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.

Tulips 101

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One of my blog readers wrote a wonderful and informative comment on the post The Tears of Fernad. She is an avid gardener filled with terrific ideas about how to care for tulips as a cut flower. According to her, they are the only flower that continues to grow after they are cut. To read more of her clever ideas, click on the "comment 1" in the Fernad post .

Thanks Mimi. I will use your ideas for longer lasting subject matter while painting those irresistible flowers!

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.