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.

Egyptian blue

Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life

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Besides making paints, now there is a newly found use for the ancient pigment, Egyptian Blue Frit. This pigment, made by heating a mixture of copper, quartz, sand, lime, and an alkali, dates from 3250 BCE and was used to decorate tombs, statues, coffins, and temple walls in Egypt during the long reign of the Pharaohs. Who Knew Pigments Could Be … [Read more...] about Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life

Cleopatra’s Garden

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Lessons from the Pharaoh's Tomb, Part Two  Cleopatra's Garden, shown above, evolved over a period of time with a "cultural blending" of ideas. My artistic license is used liberally throughout the process with many differing objects from various cultures in the composition. The "garden" is from imagination depicting favorite flowers and found … [Read more...] about Cleopatra’s Garden

Offerings to Isis

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Offerings to Isis 8x9  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 … [Read more...] about Offerings to Isis

Hathor’s Offering

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 Hathor's Offering Sold 8x9 Oil on Linen © Margret E. Short 2009  Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb  Lawrence Gallery, Portland, Oregon  September & October 2009 Hathor's Offering is the smallest in the main collection of twelve paintings and measures 8x9 inches. It was inspired by the beautiful red bowl I purchased in Egypt which has … [Read more...] about Hathor’s Offering

Osiris Iris

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Osiris Iris Sold 12x12   Oil on Linen © Margret E. Short, OPA, AWA, 2009  Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb   Lawrence Gallery, Portland, Oregon September & October 2009 This 12x12 inch painting, Osiris Iris, is a play on words and dedicated to the god of the Netherworld, Osiris, husband of Isis and father of Horus. This God of the … [Read more...] about Osiris Iris

Arsenic in the Stew

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        Orpiment, shown above in its natural form and also pigment form, was widely used in Egypt during and after the 18th dynasty, about 1500 BC. During this period the very progressive and successful female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, was in power. It is thought that she initiated trade with other countries and the use … [Read more...] about Arsenic in the Stew