NEW PAINTINGS BY MARGRET E. SHORT
REMBRANDT'S BLING CONTINUES TO CAPTIVATE

Gleneden Beach, Oregon, December 2007—During the six months since the nearly sold out exhibit, Lessons from the Low Countries, Oregon artist, Margret Short has continued the quest for Rembrandt’s bling through further experimentation with hand made historical pigments. In her Lessons project Short painted eleven works inspired by the palette of selected Dutch masterpieces from the Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art exhibit presented at the Portland Art Museum June through September of 2007.

Not content with contemporary colors, Short replicated 17th century pigments for her initial inspiration paintings and has continued to make and use each magical color since the completion of her collection. Delighted with her discoveries, Short says, “There is no comparison to the handling qualities of the modern pigments. Everything about the handmade historical pigments is different from the modern; particle size, thickness, consistency, color, saturation, and on and on.”

After her exhaustive research, documentation, and application of the historical paints, Short is convinced of the lasting beauty and splendid qualities of these pigments. The unrefined texture of the paints exhibit varied surfaces that promote unusual and beautiful effects. Each color is ground exactly like the early painters in their studios using simple tools such as a muller, grinding slab, and linseed oil. Only small amounts are made every few days to ensure the freshness required to achieve the lasting beauty of the surface of her canvases.

For this current exhibit, Salishan, Short painted small still lifes depicting objects that clearly evoke the brilliance and hue of the historical pigments. The items in the compositions are assembled and used as “paint vehicles” which carry the pigment from palette to canvas resulting in rich chiaroscuro images. She also uses her stunning wizardry depicting lace like no other contemporary painter.

Margret Short has exhibited her work throughout the United States and beyond, including the C. M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana; and the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is the recipient of two coveted Salmagundi Club Awards, the Grumbacher Gold Medallion, and many other national honors. She is also Signature member of the Oil Painters of America, American Women Artists, and the Copley Society.

An opening reception will be held Saturday, December 8th, 2007, at 2:00 in the afternoon.

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