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.

pigment project

Brushing Down the Home Stretch

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Time is getting crunchy now and there are five more paintings to go. The only solution is to do multiples in each post until peeks are revealed before the Spring Unveiling event this coming weekend. So far, the blues covered are the ever-glorious lapis lazuli, its modern equivalent, ultramarine blue, and a personal favorite, cobalt turquoise blue. … [Read more...] about Brushing Down the Home Stretch

The Joys of Red – And a Special Announcement!

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It is an undeniable fact that colors can be felt. Blue is cool and icy and should never be painted on bathroom walls lest we feel cold while indisposed. The soothing warm light of yellow draws us to a cushioned window seat with a good book when the sun pours through. Green is crisp and lush and beckons a walk in the park in an April rain. Royalty … [Read more...] about The Joys of Red – And a Special Announcement!

Han Purple, Another Color from the Past

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What is most exciting about the world of nature's pigments is you never know when you are going to discover something new. Veronica Bishop, my tech consultant, recently forwarded an article about such a color heretofore unknown to me. Thanks to her, I now have another pigment for possible inclusion onto my own historical palette, Han … [Read more...] about Han Purple, Another Color from the Past

Final Results – Stack White Process – Part lV

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Stack pots after two weeks of corroding. The smell of acetic acid (vinegar) is still present inside the stack shed, but not as sharp as it was initially. The temperature within the compost heap is raising, but on the surface it is still at ambient temperatures. Flakes have formed on the lead coils. The relative humidity inside the shed is nearly … [Read more...] about Final Results – Stack White Process – Part lV

Stack White Process – Part ll

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You might ask why the term “flake” is applied to describe authentic Dutch flake lead white. The answer comes from the appearance of the material as it actually flakes off the metallic lead strips during the formation process. Modern lead white pigment found commonly in art supply stores is not a true flake white made in the process called Dutch … [Read more...] about Stack White Process – Part ll