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.

Pressing Papyrus

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Papyrus demo press 

The wet sheet is then placed between two sheets of absorbent material (the blue fabric) and placed in the press. The young man demonstrating cranked hard on the handles to really get a good pressing. It must remain here for at least 72 hours for all the liquid to release.

Photo: Courtesy Phil Kolman

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.