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text + photography LYBYS ZAMBRANO
I had the pleasure of visiting the living grounds and studio of Cory Hamilton, a woodworking artist from Yucca Valley, CA. Upon my arrival, Cory greeted me from outside of his home, and as soon I walked up to the front door, I could see his amazing artwork start to unfold. Entering Cory’s home was like walking into a medieval fortress with so many beautiful and intricate pieces displayed all throughout the living room. It was truly remarkable.
After taking a stroll through the living space, I became acquainted with many of Cory’s handmade furniture pieces. As we stepped into his studio, I saw another side of his art — mounted on the walls were these ridiculous half animal, half skeleton pieces that were so carefully created they looked almost real. Cory’s studio is filled with so many different styled pieces that no matter where I looked, I couldn’t help but stare for just a little longer.
After the studio tour, we made our way to his backyard and I saw yet another side of his art: The festival installations. Could he get any more versatile? From blue jelly fish to a huge unicorn and lets throw in some more home decor with a beautiful bench sitting under a flowery wooden canopy that I mentally saved into my, “How I want my house to look” Pinterest board.
It’s one thing saying your an artist, but your not really an artist unless you show up everyday for your art. Getting to meet Cory, his ridiculously supportive wife and beautiful baby proved to me that showing up everyday is what true love is. Cory’s home was love, his art was love, I was surrounded by love. I felt not only welcomed into his home but left truly inspired. I however, didn’t want to keep the inspiration all to myself. I asked Cory some more personal questions in order for you all to get to know him better.
At what age did you start doing woodwork? Were there any influences that drove you to this type of art form?
I got my start with art and woodworking at a very young age. I have always drawn and painted and was super inspired by artists like Frank Frazetta (The Godfather of fantasy art) who produced iconic illustrations for comic books and cover art for novels. I wasn’t as much into the stories as I was into the insane pictures! With woodworking, I had been around it since birth because my Pops is a wood worker, artist and builder. It began as a hobby for me… I was around 11 working on designing, carving, and custom painting long board skateboards in my Dads workshop. Side by side with him as he worked on fabricating custom hand carved doors. I’d get to test my boards on our yearly beach vacations to Sunset Beach. They rode pretty straight! Strongest influence for sure is my Pops, he’s a published custom home builder and has taught me the ropes with design, architectural details and finish work, custom furniture, faux painting etc. I put in 15 years (mostly in the Coachella Valley) working for his construction business learning, growing, and honing my craft before starting Cory Hamilton Design.
Do you remember the first piece you sold? Could you please explain to our readers what it was and how it made you feel, to finally make money from your hard work?
Cory: The first piece I sold was in 03’, a giant custom entertainment center. It was at that time when I learned I wanted to pursue artistic woodworking as a career. It was an epic time of discovery because I was in that period where I really didn’t know what I was going to do. Once I realized that, I found it, I was struck with incredible focus and drive. The many years of apprenticeship under my Dad combined with talents gifted from above, were the tools I needed to pursue my passion.
As an artist, it’s really hard to get yourself out there and noticed. How have you managed to get yourself recognized for the amazing work you do?
Using social media, especially Instagram, has helped in a huge way to showcase and get my craft out there. The saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” is so true! The more you put yourself out there, the more you get recognized, and from that, more art opportunities start to come your way.
Some of your pieces have a half living / half dead theme to it. Could you tell us how you came up with the idea?
I’ve really been diving into wood sculpture over the last 4 years and have a body of animal busts that are half real/ half skull. I wanted these to represent how fragile life is, and thought the half and half concept was interesting and something I’d never seen done. I’m not a dark artist, I just happen to love film, specifically sci-fi, and made sculptures that I could picture seeing in movies. There are around 12 sculptures all with a common thread that I have in studio which I’m trying to get my first combined or solo show with.
What is your favorite thing about being an artist?
My favorite thing about being an artist is the freedom of artistic expression which is always evolving…when you look back on your work you can see your style develop within all the mediums you work in, and the people who follow your work can see your brand become recognizable too. It takes time, but it’s very rewarding to see as the years of work unfold.
