Margret E Short Fine Arts Blog

Vagone Green

Shown here is the first painting completed in my new studio. After so many months of not painting, it is splendid to be back to work, specifically experimenting with the natural pigments again. Initially, I felt very rusty but after just a little while it all seems familiar again. I had to review my drying charts from last year to see which pigments were the most desirable. The green in the leaves is vagone green which is one that has excellent drying properties. In my previous experiments I found other greens such as terra verde and celadonite to be poor driers. Another benefit to this pigment is the natural muted tone. Just a slight augmentation with a darkener for a shadow tone or white or lead tin yellow for a lighter passage gets the value where I want it to be. The fewer the pigments, the less confusing and muddy looking the mixtures are.

Cinnabar Close-ups

Habiliments

It is immeasurably exciting to be painting again with the smell of turps and linseed oil wafting in the air.

Because we are on a hillside, my studio has terrific natural light from large windows to the northwest. Even on gray cloudy days, it is possible to work without supplemental lighting. Easel, chair, and taboret are situated in a roomy area next to a window with a wide sill.

Dave created an additional 8" shelf to the existing sill making a 14" by 72" ledge to place various artist habiliments. All of my brushes, jars, bottles, knives and pigments are at my fingertips. Because the length of the room extends to a total of 30 feet, I am able to view each painting's progress from a distance. This is very important to judge the color contrasts and composition in this manner.

New Digs

The dust is settling and the floors are curing since our move to the west side. After months of apartment dwelling and house hunting that, as you can imagine, included lingering frustrations, we have found a suitable home/studio/shop.

After signing the final papers in December, several weeks went by while various crews installed hardwood floors, counter tops, and then painted the interior walls. Finally, on February 5th, the moving vans arrived with household and studio belongings dusty from many months of storage.

Just before the move, Dave seriously injured his hand with a skill saw, and many friends came to our rescue to help with the unpacking. I don't know what we would have done without their help and emotional support.

Throughout the rest of February and into March, Dave and I continued emptying boxes and putting things in place. My studio, as you can see here, is beginning to take shape as is the new painting on the easel..