{ATLANTA CREATES}
Just outside of Atlanta’s buzzing midtown scene, there is an urban escape–the kind of neighborhood where there are historic homes, tucked in by old trees and sidewalks and birds. Behind one of these quaint historic homes, next to a bronze fire bowl and a couple of bee hives which are kept near a little patch of kudzu, there is a tiny workshop, full of beautiful natural light and with a quiet cat that slips in on occasion. It is there in that tiny workshop that the magic happens. From mind to mold to kiln, Courtney’s intricate and delicate designs come to life in the Honeycomb Studio. (And we kind of love each and every one of them.)
Name and age: Courtney, 31
Current neighborhood: West Midtown, Atlanta
Hometown: The Atlanta ‘burbs
What brought you to (or kept you in, or brought you back to) Atlanta?
Atlanta has always been home. I went to college up in Virginia and very slowly, state by state, worked my way back down the coast to Georgia. The great thing about Atlanta is that it’s small enough to feel familiar and to run into childhood acquaintances at the grocery store, but it’s still big enough that you can feel like you’re forging your own way in the city.
How do you pay the bills? What is your “slash”? (i.e. teacher/ amateur cupcake baker).
I am blessed to be able to work in my studio full time, so I don’t have any official “slash”. Of course I have all of the slashes that come with owning your own business (marketer/bookkeeper/webmaster) but pottery is also unique in that it requires quite a bit of tinkering. I would say that I’m a ceramic artist/mechanic/engineer/chemist.
What do you create?
I create heirloom-quality porcelain sculptures that bring an element of modern sophistication to any room.
What do you collect?
Ideas! I am a voracious consumer of ideas – Pinterest was made for me! I love how you have no idea how any given inspiration (or a combination of inspirations) will simmer in your mind and ultimately give birth to a completely new creation. I also have a scarf addition.
Your favorite artist now and as a child:
I was obsessed with musical theater when I was a little girl and convinced I was headed to Broadway. I loved theater divas like Bernadette Peters and Linda Eder. Now I love ceramic artists Diana Fayt and Michele Michael and am captivated by large scale installation artists Anish Kapoor and Peter Gentenaar.
Last memorable home-cooked meal:
My husband and I both love to cook and to entertain. The most recent meal was over Labor Day weekend. My husband smoked a pork shoulder for 7 hours and we had a bunch of simple, end-of-summer sides like fresh corn and a spicy peach coleslaw. We had a few friends over and just hung out in the backyard eating and drinking way too late into the night. Heaven.
A favorite local business:
Octane Coffee on the Westside. Best coffee in the southeast and dangerously close to my studio. I seriously have a line-item for them in my budget. It’s kind of a problem.
Favorite way or place to unwind:
I’ve become a pilates fanatic over the course of the last year or so. My craft is fairly rough on the body, so it has been a God send. BUT because I don’t want to be the person who says that their favorite way to relax is an exercise class, I will also say that a glass of wine on the patio or by the fire pit with my husband is pretty unbeatable.
If you were a color in the biggest crayola box, which would you be?
I’m going to cheat and say Aztec Gold (cheating because it was a limited edition color) because I can’t seem to help myself from painting or glazing things gold. I have some sort of Midas complex.
Latest great adventure:
Quitting my job and jumping into the abyss of self-employment! Seriously this last year (I left my career in nonprofit fundraising in the summer of 2012) has been the most terrifying and the most exhilarating of my life. My husband also left his job and started his own company, so it’s been really amazing to take the leap together. I won’t say it’s always been easy, but it’s never been boring.
Favorite US city? Favorite international city? (And why?)
Florence, Italy. What’s not to love? The food, the architecture, the art. I went for the first time when I was a sophomore in high school and I still remember the breath being knocked out of me when I saw Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures at the Accademia Gallery.
What occupation did you want to do as a child?
As I mentioned above, I was going to be a Broadway actress with a capital A. I spent HOURS in my room casting my friends and crushes into the roles of my favorite musicals – I was the star character of course – and then singing the entire score into the mirror. I had a vivid fantasy life.
What is your favorite dessert?
Strawberries, homemade whipped cream (none of that cool whip nonsense) and angel food cake. Or funfetti cupcakes.
What is your favorite artifact, heirloom, or art piece in your home?
My parents recently moved out of the house they’ve lived in for the past 15 years, and in the process, gave me a bunch of stuff they don’t really have room for/the inclination to keep. One of the things I received was the most incredible wooden wolf head that was carved by my great grandfather before he emigrated from Ireland. I never even knew it existed until my Dad gave it to me. It is incredible craftsmanship but it’s also super scary looking. It would scare the crap out of a kid. It’s awesome.
Concerts or museums?
This is not a popular opinion, but I am pretty anti-live music. I’m 5’1 so concerts are rarely a fun experience for me. I usually end up staring at some guys back the whole time and/or getting stepped on 🙁 Bring on the museums!
Sweet or savory (or your favorite brunch menu item)?
I’m a slave to West Egg’s Fried Green Tomato wrap.
Favorite dog breed:
Cats!
website // facebook // pinterest // instagram // etsy
Read more about Courtney Hamil and Honeycomb Studio on Style Me Pretty!
“Atlanta Creates” is a project intiated by Buffy Dekmar Photography to build creative community and share the faces and personalities behind creative businesses in Atlanta.
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