The Kate Chaos Files

There are things that we somehow never learn. As a child I was quite chaotic. My parents lovingly (or desperately) nicknamed me Kate Chaos. So once in a while I try to a be good girl and start reorganizing my clothes, nick nacks, books and magazines. Especially magazines are a "big problem". I have loads of them, some over 10 years old. Still in one piece. It would be easier if I just rip out what I would like to keep and throw the rest away. Whenever I start doing this I usually get stuck on the floor between the piles, browsing, reading, my head filling with inspiration by which stage I go back behind my easel.   The piles of magazines remain on the floor, not always short term. Today while doing my "reorganizing" I found this stunning interior of decorator Tino Zerduvachi's Parisian appartment.  Photographed by Jacques Dirand for The World of Interiors (June 1999). Some interiors never go out of style.

Mr Smith's Chair progressing

Have to say that this painting is starting to look "groovy". Everytime I use that word my daugther corrects me and says "Mum can you PLEASE use the word "chill", "groovy" is just too old fashioned". I still think "Mr Smith's Chair" is more groovy than chill!

Work in progress

Hardly time for blogging. Flow is the word of the moment. Nothing better than attacking a fresh canvas. 15 plus paintings for my exhibition "The Art of the Mix" opening March 27 at Eveline Interieur in Bloemendaal (The Nethetherlands). Keep you posted on the progress!

I wish I was a Window Dresser

Who doesn't love Bloomingdale's Flagship in New York. At the moment they are having a contest  "Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge". Interior designers, Eileen Joyce Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan and Eddie Ross have created 3 dwellings in the shop windows. My absolute favourite is "The Modern Woman by Eddie Ross for ELLE Decor".

Go see all 3 inspirational windows at bigwindowchallenge.apartmenttherapy.com

To Judge a Book by its Cover

I possess a lot of books. They are a great source of inspiration. Usually I buy a book because of it content, but there are occassions that I buy a book simply because I am attracted by its cover. This cover is from an art catalogue for Braque's exhibition at museum Boymans in Rotterdam in 1956. It is so simple yet attractive that I keep it on display.

"There is only one valuable thing in art: the thing you cannot explain."
Georges Braque 

Elegant by Elegance

What a week it has been. In between painting, grocery shopping, book keeping, working on new textile designs, dinner dates, running in the park, catching up with my sister, laundry and breathing I also had a foto shoot for Dutch women's glossy Elegance. What a luxury, a team of 5 fantastic people to dress me up, powder my nose, doll-up my hair! Here I am with photographer Harold Pereira who made me look beautiful through his lens.

It is all about hats

We have real winter weather for a change. So hats are a vital item. Problem is that somehow my hats keep vanishing from the face of the earth. In this picture my last hat purchase, a Missoni knitted piece. Hat where are you going with that girl....

Women at Work

Not a lot of time to post blogs this week as I am doing some last bits and pieces for my exhibition in Maassluis (Netherlands) at gallery Barbara Joy Smit. Barbara is a hard working gallerist with great eclectic taste. She profoundly believes that art should be accessible, for everyone to enjoy. Her gallery is beautifully setted in the historic centre. If you are in the neigbourhood this Saturday do join us for some art and a glass of wine! (photo by Henny van Belkom)

A touch of Dutchness

I love my house. It is warm and bohemian with touches of "Dutchness": the Delft blue pottery I use in my paintings, my bright orange hallway and bunches of fresh flowers around the house.  Picture by Margre Mijer.

Daddy's girls

Yesterday I was interviewed by Karin Kuijpers for Elegance, a Dutch Women's glossy. It was a very personal interview including questions about my background. In one of my previous postings I showed a picture of my mum in her diva Opera days. Today I would like to share a picture of my fantastic dad in his 20's, dashing Airforce officer, chain smoker, all the girls chasing him. When he met my mum she was divorced, 3 little daughters aged 5 (me) and 3 (the twins), still studying opera on a scholarship, no money. He could have taken the easy road, but he fell in love with these four girls, he moved in and never left.

