Many of the quirkiest stories I have told have been right here in this blog during my Lessons from the Low Countries series. Remember the one about the red haired man and the basilisk? If you recall, a basilisk is the legendary reptile, hatched by a serpent (or toad, depending on the source) from a rooster’s egg, and is so revolting, if it gazes … [Read more...] about A Basilisk and a Rooster Walked into a Bar
painting
Pizzicato
Oil Painters of America 2012 Western Regional Juried Exhibition Gallery 1261 Delaware Street, Denver, CO 80204 October 4, through November 3, 2012 Pizzicato 17x19 Oil on Linen Copyright Margret E. Short, OPA, AWAM, 2012 … [Read more...] about Pizzicato
Spider Woman Meets Wedding Planner
The first painting in this Southwest themed project, Lessons from the Spider Woman, is finished. The entire painting, actual title, and size will be revealed as time draws closer to the exhibit date. My artistic license is used lavishly here not only in the Spider Woman mythology but also in the imaginative depiction of the story. Spider Woman is … [Read more...] about Spider Woman Meets Wedding Planner
Uber Azurite
One of the most spectacular mineral colors is azurite/malachite, which was at one time abundant and found in many places around the world including Arizona. It has been used by both artists of the past and today. This magnificent chunk is at the Tohona Botanical Garden in Tucson, AZ. The color absolutely made my heart go flip flop when I first … [Read more...] about Uber Azurite
The People’s Museum
A myriad of glitches during our recent aborted Romance of the Rhine river cruise resulted in an an unexpected side trip to Amsterdam. Not wanting to spend the day, yet again, on a long boring bus ride after the boat broke down, Dave and I threw up our hands in protest, got directions to the train station, and bought 2 tickets for the Fast Train to … [Read more...] about The People’s Museum
Hals vs. Rembrandt
The Company of Captain Reinier Reael and Lieutenant Cornelis Michielsz Blaeuw, Amsterdam. 82 inches by 168 inches, 1582, Frans Hals. Across the Rijksmuseum's gallery from The Night Watch is another huge militia style painting by Frans Hals, shown above, that, to my taste, is not nearly as captivating as Rembrandt's. Hals work does not … [Read more...] about Hals vs. Rembrandt