Artist Inspiration: Kate Schelter

February 02, 2010

Artist and stylemaker Kate Schelter

Kate Schelter's styling for Rita Hazan salon and

Lulu Frost first caught my eye, and then

her watercolor art work captured my imagination

with its simple elegance and tasteful subject matter.

You can read my interview with her where I

explored her creative process and philosophy

beneath the beautiful work she does styling,

creating, branding, and more.

Kate Schelter interviewed on Hello Lovely Studio

Interview with Kate Schelter

It's exciting to see her career take off for her artwork.

Artist and stylemaker Kate Schelter

Kate was commissioned to paint murals inside

The San Vicente Bungalows in L.A.

and described the style of the project

like this in an article from Lonny magazine:

"Cashmere hippy. It's like a very special secret garden (you must have the private code to enter), a charming, groovy, old-Hollywood vibe that’s intimate as hell. An exclusive poolside tropical oasis dotted with adorable bungalows amongst the treetops, hidden from the outside world."

Each motel room was decorated differently.

"I chose a species of flower for each room. Then I chose my colors, climbed my ladder, and began painting. I had no sketches. It just came out of my brush. Sometimes the location spoke to me. The room I slept in, for example, had a gorgeous peaked roof with beams over the bed. I knew I had to paint a lemon tree that spanned three walls and the ceiling so it would be like waking up in an orchard. We brought the outside flora inside."

Heart print Pajamas by Sleepy Jones designed by artist Kate Schelter

Kate Schelter for Sleepy Jones

Her designs even show up on pajamas!

Bonpoint watercolor by Kate Schelter

Rodin watercolor of artist and stylemaker Kate Schelter

Rodin watercolor by Kate Schelter

Who is she?

From her website's bio:

Kate Schelter is an American artist, illustrator, creative director and stylist—owner of the luxury brand consultancy that bears her name—living and working in New York City and Cape Cod, MA. Her first author illustrated book Classic Style: Hand It Down, Dress It Up, Wear It Out (Grand Central), and line of paper products and notebooks, This & That (Abrams), will debut in 2017. Her limited edition prints are available through Domino, ArtStar and 1stDibs.

Kate’s been working in different sectors of the fashion industry for 15 years, from shooting for Vogue to starting the Street Style section for Style.com: photographer, stylist, trend caster, trendsetter, graphic designer, and, now, watercolorist and muralist. Her paintings have caught the attention of people in the art and fashion world. After illustrating the book Gypset Travel, she’s been commissioned to paint for Dior, Vanity Fair, TOMS, Diane von Furstenberg, GRAFF, One Kings Lane, Chantecaille, Bonpoint, Romy & the Bunnies, BVLGARI, Victoria’s Secret, Architectural Digest, and Toyota, as well as private commissions. In 2015, she was sought after by hotelier Jeff Klein to paint site-specific murals throughout his latest landmark property, The San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles. Kate has shown original works in New York (John Derian Company), Dallas, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, and Cape Cod. She’s done residencies at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, in Tulum, Mexico, in Paris, and on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Kate has a BA from Rhode Island School of Design and their European Honors Program in Rome, and lives with her husband and daughter.