Colour in my Kitchen

I am in flow, finishing work for my exhibtion at Barbara Joy Smit Gallery in Maassluis opening Saturday 16th of January. One of the paintings I have been working on today is a detail of colourful kitchen (oil on canvas 40x120cm). The kitchen only exists in my mind. As with a lot of my work I mix an imaginary cocktail of favourite objects, patterns and colours which I translate to my canvas. The painting still needs some work but it is getting there definitely!

Ready, steady....go!

Yes, I am back from the snowy mountains. No postings on my blog during my stay in Austria as there were some technical hick-ups. Pity as there was plenty to blog about. Here is one: on new year's eve the Austrians wish each other "Einen Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr" which freely translates to "have a good/safe slide into the new year". With this photo of Marylin Monroe sliding down a desert hill in bikini and high heels I wish you all an adventurous, fulfilling and happy 2010!

Gone with the Snow

Trying to pack my bag to catch a flight to Innsbruck. I am debating what to take with me. I love a bit of glam like Audrey Hepburn's in this photo (from the movie "Charade"), but it is not very practical when you have a ski fanatic boyfriend who throws himself done the slopes at too many miles an hour. My fur hat stays at home this year and on the helmet goes. What we sacrifice for love :-)).

"I'd Do Anything" - Lena Horne

I was brought up with music. While my mother was on tour with the opera company I would spend hours with my dad listening to records, especially the sounds of the 40s and 50s. I found this beautiful simple performance by Lena Horne on YouTube "I'd Do Anything". Just click on the link below to see and hear Lena. Merry Christmas!

Lena Horne's christmas gift

Diva genes

I am excited. Tomorrow I am joining my family to celebrate Christmas. Our family has a strong bond, but we all lead busy lives so we don't see each other often "en groupe". I am especially looking forward to seeing my mum.  She is an incredible person. She used to be an opera singer. Divorced with 3 small kids she studied opera at the conservatory in Maastricht which she finished "cum laude". As a child I was privileged to see many of her performances in great productions such as Rigoletto, Hofmann's Erzahlungen and Aida.
I would often be seated next to the fireman behind the stage and I had free access to the dressing rooms. How I admired all the costumes, the buzz, the drama......and the goosebumps I got from standing ovations.This photo was part of the promotional material for Donizetti's Maria Stuarda where my mother sang the role of Anna, Maria Stuarda's nurse. Dame Joan Sutherland performed the role of Maria Stuarda!  

Another Room to Manouver

This morning I saw a black chair in an old copy of House&Garden. I am often triggered by just one object. I start painting the object and build the rest around it. This is the result: another room to manouver.

Room to manouver

I collect, tower & pile stuff. I just can't help it. My house is like an over-sized mood board. I hardly have room to manouver. I admire people with empty houses and just can't figure out how they do it. I need my stuff. It inspires me, it is part of my life. I did this water colour sketch today, sooooo me!

Christmas on my mind

We are getting closer to Christmas and I am slightly panicking as I still need to do all my Christmas shopping. It is a mystery to me why I am always postponing this type of shopping. Tomorrow is another day. At least I finished the sketch of my Christmas stocking.

The Age of Innocence

As we are all rushing towards the end of yet another year I am having a moment of reflection. This childhood picture catapults me back to 1969. Oblivious of the life ahead of me.
Now, beyond the stage of innocence, I can only say that I love my life.

Black & White

I  do not consider myself  a black & white person, neither in my thinking, nor in my art. But as with many things in life there can be the occasional deviation....About 2 months ago I was going through my image library with UK publisher David Hicks of Soul. He stumbled on this charcoal sketch of Japanese slippers and chose it to complete the selection of 20 greeting card designs. Today I received a box with the cards including the black & white slippers. Well  David I have to say they look so amazing, that I might deviate again!