Courtney Khail on CommonCreativ ATL
in From the Studio, Press
From the Studio
Art and Womanhood
"Claire de Lune" | watercolor painting by Courtney Khail
Art and Womanhood
It's been hard this past week to create. The country is harboring such a sense of sadness, fear, and hatred, that at times it can make painting seem trivial. And writing about painting? Even harder. I looked at this blank screen for what seemed like hours before deciding what I wanted to say.
You may have never read my artist statement- what exactly my paintings represent (or at least what I strive to make them represent) but I think it's incredibly important to what I'm saying and how a lot of us are feeling right now, so I'll share it again:
"Influenced by my Southern upbringing, my work explores the complexities of femininity as expressed through nature.
Combining traditional subject matter with contemporary compositions and techniques, I strive to display a balance among dualities– creating paintings that are at once both delicate and fragile, while simultaneously brazen and bold.
From afar, my works appear to consist simply of vibrantly painted botanicals. Upon closer look though, their true depth is fully revealed. Utilizing dynamic linework, I encourage the viewer's gaze to slow – guiding them throughout the painting so they may fully experience the nuances and complexities that first impressions (both in art and in life) so often miss."
I was raised to be strong. Not a strong woman, just strong in general. Strong and good. (And by good, I mean that in the sense that I was to be kind, compassionate, and open minded. That my character mattered most, and that I was to always stand by my word. A very literal interpretation of "say what you mean and mean what you say.") I was taught to protect the weak, the disenfranchised, the misunderstood, and to listen closely to the words of others (for those words are what let you see into a person's heart. You can tell a lot about a person just by listening to what they "fill the silence with" so to speak.)
It wasn't until I was much older (and no longer living under my parents' roof) that I felt the weight of "womanhood" and the contradictory spectrum a lot of society would like women to reside within. (i.e. smart, but not too smart; witty, but not too witty, etc.) Instead of being defeated by those contradictions though, I celebrate them in my paintings. Women don't fit easily into a box (nor do I think we should.) We can be strong, opinionated, and smart, while still being nurturing, compassionate, and accommodating. As much as people may try to make women an "either/or," I think women are best at being an "and." Strong and compassionate. Smart and humble. Ambitious and fulfilled. The "and" is why I try to keep my paintings from only being "one thing." They are bright, colorful, and modern, while still being soft, delicate, and calming. They're meant for you to reflect and explore. To really focus and notice the subtle color variations, the varying line work, and the abstraction of reality. They're meant to mirror each of us- complicated and pretty and messy and hard to describe in one word. But in the end, all of those dualities and contradictions combine into something that works- something truly beautiful.
Hand painted Ornaments are now available!
in Gifts, From the Studio
Hand painted Christmas Ornaments | Atlanta artist Courtney Khail
That's right! my hand painted ornaments are back for another holiday season!
And while I'm a firm believer of not jumping over holidays, (poor Thanksgiving seems to sometimes get lost in the shuffle) I did want to make sure you all knew that the pre-order sale for my hand painted ornaments is now available at www.courtneykhail.com! (I made sure to wait until November though. I couldn't bring myself to send this to you on Halloween.)
This year, in addition to being able to pick your favorite colors, I'm also now offering ornaments in sets of 6 and 12. (But don't worry, you can still just buy a single ornament if you'd prefer!) My hand painted ornaments sold out within days last year, so don't wait too long or you may miss them.
And speaking of the holidays...
Holiday Commissions now open | Original watercolor and ink paintings by Atlanta artist Courtney Khail
My Holiday Commissions are open as well! With tons of sizes and prices available, you'll be sure to find the perfect one (as well as securing yourself the title of "best gift giver ever.")
In the studio with Courtney Khail - Documenting my process with professional photos
Atlanta artist Courtney Khail in the studio | photo by Elle Golden
I feel like this post should actually be titled "what not to do when taking photos" or "why having a great photographer matters," but I thought I'd keep it simple. Plus, I'm not sharing any of the photos of me acting like a moron because this is the internet and NOTHING goes away on the internet so that title wouldn't fit anyway. (Take note kids. That snapchat seems harmless now, but someone took a screenshot and it will haunt you in 30 years when you're trying to get elected or something. Hashtag, make good choices.)
Anyhow, off that soapbox. A little while back my good friend, LeiLani (of Elle Golden Photography) came over to capture some images of me painting. Aside from classes, I'd never actually painted in front of anyone before- much less when I was also trying to sit up straight, not make awkward expressions with my face, or do anything weird with my resting hand- so while excited, I was also a little nervous. (Of course, there was absolutely nothing to be nervous about. As soon as I got into my rhythm, it was just like any other time we'd hung out. Except you know, instead of eating lunch, I was painting and she was photographing- but pretty much the same.)
