: What’s in Your Mind’s Eye?

Quintessential Blue Comes to an End

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Circles Modello Joker in the Tulip Garden Mystical Modello Vessel for the Water Endlessly Modello Palpable Modello Infinite Modello Crystalline Modello Quintessential Blue comes to an end. All paintings are on view at Bronze Coast Gallery in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Thank you for following my stories of the … [Read more...] about Quintessential Blue Comes to an End

The Final Home Stretch: Quintessential Blue

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Quintessential Blue Pigment Project has been great fun for a pigment nerd like me. For this series, I used some unusual colors on my palette with unexpected surprises. One is the cobalt turquoise and the other manganese blue that both are now my all-time favs. Though neither are historical colors, I know I will continue to explore making and using … [Read more...] about The Final Home Stretch: Quintessential Blue