“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time” - Maya Angelou
My heart is broken today. It aches and weeps and finds no solace in "told you so's." But there is light.
This week Georgia elected two new senators: Rev. Warnock-our first black senator-and Jon Ossoff, the Jewish son of an immigrant (who is also only 33!)
And on January 20th, Joe Biden, a Catholic public servant will be sworn in as the President. Standing by his side will be Kamala Harris, not just the first female VP, but also the first POC to ever hold that position.
That's hope. Not that everything will change and get better over night, but that we are in fact making progress, even when it's difficult. Even when days are dark.
*Just as a reminder, this is my page. Any comments promoting "what about-isms", conspiracies, or hate (plus any comments telling me how "I can make $500 sitting on my couch!") will be promptly deleted.
Inspiration photo by @jeroenvanpelt
Courtney Khail Featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine
It is a very happy day here in the studio! (And not just because of the election.) I’m so excited to share that two of my DEVELOP pieces can been seen in the January issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle Magazine !
I’ll share more photos later, but a huge thank you to Balance Design for including my work in their gorgeous project, Serenbe for the house (it was in their showhouse) and of course Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles for publishing it. I’m so incredibly grateful for my village and can’t wait to see what else 2021 has in store!
Georgia Senate Runoffs are TODAY
Maybe you’ve heard, but it’s a big day today for Georgia- voting for the Senate runoffs ends tonight at 7p. If you haven’t cast your vote yet, get up and get out there!
(And now that I’ve checked that my ballot was received and accepted for the millionth time this morning, I can now get to work!)
This beauty (Kathyrn) is currently available on the website. I’m obsessed with how deep the blues are- you feel like you could swim in them. (But don’t- that would be dangerous 😉💙)
So nice to see you
Hey! I’m Courtney.
Seeing it’s the new year, I thought I’d reintroduce myself.
Here are some things you should know.
My last name is pronounced “kale.” (Most often people say Khalil, which is close, but wrong.)
I’m a contemporary artist living and working on the east side of Atlanta
I create bold, vibrant, watercolor paintings that are full of movement and contrast.
I have a BFA in scientific illustration from The University of Georgia‘s Lamar Dodd School of Art (If you don’t know what scientific illustration is- think plants, bugs, and bones. I basically majored in illustration, painting, graphic design, and biology.)
I’ve swam with dolphins and manatees, but never sharks. (At least, not on purpose.)
I’ve also broken my collarbone three times- twice trying to fly.
Now let’s talk about you.
If you love contemporary art that tells a story, look no further.
If you feel like you’re a little bit traditional, but also a little bit modern, you’re in the right place.
And of course, if you enjoy dry, sarcastic humor paired with long stories (accompanied by a lot of unnecessary hand motions) I’ve got you covered 😉
So is this the place for you? If so, welcome! I’m stoked to have you here and can’t wait to get to know you better.
📷 by @angiewebbphoto
Wrapping up 2020
Buckle up- it’s about to get sappy. Or wordy. (Or both.)
We’ve all heard the saying “you can’t appreciate the good without the bad” (or some version of that) and I’d say that’s exactly what this year did. It forced us to look for the good- to find the silver linings.
Cancelled plans left room for new plans, new adventures, and new memories.
Social distancing meant relationships were tested. And while some fell away, other blossomed- establishing even deeper roots through raw, vulnerable, and honest conversations. The kind of “real talk” that comes about when life gets tough and you no longer have the time or energy for small talk.
Quiet and “boredom” made space for reflection and contemplation. To evaluate what you have, what you do (and don’t) need, and what is actually important to you. Not to mention it forced rest- for the body and the soul.
Yes it has been a tough year, but it’s also been a beautiful one.
So Happy New Year’s Eve, friend. Here’s to 2021! (And if you’d like to share something good that happened in 2020 for you, I’d love to hear it.)
Feeling like an outsider
On the last stop of this 2020 memory lane train is OF A FEATHER- a 24 piece collection that celebrates individuality and embracing your unique voice.