What is one of the biggest accomplishments that has come from your artwork?
My biggest accomplishment to date is having the recent opportunity to design and create a custom wood sculpture for Dwayne Johnson AKA The Rock! I sculpted a life sized bull head, half real/ half skull that is wall mountable. The bull has a huge significance to Dwayne, tied in with his Polynesian culture. With the opportunity of making art for a celebrity like him, came the tremendous task of creating the finest piece of art I’d ever done. I had a 3 week window of time to produce because he was getting ready to shoot a new movie for Disney called The Jungle Cruise. I had to put all my current jobs aside, put my head down and handle it! We just recently delivered it to LA and his reaction was awesome! He and his girlfriend were blown away and he said it was the most amazing piece he’d ever seen.. he loaded it up and took it home! An honor and privilege for me this was, and I’ll have this for the rest of my career. I know now a chunk of my time will be producing custom pieces of art/ furniture for celebrities and musicians which has been a goal of mine for about 15 years.
For future clients, how would you categorize your work?
Most of my work is commissioned from hi-end clients wanting one in a million piece from in and around the Joshua Tree, Coachella Valley, O.C., L.A. and Lake Arrowhead areas. With recent shipments of art and furniture to the Midwest and East coast. I advertise myself as an artist who can create furniture/ art from any design/ style, or period. Styles include modern, gothic, rustic, African, Moroccan, Japanese and Polynesian.
You have so many immaculate works of art that I’m sure you’ve entered in competitions. Have you won any awards for any of your pieces?
I think it’s good to enter your work into juried art shows. It helps drive me to create my absolute best, and to manage deadlines. It cuts down on any procrastination. It’s great for connecting, you get to meet other like minded artists, as well as art collectors and people who appreciate and admire art. In 2015, The Indian Wells Arts Festival, which you have to be juried into, was my first big art show. It was a great weekend and I was so pumped to bring home the blue ribbon for my art and wood sculpture! Since then I’ve tried to do a competition each year with my wood sculptures and have been fortunate to earn either 1st place or the “People’s Choice Award” for the last 3 years. You have to dig and believe in your art always no matter what people say, but it can be very validating for you and your work when prestigious awards are earned.
If you could give other artists hoping to make a living with their art some advice, what would it be?
My advice to other artists hoping to make a living is to never give up or do what everyone else is doing. I don’t want this taken the wrong way but in my opinion, our culture is saturated with art that is lazily produced, and for some reason this is currently being celebrated. I’ve always gone against the grain, and yes it can be hard to make money when you’re not producing art that is trendy. Stay true to your craft and strive to be great with your art, to make impactful pieces, and to put real work and focus. I’ve always looked up to the Renaissance masters and feel they have helped me want to design and create art that will be meaningful and sought after for many years to come.
Has your art been featured in any shows or festivals? Where could our readers see your art displayed?
For the last 5 years I’ve enjoyed creating large wood sculptures as art installations for the Joshua Tree Music Festival. I always invite people to cruise up to peep the art and check out the amazing bands this festival brings out. Another goal I’ve had for sometime is to create a giant installation for Coachella fest. I’ve also been opening my studio to the public each fall for one weekend for the Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours. Over 100 high desert artist working in many different mediums, open their studios to the public. You get a Studio Tours magazine where you can find the type of art you want to see and a map to their address…
and boom 
You get a chance to get close to their art and the space where they create art! I also participate in the Juried Art Show in Palm Springs at the Desert Art Center each January.
Last but not least, what does Art mean to you?
Art for me is life. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a working artist. The normal jobs I had after high school just never felt right. Art has always been what I’m passionate about. I’m always inspired and happy when I’m creating. My home is filled with my beautiful wife of ten years and 3 cute and precious babies. Our home is filled wall to wall with my custom furniture, paintings, sculpture, finish work and faux painting. We literally live within my art! I’m so very grateful to God for the gifts he has given me and the ability to pursue my passion and provide for my family.
Follow Cory and his art on instagram: @coryhamiltonartistry
And check out his website: coryhamiltondesign.com