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.

The Passing of a Portland Gentleman

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Earlier this fall, the Portland art scene lost a beloved member of its community. Herschel McGraw, owner of Gallery 903, passed away suddenly. I have known Herschel since the early 2000s when he was affiliated with another Portland gallery that represented my work. He later went on to start Gallery 903, and I was honored to follow along with him in his new endeavor.

Talent and Passion for the Arts: A Far-Reaching Combination

Final event at Gallery 903, Herschel McGraw's memorial
Final event at Gallery 903, Herschel’s memorial. Dave and I by my painting, The Festival of Opet.

Over the ensuing years, Herschel was always a joy to work with. His passion for art and his artists was immense. Since one of my areas of interest is techniques of 17th Century Masters, he often invited me to talk to gallery guests about pigments and methods of that period. To blend my art history knowledge with his was a delight.

A Final Goodbye and Closing of the Gallery

Herschel’s kindness and devotion were endless, and no one left the gallery without a full art history lesson. In addition to owning Gallery 903 for 10 years, he taught art classes at Marylhurst University and regularly entertained grade school field trips. His recent acceptance into the Salmagundi Art Club of New York was a special honor for him.

I will always be grateful to have had the privilege of Herschel McGraw’s friendship, both personally and in business. He will be missed.

Herschel McGraw with Madame Gatreau at the Met
Herschel McGraw with Madame Gatreau at the Met

 

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.

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  2. So sorry for your loss. I am in Brookings to attend the funeral of my aunt. She was the last of my aunts & uncles. Hope you & the family are doing OK.

  4. Hi Margret and Dave, sorry for this sad news but I hope that both of you are well and safe. I’m ok just the usual aches and pain of aging and osteo. I hope to see you both when we are done with this pandemic. Its affecting one of my sons badly because he is a chef and the restaurant business is not good and now may face a new lockdown . Even w/o that drastic measure it is slowing down with the cold weather of course. But lets keep our spirits up and hope for the best. !have good holidays and stay safe.Maria

    • Hello Maria, Yes this is a challenging time for all worldwide. So sorry about your son’s business. The restaurants have been hit hard here also as have so many businesses. Let’s hope the vaccines are quick in coming and effective when they do. Our governor has set new guidelines for safety measures here too. We are fine and preparing for a quiet holiday for 2! Take care and stay in touch. Margret