I have always been inspired by the beauty of the natural environment – the dynamic qualities of the landscape – how it is never the same from moment to moment or season to season.

Photo by Jake Mather

The way that Nature works is a lifetime of learning for us to study - it is what will always inspire me in my work to push further and learn what I can from my greatest teacher.

Photo by Rob Bikash, Katherine Field and Associates

I find inspiration everywhere and in everything...

I always carry a sketchbook with me because an inspirational moment can be found anywhere and anytime – from the texture of a plant to the shape of an old twig or the colors of seashells.

Trees inspire artists and touch our souls...

Like those in the drawings of van Gogh and the prints of Hokusai, trees are the inspiration for sculptors, painters, photographers, and designers alike. They are the living ‘bones’ of the works of landscape architects… they reach to the skies and provide homes for the gentlest of creatures… they whisper in the breeze and speak to me. I am humbled by the responsibility of planting trees today that will hold secret conversations with the hearts of others.
Vincent van Gogh, Winter Garden

I’ve learned that the landscape can contain all one’s activities or fantasies and become places of spiritual contact.

Creating "rooms" within the landscape...

My early perceptions of gardens as rooms is a concept that I still feel is the essence of the landscape. I design gardens with defined spaces which mirror the rooms of a house. The floor is the base plan... lawn is carpet... hedges, shrubs, fences and stone walls create corridors and walls... changes of grade are stairs... framed views are windows... trees, trellises and umbrellas are the ceiling... Furniture, sculpture and lighting are all included as the elements that give the space an animated use.

Whether it is the intensely golden light at dusk highlighting branches, giving the tree tops soft washes of color that define their shape...

Or the cool light of my car's headlights that create a black and white landscape in motion...

I want to photograph, paint, write poetry, and capture the moment when I saw perfection in the landscape.

In design, I am trying to create an environment with vignettes in series, so that as one moves through the space or views it from a specific vantage point, these vistas unfold and drawn one through space.

As I find myself here today, I see all the paths I took, the choices I made, and I am grateful for each one of them. Without the combination of the science and the arts education, I would have no understanding of the components of the landscape that make up my palette. I am not afraid of engineering or science. It makes it possible to use the topography as a part of my sculpture of the landscape. Painting taught me color. Ceramics taught me about the circle. Environmental biology gave me an understanding of the systems and inter connectivity that is so critical to sustainable design. Chinese and Japanese literature turned out to offer insight into Asian souls as expressed in art, architecture, gardens, and poetry.

It's always nice to hear from a satisfied client -
"Kate's ability, foresight, and talent transformed our properties not only into picturesque landscapes, but they look as if they have been this way for generations. One of my favorite things to do with Kate early in a project before any drawings are made, is to simply walk the property with her as she gets inspired and begins to suggest ideas. She walks and talks while constantly creating, designing, and describing the most beautiful, incredible, and creative vision that are topped only by the finished project itself. She is not only a gifted landscape architect, but she is also a truly gifted artist."

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

What we do is a miracle...

Here we are the entire property has been virtually stripped; it's mountains of shale and you can't even see the water. There are five backhoes on the site just sitting there waiting and ready to go... The pit looks like a meteor landed on the property then boom!


Fruition, beautiful landscapes, ground covers, habitats for wildlife - I use my imagination, walking this future landscape. I'm in the creative mode, and once you get in the design groove you don't want to stop. Honestly, when I'm in that place nothing else is there. I just listen to the site. Each person gets there in their own way, there is a different trigger for each of our creative spots and my advice is to stay in that design groove as long as you can.

Natures inspirations...

Part of what inspires me most while creating landscapes is my constant interaction with nature, this is what drove me into such a career. Inspirational beauty is all around us and bringing it to life is my passion.

"The richness I receive comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration." - Claude Monet.
Claude Monet, Water-Lily Pond and Weeping Willow (1916-19).

Learning from Nature...

A student's commitment to learning signifies how I feel every day at work - Not only am I learning something new with each job, but newness is the hallmark of nature, always evolving, always dynamic.

Every day is a new day...

And every second in the garden is a fresh gift. The real thrill for me is always when my heart is touched by the spirit and magic of the land. And it is in the listening that I have learned my land lessons.


It is said that "working in the garden means working hand in hand with God." Perhaps this is what ultimately appealed to me and drew me to landscape architecture.

I love the dynamic qualities of the landscape, how it is never ever the same from moment to moment, therefore making each moment a gift waiting to be opened. I have always been inspired through the natural environment, its power, majesty and beauty. We are all drawn to nature on one level or another and respond positively to natural beauty. I am truly blessed to work my passion and be passionate about my work.

Visualization

I'm a very visual person. I'm always looking at the patterns of the natural world - the compositional elements of color, light, texture, hard lines...

What I see...

I see the setting sun, the sun coming down at an angle and reflecting up into people's eyes... their face... and the golden light that comes there. And for me this is one of the over-arching qualities of the site that will play out into the late afternoon.

Speak to me...

So am I the conduit for the site to speak to the building? What does it want to be? How does it want to be at it's best?... "Speak to me!"... I find that meditating before I jump into a design really helps. I sit and I just let these images pass over me. I quiets me enough to let images come. I project myself into that space...

Inspiration…

Spend time everyday listening to what your muse is trying to tell you.