"Picking my Own Battles"

Today, I had a crit in my casting class.
And I was really excited about this piece- thought I had come a long way, given it a lot of thought...
And of course it didn't turn out how i intented it too.
We had to create a creature out of styrofoam, to be cast in aluminum.
And if that WASNT HARD enough. Sculpture is about EVERYTHING. what you use, how you craft it, if you place in a certain corner if you leave two dots on it instead of three...
anyways, after struggling with the styrofoam I ended up with this octopus thing. And when I layed it on it's side it looked like it could be coming out of something- so i thought I would create an installation and have this tetrapus attacking cars and miniture people!!!!
Awesome?
No. The sand was heavy to haul in, the lil people were too expensive for one time use at the hobby store and the cars didn't look right with the aluminum...
so...it wasn't as awesome as i thought.
My GTA, asked me how crit went..and I realized I can't be mad. Sculpture isn't my thing, I learned a lot. And its a process. He said hey sometimes you gotta pick your battles. And I realized he's right.
I'd much rather work extra hard and go all the way for my watercolor class tomorrow, then be pissy about my sculpture not being so hot, when I know I tried and I didn't want to spend extra money on something I wasn't fully into too...
Next time- i probably should draw my ideas out and pick apart each item and concept.
Next Time- I will for sure have a fully devloped idea.
Third times the charm:)

Poetic RaNT

quite frankly,
I don't want to hear you speak.
Don't want to hear what you think.
Tension as tight as a knot
can't even believe you got us caught up-
this nonsense can't even make sense
if we tried to map it out and trace back
to where the "x" marks the spot.
If you talk a little louder,
maybe everyone will want to hear less of what you have to say,
and if you slur a little more or talk over everyone else's words
maybe then
just then-
will your words stand a chance.
Just because your mouth is moving and the noise is coming out
does not mean it has worth to my ears.
The garbage that is polluting my mind
and stacking it's way to the ceiling of my brain
isn't really helping the headache I already have right now.
So I suggest you hold your tounge-
refrain yourself
from clouding up the neutral grounds that you have invaded.

Unexpected Artistic Breakdown

The day I am suppose to take my work to Art in the Park to show...
I pull out my old charcoals- the one's on here that are from highschool-
and realize...
this is shit.
Well okay not shit. But I used to worship these drawings- think I had skill, talent and- what the heck was i thinking??? no wonder I didn't make it into shows and such!
So why didn't I see that earlier on???
It's funny that you know when you've progressed- and your so estatic about your newest piece of art.
But then a ways down the road you've accelled and see the piece you made last year and think...
wow.
You can really see your progress!
And thank the lord for moms, who even told me how mature that is...
thanks mom cause this means I have very few things to show in the show thats happening tomorrow!!
But..That means I know what looks right- and that my art is progressing?? or at least changing..
I hope progressing!
So..after the artsy enlightenment of art in the park-
I need to create for myself. I need to keep doing it. And I can't stop- even if i feel that it looks like crap. All the crap builds up to the moment where it all makes sense.
(at least..thats how my cousin explained it more formally once)
As a women told me this weekend, this is the time to enjoy, explore and have fun with the process.
So..I better get on it;)

?

Men.
Are more emotional than women,
manipulative,
narcisstic beings-
that can't seem to wrap anyone else's idea's around their own brains.
If it didn't originate from their manly mind
or your idea is to twisted for their kind,
guess it's not okay-
push it back and bury it away...
If they don't understand,
it's never their own fault-
for the other being should have explained it better.
and these stereotypes could be thrown the other way.
Women.
Devious, teasing creatures.
With romantic whimsical ideas,
that are senseless and unproductive.
Horrible drivers, terrible at lying.
Cursed biologically with their moods-
unreasonable feelings and emotions
and too many tears that leak what the other being cannot ever see.
So..
wouldn't it just be easier to be gay?

hahahaha this poem was freehandedly inspired by "revoluntionary road" the movie.
I just found that i had saved it as a draft!

Sooo as stressed as I am..
getting away for a few days in the artsy world has given me a breath of fresh air!!!
Just being imersed in all of the art, talking to all sorts of people and learning about the production and selling of your work...just a big ol learning experience bundled up into one thing!!!
         Witnessed first hand how presentation is everything, and my friend found a fabulous frame for one of my pieces!
          Got tons of feedback on my work, which was GREATLY needed..lots of people liked my style- even though I randomly put in a few newers works and some older ones last minute due to an unexpected artistically emotional breakdown the day before-
and that was awesome to hear because even if no one bought my work, people were interested and fascinated by my work! It did something for them!
And surprisingly many asked how much for my "Paradise" (New York Piece)...that was phenomenal to hear because that is a personal piece! I guess they noticed and that made it more attractive?
 So much happened in two days...
And the beautiful thing is, that I feel fresh on art. Even thought I'm not encouraged to finish my projects for school I am inspired to create for myself!
        And i can't wait to take a ceramic class! Those mint mugs were so adorable :)

arn't we..."victims of society"?