A few things though- I'd never been so acutely aware of how I hold a paintbrush or just how restrictive jeans are when you're painting on the floor. Because while I do occasionally paint in jeans, those are my comfy jeans. My painting jeans if you will. The ones I do not wear outside, that are hanging on by a thread, and practically fall off when I wear them so they barely constitute as clothing. Definitely not what I was going to be photographed in. In the photos though, I'd chosen to wear more flattering (read- tighter) jeans which made for a few interesting moments while I tried to find a comfortable position that also photographed well.
Atlanta artist Courtney Khail in the studio | photo by Elle Golden
*Speaking of picking out clothes, during a previous phone call where I may have been lamenting what I was going to wear, LeiLani joked with me saying that if she had to wear real pants to work, then so did I- i.e. my cheerleading shorts and paint covered, ripped UGA orientation T-shirt from 2004 probably wasn't going to cut it. (side note, I call them cheerleading shorts, but aside from a brief moment in my childhood where I was enrolled in cheerleading camp, I have never been a cheerleader and therefore probably should just call them "cotton shorts I wear when I don't want to ruin something I actually care about" but that just doesn't have the same ring to it.)
Okay circling back to the point. So LeiLani came over with all of her gear and after I put on some cool jamz (that's right. jamz with a "z." The only appropriate term to categorize rap and hip hop that spans from N.W.A. to Ludacris with just a sprinkling of one hit wonders like Sisqo and 2000's classics like Britney Spears' "Toxic") we both got to work- me painting, her shooting. These are just a few of the images she captured (I'll share more later.) I'm so thrilled with the end result. (Aren't they beautiful? I just love the moments she caught- the movement, the thought, the light- all of it.) And just geeking out a little here, but if you look closely, you can see how I change as the piece evolves. In the beginning, my clothes are looser, my hair is down, everything is more flowy. As I move to doing the line work though, I swapped my shirt- (an unintentional move, I just wanted something more comfortable and less precious) my hair is tied back, and everything seems a little stronger and pulled together. That duality is pretty much exactly the feeling I strive to express in my paintings, so it was incredibly exciting to see that LeiLani captured it so perfectly.
Atlanta artist Courtney Khail in her studio | photo by Elle Golden
*A note about working with a friend- LeiLani and I actually met in a professional setting and had worked together on a shoot before this, but this was the first time I was the client. Watching her transform from "friend" to "photographer" was a little surreal, but in the best way. I'm always humbled by people's talents and being able to witness that talent coming from someone I call a friend was just amazing. So thank you, LeiLani. Not just for capturing such beautiful images, but for sharing your talent with me. It was an honor!
First Friday Meet the Artists Show with west elm at Ponce City Market
in From the Studio, Portfolio, Seen
A few days ago I had the amazing opportunity to show my work along side three other incredibly talented local artists at the west elm at Ponce City Market. Celebrating their first ever "Meet the Artists" First Friday exhibit, the weekend long show began with an opening Friday night- complete with colorful sodas, jars of cookies, and even organic cotton candy from the ever amazing Cult Carts.
Not only was I blown away by the turn out (seriously, you guys rock and we all appreciate the support) but I couldn't get over just how great the other artists were (personality-wise- I already knew their work was great!) Aside from a few planning emails, I don't believe any of us had ever spoken before the show, but within minutes of arriving, we all just meshed together. Maybe it was because the show took place at west elm- and therefore we were surrounded by comfy couches and beautifully styled vignettes, but the whole opening kind of just felt like a really laid back party at a friends house. A friend with a killer art collection of course. We all just kind of lounged around- laughing, drinking, and eating cotton candy. I almost forgot it was "work."
The featured artists
(Emily of Ink and Indigo, Michelle of Michelle Armas, Brynn of Brynn Casey Art, and myself)
Mandy (the owner of Cult Carts) doing her thing.
I met her at an event a few months before, but didn't get to really talk to each other until the opening. So happy we finally got the chance because she is an absolute blast! If you want your party to be amazing, hire her. (And if you're weird and don't like cotton candy, she has other carts like a champagne one and a waffle one.)
west elm hooking everyone up with snacks
Speaking of west elm, every single person I met was spectacular and went above and beyond to help make the show a success. Such fantastic hosts! (A very special thanks to Ashley and Adriana for making this whole thing a reality.)
Shots from the show
me and the hubs celebrating with Cuban food after the show.
He isn't a huge photo person so I may have been trying to be sly about this one by taking a photo of our reflection in the window. As you can tell, he caught on. Now to be fair- and for the sake of full disclosure- I may or may not be "that person" when it comes to photos. When I get in the "capture the moment" mood it's hard to get me to stop. So it's probably not that he's opposed to taking photos as much as he's not into taking a bajillion photos. (Tomato tahmato.)
