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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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Egyptian pigments

Ancient Egyptian Color Gets a New Life

December 23, 2017 by Margret Short

Large floral arrangement dutch style still life painting entitled Cleopatra's Garden by Margret Short

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

Tagged With: ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, colors, Egypt, Egyptian blue, Egyptian blue frit, Egyptian pigments, historical pigments

Creme d la creme of White Pigments – Part l

November 23, 2013 by Margret Short

Natural Pigments of paint Stack White

  Those of you who have followed this blog know of my passion for historical pigments that have quirky legends attached to them, the quirkier the better.  Indeed, there are some mighty bizarre tales related to the making of colors, painting techniques, and stories of strange artists themselves. Well, stack lead white is a color that is … [Read more...] about Creme d la creme of White Pigments – Part l

Tagged With: Egyptian pigments, historical pigments, Margret Short, oil painting, painting, paintings, pigments

Current Events

February 2, 2011 by Margret Short

photograph of man in old Egypt temple

Because of my involvement with this Ancient Egyptian Part Two pigment project, I feel a connection and fascination with the current events in Egypt. It is both horrifying and mesmerizing to watch things unfold from day to day. During my two years of research and studies since traveling there and seeing so many sacred places, I have become … [Read more...] about Current Events

Tagged With: ancient pigments, Cairo museum, Egypt, Egyptian pigments, pigment project, unrest, vandals

Irresistible

January 27, 2011 by Margret Short

detail of texture of oil paint on linen

The combination of malachite with azurite makes the most luscious pigment, and I just can't resist using lots of it. This detail shows a small jar in one of the new paintings in the Part ll project.       … [Read more...] about Irresistible

Tagged With: ancient Egypt, ankh, azurite, Egyptian pigments, historical pigments, malachite, Pigment, temples, tombs

More Dung Stories

May 14, 2009 by Margret Short

photograph of indigo paint pigment from egypt

These quirky stories about pigment making from the past are completely irresistible, and Philip Ball's book, Bright Earth, is full of lively tales. The herb indigo is considered a dye rather than a pigment and is sometimes described as a lake (lac) pigment which is a commonly used word for dye. Ball quotes from a twelfth century manuscript: … [Read more...] about More Dung Stories

Tagged With: Ancient Egpt, azure, blue, bluing for clothes, Bright Earth, cauldron, dung, Egypt, Egyptian pigments, indigo, Island of Philae, Lessons from the Pharaoh's Tomb, Philip Ball, Pigment, pigment project, Temple of Isis

Shores of the Nile

May 2, 2009 by Margret Short

… [Read more...] about Shores of the Nile

Tagged With: ancient Egypt, cruise, Egyptian pigments, Nile river, painting, pigments

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