Project Updates
This blog documents the creation of eleven paintings inspired by the 17th century palette of works in Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art, an exhibition that traveled to three U.S. cities in 2006-07. During June of 2007, all eleven paintings were presented as my exhibit, Lessons from the Low Countries, while the Rembrandt exhibit debuted its three-month stay at the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon. Read the documentation and see all finished works of this year-long project in the August 2006 through June 2007 entries on this blog.
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December 07, 2007
December 03, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Dear Friends,
Since the excitement of my nearly sold out Lawrence Gallery exhibit, Lessons from the Low Countries, I have continued to explore painting solely with historical pigments of the 17th century. This has been no easy task considering the fact that during these months we moved twice and finally settled in a small apartment. During the many months of our house-hunting quest, I set up a small corner using my French easel and other bare bones art studio accoutrements.
Fortunately, I brought my pigments and other paint making supplies. Therefore, I have continued to experiment with all the magical colors used in my Lessons project including lapis lazuli, cinnabar, azurite, malachite, sienna, and golden ochre.
In my cramped space, using only small canvases, I have painted eight new works that will be presented at the Salishan, Lawrence Gallery location. I think you will find it fun and fascinating to compare my colors of the current paintings to those in my previous Lessons project.
A full press release is below. I encourage you to forward it to anyone you think might be interested, including organizations. Also, feel free to post it on your blog, or web site or in your newsletter.
I look forward to seeing you at the exhibit opening on December 8, 2-4 pm. Thank you for all the support and wonderful comments posted over the past many months.
Best Regards,
Margret Short
11990 SW Imperial Ave. #14
King City, Oregon 97224
Bewitched by Rembrandt's Bling
Lawrence Gallery, Salishan
7755 Hwy. 101, North
Gleneden Beach, Oregon
1-800-764-2318
www.lawrencegallery.net
www.margretshort.com
www.margretshort.typepad.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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 Lawrence Gallery, Pearl, 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 at the Lawrence Gallery, 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. The Lawrence Gallery, Salishan is located at 7755 Hwy. 101, North, Gleneden Beach, Oregon. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and Sundays from noon to 5 pm. More information is available at www.lawrencegallery.net or by calling 1-800-764-3531.
For more information, please contact Margret E. Short at 503-652-2749 or mhortfineart@aol.com.
-END-
December 02, 2007
Almost Edible
Almost Edible
10"x 9" Oil on Linen
By Margret Short, 2007
This is one of the first paintings I finished after settling into our small apartment. The linen canvases from Italian Art Store are of splendid quality. They special order this product through an outside independent supplier that does a terrific job. Priming my own canvases is one aspect of the techniques of the 17th century that became impossible to continue at this time, as I had no supplies with me nor a place to make such messes. These canvases are all hand made and have a wonderful surface on which to apply paint. Here I have continued experimenting with lapis and cinnabar. Lapis is a strange pigment because after making a very small amount, it becomes a little gooey and must be applied with a certain finesse. It takes a while to get the hang of it. Again, this pigment is wildly different from the modern ultramarine blue paints that are slick and spread easily.
More paintings to come throughout the week.