So there you have it! If you couldn't make it, I'm bummed we didn't get to meet (but there is always next time.) If you did make it though, thanks so much for spending your Friday night with us. I hope you had a great time!
new paintings launch today!
Nineteen new beauties are up on the site today at noon EST. If you've been eyeing one, now is the time to grab it before it sells out!
"Velvet Petals" watercolor and ink painting by courtney khail
"Velvet Petals" watercolor and ink painting by Atlanta artist Courtney Khail (7" x 10" painted area, paper size 11"x15")
I've had people asking for smaller works in addition to my normal large pieces, so these past few weeks I decided to play around with proportion and scale and do just that. And by play around I mean, I wanted to capture the same movement and compositions of my large paintings in a smaller size and wanted to see if I was capable of doing that in a way that I was proud of and wanted to share with you all. As it turns out, I actually really enjoyed the challenge and the works that developed from it.
This is the first painting of a series that will be released over the next few weeks and to be honest, it almost never made it past the watercolor stage. I started this piece with the clearest vision in my head of how I wanted it to look, but (as is normal) my hand and the paint had a different idea then my mind. No matter how hard I pushed and steered, it still ended up developing into something completely different then I originally planned.
Per the usual when that happens, I put it to the side- frustrated and annoyed with the disconnect between my head and my hand and unable to see the beauty that evolved despite my best efforts to contain it. Luckily, A few days passed (and my frustration lessened) and I decided just to "play around with ink." My thought was if it was already going to end up in the garbage, I might as well practice my technique on it.
Well as you can probably see, it didn't end up in the trash. It actually morphed into on of my favorite pieces from the series. The colors really pop against the line work, there's a ton of variation, and there is just so much energy and movement in the lines that I cannot stop looking at it. Just further goes to show that I have to believe and trust in the process instead of trying to be so controlling of my work. (What do you think about it? Do you feel the energy in it too?)
Watercolor Menus, Table Numbers, and Escort Cards (a look at the extras)
View of the table setting with my custom watercolor wedding menu card | courtney khail watercolors | photo by Elle Golden
The Extras- watercolor escort cards, menus, and table numbers by courtney khail watercolors
Oh the extras. A lot of people forget about these, but it's these pieces that can really tie everything together design wise. You also a little more freedom to play around with pieces like menus or table numbers since there are-usually- less of them and therefore not as visually overwhelming or expensive. Since I've already shared the watercolor wedding invitations I created for the Weddings Unveiled shoot, I thought today would be a great day to share more of the "day of" elements.
For the menus and table numbers, I utilized the same basic designs and artwork as the invitations, but I played with the shapes to give them more visual interest. (If you missed the post on how I created the artwork, you can find that here.) My circular menus fit perfectly inside the (absolutely beautiful) gradient blue plates Raquel chose from Ponce City Market's West Elm, which in turn acted as "frames" for the menu artwork. (Full disclosure, this was actually just a happy accident. I thought circles would be more fun than common rectangle or square menus, not to mention that the artwork really lent itself to the shape so I just went for it and hoped for the best. I had no clue if it would work with the design, but luckily, it worked perfectly.)
my original sketch for the menu cards | via courtney khail watercolors
The table number was also a spontaneous decision. Originally a square, I thought it needed something so the night before the shoot I started cutting away at the white space. In the end, the cut out mimics the border of the painted "bouquet" and ended up blending in seamlessly to the center pieces. Which was pretty awesome if I do say so myself.
Custom watercolor table number by courtney khail | photo by Elle Golden
As for the escort cards, Raquel told me the idea she had for displaying them, so I knew they couldn't be too busy. By removing the line work, the names (handwritten to mimic the invitation) pop from the paper, while the lighter artwork forms a floating garden when all of the names are arranged together.
View of Table | Custom watercolor wedding extras by courtney khail | photo by Elle Golden
Custom watercolor escort card detail | created by courtney khail | photo by Elle Golden
"Madly" new watercolor and ink painting
"Madly" new watercolor and ink painting by Courtney Khail
watercolor and ink on paper, unframed size 12" x 18" $1025
Sometimes I start a piece and have absolutely no clue what I'm doing. This one happens to be one of those pieces. I've really gotten into super close up florals and botanicals (like this one) but the morning I started this piece, I pulled back. I had a sketch from a while back of the outline of a flower (and I absolutely loved how it popped off the background) so I figured I'd explore that for a minute. I mean, why not, right? What's the worst that could happen? It's either going to be awesome, not good, but not bad, or absolute crap. And if it happened to be crap, it's not like anyone would ever have to see it. (That's something I stress repeatedly any time I teach. It's just paper. It's just paint. In the end, if it's the worst thing you've ever seen- the kind of terrible that probably wouldn't even make your mom's frig*- you can just recycle it and forget about it.)