Who decides...
what is okay?
Thin is good.
The American Dream?
Society- concludes everything. But if we are all amounting up to what society expects us to be, then how will we ever know what we actually are?
It seems to me that everyone is a people pleaser- especially with the case to please there parents. Why is it that these people who have raised us- determine what we do is not good enough? And as much as we don't want to- we try to please them. make them proud? Is it engraved into our system that we have to outdo them and be acceptable to their standards?
Because arn't parents equivilent to the whispers of society. No one plainly writes out, what is okay. and what isn't. But if not everyone is doing it, it's wrong. insane. mental?
What if those who are mental- are actually right. They see what is real.
Because what even is real?
If we are blinded by societies preconcieved notions about what the norm is, or what is okay...then we are all victims of society!
Why can't we go for what we want...because someone we love doesn't want to?
To try and please someone else? Because we are afraid of losing them...
we are afraid.
That is the reason we succumb to societies expectations.
We are scared to be different, to lead the way, to try and amount to what we hope to be..and possibly fail.
If we are afraid, then we are scared of something not quite real. Fear.
Fear makes us victims of society.
Bravery, the cure to expected.

Abstract Practice

"Sometimes you need a little rain"

Originally, the painting was suppose to be this way- horizontal. That way the orange represents rain, across the contrasting blue. I wanted to make it represent a falling, but a balanced and controlled falling. It reminded me of rain, and sort of that yin and yang theory of one not being able to exsist without the other...

However, my family liked it this way- so i thought I'd show it vertical as well.

I wish it wasn't so controlled...i would like it a little freer- but I didn't know if there was anything else i could do to it...maybe ill go back to it in awhile..

Art Therapy

A little painting for feeling...

I did this when i was in the zone..all my emotions were raging and I was pretty pissed off.

I have been trying to loosen up and just let me work with the paints by feeling- and

this happened!

"Set Fire to the Forest"

I originally was going to make it a forest scene- realistic. Then i just kept going with the energy and my mood and it became this.

I still think it looks like an abstract forest. But more passionate, and burning...

It looks great hanging up on my yellow bedroom walls!

Wind Blown Dress Sketch

So i stumbled upon this website that people post "looks" on and then they get 'hot' and you can rate them and etc. And since I am obsessed with the human figure- and like photography and fashion is intriguing me...this site called 'lookbooknu' is where I found this picture posted and decided to sketch it for fun.

The paper is originally this color, (as seen above) and I couldn't photograph the details that well...

but yeah. So the dress is gorgeous in the picture! I wanted to capture the flowyness of the entire scene...

sketch practice!

I'm thinking about doing a series on these? Maybe in watercolor? Just play a little bit.

I love it when people say...

"I don't get it...anyone could do that."

I love it when i hear people say this. I seriously just chuckle to myself. People are telling each other all the time, "I could've painted that!" or  "how is that art? That looks easy"
 Well guess what. You didn't do it yourself. And it is art.

i do understand where people are coming from...some paintings look like a second grader could have made them, and others are just lines..etc etc. But the simple fact is- is if the artist intended it to be art...and created it- and it has meaning to them? It is art. And someone else, could not do it. They could not do it because they could not experience the EXACT same feeling or drive that compelled them to produce a piece of art...

There is a beauty and a grace, i think, that lies within the idea of art itself. it is almost like meditating. I am unsure if any artist honestly thinks- im going to create the best painting in the universe- or sculpt the most awesome sculpture ever... and im sure some do- but i think the desire to create is just a natural one, and by fullfilling that desire- comes works of art.
Some people throw paint at a canvas, and yeah you could do it too. But the reason the artist did it- is probably not the reason someone else did it..

And in a sense everyone is an artist. Anyone can create. Everyone feels. It's just the idea of tuning into your creativity, and emotions and experiecing art that defines what artists do...

Understanding this universal communication, through expression and emotion- it's not something everyone is going to understand...so go ahead, and claim it's not art. But you just don't like what you don't know:)

Design Cover FINAL Proj

So this is suppose to be our final Design Cover for my Design II class...

The sketches and the process is shown below. It is suppose to reflect and represent us and be in a triadic color scheme. I chose to paint mine because painting is what I do- and I am computer challenged when it comes to illustrator. I wanted to do something that is my style of painting and at the same time incorporate elements of design into the cover. This last phot is suppose to be the final- with the words "Design II by Corbie Leiker" however I did not have access to transfer the words at this moment- so I will upload them later...and I'm still deciding if I want to add the bricks...

