• 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

cinnabar

Harvest Moon Gladiolas – Thanks to Neil Young

August 17, 2018 by Margret Short

fine art still life painting featuring a large floral tablecloth draped over a tabletop with a vase and big bouquet of white flowers on top entitled Harvest Moon Gladiolas by Margret Short

Recently, I stumbled upon a luscious piece of floral fabric that I just could not resist purchasing. I knew it would be a terrific prop for a painting one day. Sometimes it is very worthwhile to ramble aimlessly through a market just to see what captures your eye. When I saw the pattern on this cloth, I instantly knew it was something very special … [Read more...] about Harvest Moon Gladiolas – Thanks to Neil Young

Tagged With: burnt sienna, burnt umber, cinnabar, Margret E. Short

Oil Painting Critiques

June 2, 2014 by Margret Short

detail of red flower painted howing impasto and brushstrokes

This past week, I had the pleasure of participating in the Oil Painters of America Critique Program. For the nominal fee of $25.00 (which goes to OPA), artists have the opportunity to have a signature or master level member review their oil paintings and give instructional advice on how they might improve their technique. Because I do not do any … [Read more...] about Oil Painting Critiques

Tagged With: cinnabar, colors, historical pigments, Lessons from the Low Countries, Minerals Metals and Dirt

On the Easel

December 8, 2013 by Margret Short

lighting photography studio set up of a scene to make a painting

Often followers ask about current projects. Though at this time, I have no in-depth project involving an ancient culture or goddess from an ancient world, there are endless pigments, mediums, brushstrokes, or canvas textures to investigate. On my easel right now, is the painting posted here in its early stages of development. Dramatic light is … [Read more...] about On the Easel

Tagged With: burnt umber, cinnabar, colors, historical pigments, madder, Margret E. Short, Margret Short, Minerals, oil painting, painting, paintings, pigments

A Basilisk and a Rooster Walked into a Bar

November 23, 2013 by Margret Short

basilisk sketch

Many of the quirkiest stories I have told have been right here in this blog during my Lessons from the Low Countries series.  Remember the one about the red haired man and the basilisk? If you recall, a basilisk is the legendary reptile, hatched by a serpent (or toad, depending on the source) from a rooster’s egg, and is so revolting, if it gazes … [Read more...] about A Basilisk and a Rooster Walked into a Bar

Tagged With: cinnabar, historical pigments, Margret Short, oil painting, painting, pigment project, pigments, vermilion

Meeting of the Minds

July 15, 2012 by Margret Short

photograph of Margret short

On July 9th on Artists Mentors Online, I listened to the captivating discussion with Michael Harding and Tony Pro. Mr. Harding talked about the making of his line of paints and how he became interested in this topic. There were intelligent questions asked by artists via email and telephone. As you know, one of my favorite pigments is natural … [Read more...] about Meeting of the Minds

Tagged With: cinnabar, genuine vermilion, hand-ground oil paints, historical pigments, Karyn Harding, Michael Harding, Michael Harding paints, Muse Art and Design, oil paints, Peter Rossing, vermilion

Spider Woman’s Cross

June 14, 2012 by Margret Short

detail of painting with pink florals and turquoise stone necklace

The Spider Woman is one of the most important goddesses in the Southwest Native culture. She is multi-faceted and has amazing power over her people. There are geographic landmarks named for her as well as constellations, myths, and stories of all kinds. As I have said, she is the equal to Isis in Ancient Egypt and Athena in Greece. The row of … [Read more...] about Spider Woman’s Cross

Tagged With: Amazonite, artists, Athena, cinnabar, constellations, crosses, flake white, Isis, madder, Native Americans of the Southwest US, natural earth pigments, oil paintings, pigments, Spider Woman

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

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