While we're on that note- the same goes for Instagram and every other social media site out there. No one is making you share (and to be honest, no one wants to see everything any how) so curate away! (Unless you're one of my close friends who gets random photos deemed #notprettyenoughforinstagram. You know, like ones showing that I haven't put on real pants yet and it's already noon. Which for anyone who doesn't know this, pajama pants become "painting pants" during work hours.)
Yea. So, back to the art. I loosely sketched out kind of what was in my head, but like I said before, I wasn't really sure what that even looked like so I was pretty much winging it. Fast forward multiple hours over multiple days (you can't really ruse watercolors or you will end up with a muddy, sheet of "well this sucks") and I had the watercolor part done. And I was pretty excited about it looked.
And then came the inking. Which, pretty much throws me into a state of anxiety because an amazing painting can go downhill REALLY fast the moment I force a line or have too heavy of a hand. Spoiler alert: This was not one of those times. I actually love the line work here, which is precisely why you get to see it. And I do hope you enjoy it as well!
*or you know your frig. Nothing wrong with handing yourself a gold star every now and then. Did you shower today AND check your email? Gold star for you. Wait, what did you say? YOU DID TAXES?! Gold star AND a prize from the treasure chest. Good job adulting. You're rocking this.
The Invitation Suite (Courtney Khail Watercolors for Weddings Unveiled Spring Inspiration Shoot)
The Invitation Suite (Courtney Khail Watercolors for Weddings Unveiled Spring Inspiration Shoot)
Custom Fine Art Watercolor Wedding Invitation Suite by Courtney Khail | photo by ellegolden
I absolutely love when I'm given free reign with designing. Which aside from sending over inspiration boards to give me an idea for the overall look and colors, is pretty much exactly what Raquel did. She trusted my expertise and ability and just let me create- and in the end she got amazing pieces. (I stress this point to anyone looking to work with an artist- whether it's for commissioned art for custom wedding invitations or for your home. Choose someone whose work and style you love, give them enough information- favorite colors, overall mood, etc- so they know what you want, and then trust them to provide that. By giving people the freedom to really create, more often than not you will be rewarded with exceptional art far exceeding anything you could have imagined!)
The color palette board I made to show the original inspiration (photo by Elle Golden)
But back to this suite. Raquel wanted a natural palette- lots of greens, blues, and whites- that evoked spring. After seeing her inspiration, I immediately envisioned a garden after a spring rain (Wow. Feels like I'm writing copy for the J. Peterman catalog with that one.) Subdued, yet still vibrant colors, with enough contrast for interest, but not so much that anything is jarring. Have you ever looked into a clear, blue lake? How close to the surface the water is barely blue at all- more crystal clear- but as your eyes look deeper, the water gradually darkens until it's almost navy or midnight? (If not, I suggest you go explore the outdoors more because the world is beautiful and you'll get to see things like what I just described.) I wanted my pieces to appear delicate, but strong enough to stand on their own, with subtle color variations like those that occur in nature.
Invitation by Courtney Khail Watercolors (photo by Elle Golden)
Like all of my work, I incorporated handwritten elements as well. With this particular one though, I kept the lines very thin. (The style was inspired by the handwritten notes my grandmothers used to send. Cursive, airy, and always consistent in the width- probably because they were written with a ball point pen. There was always something so feminine about their handwriting and I want to capture that in this suite.)
The design itself was directly inspired by spring time in the South. I'm originally from Augusta, Georgia and for Augustans the beginning of spring is marked by one thing- The Masters golf tournament. Always the first full week of April, the city is full of bright azalea blooms, dogwood blooms so bright they appear to be glowing, and tons of green- in everything from manicured lawns to the famed green jacket. I dialed back on the colors some, but still strived to capture the overall feeling of spring's "fresh start" with the artwork itself.
Watercolor RSVP by Courtney Khail Watercolors (Photo by Elle Golden)
And there you have it- the back story and inspiration of the invitation suite. Does it remind you of spring as well?
From concept to final design- watercolor mock ups by courtney khail
Custom Watercolor Design Mock Up by courtney khail watercolors
Good design always starts with a good plan. For the Weddings unveiled wedding inspiration shoot, Michelle and Raquel of Lemiga Events wanted me to create a watercolor "mock up" of the table and place settings to show Raquel's vision throughly before any actual styling began. It was so much fun to do and I absolutely loved how these turned out! (Fun fact- this service is also available for Lemiga clients so they can see what the overall design will resemble before their big day!)
