K
atharina Short was born in 1968 in San Jose, California. Some of her earliest memories were of running through flowering pink cherry orchards across the street from her house. As a child, Katharina had a love of color and independence. She often threatened to run away from home wearing her favorite purple tights.
Raised in the picturesque and accepting town of Santa Cruz, California with her sister Henriette, her days were spent on the beach getting into trouble. Since as far back as she can remember, art had always been a source of salvation for her impatient and creative temperament. In high school she spent most of her time in the art room lost in the freedom of creative expression.
In junior college Katharina was headed for a career in Physical Therapy. Through courses in anatomy and physiology she learned toappreciate the beauty and form of the human body in detail. However, in her artwork today she often leaves out joints and points of articulation altogether, reserving the human form to soft circular shapes and arcs.
Taking a needed break from the academic world, she took a job as a waitress in order to pay for traveling the world. These moves were the most definitive in her path toward becoming an artist; waitressing and traveling to Brazil, Thailand, and Mexico gave her a feeling for freedom and an understanding of people from varying backgrounds.
Upon returning, Katharina found that she’d been deeply influenced by the colors and simple lifestyles of the tropics. She’d found a new respect for the quiet meditative daily activities of the non- western world’s approach towards life. Although she took a few art classes in college, Katharina says she considers herself a self-taught artist. Her primary influences are the folk artists of the world. In addition she cites Gaugin, Matisse, Chagall, The Fauvists, Picasso, and many other artists working with rich palettes as inspirational in her art.
After experimenting with color and content Katharina found her style and built up a body of work. Her first solo show was in 1995. The wonderful response to her paintings encouraged her to continue her work.
Seeking salvation in art became a permanent ritual for Katharina in 1998. Her only sister, Henri as she was known, took her own life on the week of her 29th birthday. Henri and Katharina were only 15 months apart in age and had shared travels, trials, tribulations and joys during their lives as sisters. The loss was devastating.
During the difficult days and months that followed it became apparent that Henri was most present when Katharina went to her studio to paint. Her paintings suddenly took on a bittersweet depth. Katharina remembers those as healing times beyond any other form of therapy or grieving she’s done for her sister. In a strange way, Henriette allowed Katharina to fully understand the value of compassion in a human being. Losing Henri the way she did, Katharina could see that as humans we are all flawed, and even broken. Yet, there is a beauty and vulnerability about us that is stunning. The physical loss of her sister resulted in the gain of a spiritual guide, a sister that still comes through when she needs her most, without fail.
Feeling that the events in her life suggested she find a more healing environment, Katharina quit her job as a waitress and dedicated herself to exploring her artwork. The growth she has experienced individually has been shared with her collectors, most of whom understand her desire to create art that speaks to the heart.
Our lives are full of stories, and putting them into color and form is a challenge for all of us. Katharina feels this is where the folk art of her work comes to light. It is apparent that she is willing to share her joys and sorrows through her work, which has an inward focus and peaceful feeling.
Katharina has sold over 500 original paintings in the last six years, including 50 privately commissioned works. Her art has also been commissioned publicly for the 2001 Bike to Work Poster Day for Santa Cruz County, and the Santa Cruz Aids Project Poster Award. In 2001 she was voted "Best Visual Artist" in the Good Times Reader Poll. She is currently featured in The Artful Home and has original works as well as prints available for sale on the guild.com website.
Katharina lives in Santa Cruz, California with her husband Aaron and their 3 pets Laika the dog and the very fat cats Abbie and Archie. When she’s not painting, Katharina can be found puttering around in her garden or mountain biking in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains.