Growing up, I often felt like an outsider. I could wear the “right” clothes, sit at the popular table, and listen to the top 40 on repeat (I may not remember 1/2 of what I learned in trig, but I can still sing every word of Hit Me Baby One More Time), but even so, something always felt “off.”
.
And that’s because something WAS off. I wasn’t being authentically me.
.
Luckily that’s changed as I’ve gotten older. I’ve learned to give less “damns”(not the word you thought I was going to say, was it?😉) and just be me-dry humor, quirks, and all.
So let this serve as permission to let your true colors shine. Life is just too short to be something you aren’t.
*Side note- if you were able to read “true colors” and NOT start singing Cyndi Lauper, then kudos. You’re stronger than me. Well that or you were born in the 2000’s. 😂
"Rest Week"
Rest week- what I’m calling the span of time nestled between Christmas and New Years. Unlike years past where I took this week to get EVERYTHING finished that I hadn’t done that year, I’m giving myself permission to be quiet this week- to clean, to read, to write- to relax- without that nagging voice saying “You’re getting behind! Did you send that email? What about your resolutions? Have you made a vision board? Do you even really know what a vision board is?” etc. etc.
We all can hit the ground running NEXT week, but as for THIS week, let’s take a collective deep breath and rest- however that may look.
DEVELOP 2020
DEVELOP-my second series of 2020-came about in response to quarantining, racial injustice, and the conclusion of a nine month long struggle with “a very atypical case of pneumonia that appeared unaffected by normal treatments.”
Inspired by the cloudy, ghost-like quality of chest x-rays and film negatives, I painted these pieces with a process I’d never utilized before: water coloring with white and metallic inks onto black paper. This created a visual effect that I felt perfectly captured the range of feelings I was experiencing at that time- a mix of hope, confusion, gratitude, and fear.
The fifteen piece collection is sold out, but you can still see the entire series under the PORTFOLIO tab on my website.
Merry Christmas
Swapping paintbrushes and ink for crackling fires and gingerbread. (And probably one too many Hallmark Christmas movies haha)
In other words the studio is officially closed for the holidays!
Wishing you a very merry (and safe) Christmas!
BAPTISM 2020 (looking back over the year)
BAPTISM. My first series of 2020. Nine paintings. Nine stories. All inspired by nine bodies of water.
I adored this series, but remember feeling conflicted about its release. It launched in April, about a month after we all went into quarantine. People were losing jobs, scared, and unsure of what was to come. Was it insensitive to sell a luxury when so many people were suffering and scared? Would anyone even feel like buying art?
But (like any series I create,) I figured the worst possible outcome would just be that it didn’t resonate and wouldn’t sell. (And while that totally sucks when it happens, it doesn’t kill you.) So I took a deep breath and decided to go ahead with the launch.
And y’all- it sold out in less than 24 hours. (I think it sold out in 16 hours!)
To say I was blown away would be an understatement. And not because I thought the work wasn’t worth it (I had more than enough confidence about the work. Those paintings were strong!) I was blown away because that many people claimed the pieces that QUICKLY. It was an amazing feeling and reminded me that while art isn’t a basic need- like food, shelter, or clothing- it’s what gives life depth. What makes it beautiful and rich.
We all crave beauty and connection, and art offers that. The right art makes you feel seen and less alone. It provides light and hope when the world seems dark and confusing. Art forces you to feel.
And when you see it that way, it makes sense that BAPTISM did so well. Because when you recognize the importance of it, art feels much less like a luxury and much more like a need.
GEMSTONES 2020 (looking back over the year)
GEMSTONES- my third series of the year- pushed me to experiment even more with vivid colors and concepts (as well as gave me a reason to geek out on the myths and stories associated with gems and crystals.) This was also the first time during 2020 that I offered various sizes- from 8”x10” all the way up to 18”x24” paintings- in a single collection. (Love color as much as me? You’re in luck! A few of these are still available on the site.)