{atlanta creates}
A talented artist, a dreamer, a traveler, and a wearer of many hats, this week’s Atlanta-based creative never ceases to surprise, inspire, and amaze me. She is a photographer, a designer, a collector, and a hand-letterer. She is internationally acclaimed throughout the fine art wedding community as a purveyor of style and beauty on all accounts. She is a family girl and knows how to find or create a pretty vignette almost anywhere she goes. She is also loving mama to Yellah Dog… I present to you the marvelous Katie Decker Hyatt, also known as Signora e Mare.
Name and age: Katie Decker Hyatt, 29 (eek!)
Current neighborhood: Ardmore Park
Hometown: Midland, Texas
What brought you to (or kept you in, or brought you back to) Atlanta?
I moved to Atlanta to attend Portfolio Center for Art Direction. I ended up meeting my now husband at a local establishment. We moved away for a bit thinking we would try out Texas, but Atlanta called us back.
How do you pay the bills? What is your “slash”? (i.e. teacher/ amateur cupcake baker)
My ‘slash’ is organic calligrapher & hand letterer. I call it organic because my style is not of the traditional or classical calligraphy nature. It’s organic and unstructured- very free from what it should be…or at least I think. Ha!
What do you create?
I create beauty in paper. It’s the first glimpse guests get into your wedding, so yeah, it should be special. It’s a first impression and I get to translate that through the calligraphy, paper and printing method used.
What do you collect?
Oh! I collect lots! Frames are a particular weakness. I also love found items like seashells, or antlers discovered on my family’s ranch… and pictures of Yellah Dog.
Your favorite artist now and as a child:
My favorite artists have always been impressionists. I love the soft movement and light they always seem to capture. Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec. The stuff they created was pure magic. And then there’s John Singer Sargent. Every time I look at one of his pieces, I feel like I am transported through time.
Last memorable home-cooked meal:
Hmmm…our Christmas dinner was pretty good. I styled and set the table with local berries I found off the trees and a few fern branches and some antler horns. My mom made cherry pie with a homemade crust and about a dozen other amazing sweets (she’s the best baker). We had a ham that my aunt had prepared, whipped mashed potatoes with our family recipe of handmade noodles that goes on top of the mashed potatoes. That’s right- carb on carb. Yum.
A favorite local business:
Octane and their cortados…yummmmm.
Favorite way or place to unwind:
Photography- when i’m shooting, i feel like i’m in the moment. and that, is so relaxing.
If you had to move to another country, which would you choose, and why?
Umm…Italy. Duh. No, really. They know how to live and just “be”. I think I could learn a lesson or two from them. Plus, there’s lots of gelato.
Coolest thing you’ve ever been for Halloween:
Unicorn…no wait, mermaid. No wait, Both. In addition to being an incredible baker, my mom is great at sewing. She would hand make our costumes every year. One year I was a unicorn (back when my little ponies used to rule the world). It was pink satin costume with a purple fabric heart in the center. The “Unicorn” portion was separate. It was a velcroed head piece also made of satin with a silk horn attached and then pale purple tulle as the main…yes, I remember every detail. It was so cool!
What is your favorite dessert?
Hands down- gelato. Any kind all kinds. I’m obsessed.
What is your favorite artifact, heirloom, or art piece in your home?
We actually have a lot of heirlooms in our house because I’m an antique and collector freak. But I recently acquired a new piece of art and it suits me to a tee. It’s a handmade print of Tuscany printed on handmade paper. My mom purchased it for me in Florence. It’s framed and hanging above our sofa. I love it.
A lesson you’ve learned the hard way:
Don’t let others successes impede yours.
Favorite dog breed:
I’m pretty sure Yellah Dog would be offended if I answered any other way…Labrador Retriever.
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“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.
Follow this project on Instagram (@buffydekmarphoto + @dekmarfilms + #atlantacreates) and Pinterest. You can also send us your nominations for creative people you’d like to see featured here!
Buffy Dekmar Photography Contax 645// Portra 800 // Richard Photo Lab