Colorado Cabin for design

Our assignment in design class was to create a space- that was eco friendly, in the dimensions of being 20" x 40" and was functional. We were encouraged to design a home, however we could design whatever we chose- as long as we focused on eco friendly building as well as economically friendly features about the house as well. I knew that I wanted to design a residential home, I ended up extending the 20" x 40" dimensions, but Sarah said it was okay- and here is the process of designing my home!

I had trouble on figuring out where to start when designing a home. This way of thinking was something that was totally foreign to me, and I spent a lot of time just struggling to come up with layouts of floor plans. The first image is my first attempts to get the rhythm of floor plans down. I could not visualize how I wanted a 'dream house' or any house i wanted to look like since I usually draw from photographs or real life imagery, so I continued to work with the basis of floorplans in order to visualize my home as a whole.

I wanted to make my home a cabin feel, homey style house that you would find in Colorado. I really wanted the wrap around porch..family feel. I was torn between a country home, a mountain home and the modern feel.

I chose Colorado because I have such a strong connection with the state. My family and I have been takig ski trips and vacations since I was in the second grade and I love Colorado as if it was my hometown! So hence why I have chosen to design a home for Colorado...

Finally, I got somewhere with the floorplans. Kept drawing random things, and tried to get the shape of the home to start with. I finally decided on an odd shape in order to make it seem more modern, and thus extended walls upward so the house began taking shape!

After we had a group critique and I expressed my distressed feelings of confusion on how to design a home...I came up with simpler sketches. I dropped any attatchments I had to designing a home for "me" and I stopped thinking too complexly, and I just drew what I would think of a cabin home in Colorado to appear like... All of the advice from my fellow classmates!

I moved away from the extremely traditional look and found myself focused on the cabin feel with a touch of moderism.

first and second floor blueprint sketches!

Spec Sheet.

Residential Home by Corbie Leiker. Located in Colorado.

Materials: Rammed Earth Insulation, Recylced Wood for internal structure of the home, Recylced Wood for paneling of house.

Special Features: Rammed Earth Insulation Method provides natural insulation in the extremely cold winters in order to reduce the heating bill and naturally cools the home in the summer to reduce the cooling bill and use electricity to heat and cool the home.

Main rooms (such as the living room and the outdoor patio) will be located on the south side thus allowing the house to be lit natually by sunlight and conserving electricity.

Solar Panels: natural energy when electricity is necessary.

Floorplan: Second Floor. 32' x 24'. Includes: Master Bedroom and Bath, Extra Bedroom, Extra room that could be used as study or another bedroom, floor bathroom, hallway, studi space for artist.

Floorplan First Floor: 32' x 24'. Includes Kitchen. Living Space, Laundry Room, Garage, Outdoor/Indoor Sitting Area, Bathroom, Closet and Pantry

This is my essay about my eco friendly residential home located in Leadville Colorado. I designed this house to be modern, eco friendly, and to be specific to fitting the needs of an artist who desires to live in Colorado. This spacial and eco friendly home provides enough space for guest, ski gear, artist tools and plenty of family! This home would ideally be up on a mountain hidden within trees; harmonizing it's eco friendly functionality with nature itself. The cabin's exterior includes logs in order to provide a cabin feel to the home. Yet it's recycled materials and many windows provide a modern feel. The interior color pallete includes earthy colors in order to harmonize the modern home with the theme of nature inside and out. The rooms would include colors such as warm creamy browns, soft yellows and deep hues of green. This home will provide an enviromentally freidnly relaxing enviroment that any artist would be able to live in and create artwork for a lifetime! 

Final Design made on Sketch up!

I'm programmed challenged so this was an accomplishment!

* Art STAR + PBR *

Art Star and PBR is a lil life drawing session! Was held at Bluebird Art Studio. And they had figure drawing and beer. Too bad it wasn't wine. And too bad I am underage! Anyways, still really cool! and really chill! First time drawing nude figures, so it was a challenege to capture entire figure so fast and to give her the same character in the drawing as she had sitting...

since I ran out of time for the head, I thought it looked better cropped out!

just a different tone of paper to enhance the charcoal

This is the full image of the first drawing.

45 minute pose. I ran out of time on her head, I think it would have completed the drawing if I would have taken my time on that...

her darn head, always run out of time...always do it last.

this was a 5 minute pose. She was posing with the beer in her hands!

but I ran out of time...kind of like the implied form though. and cut her head off cause it looked realllly bad!

I don't understand...why I can do upclose portraits extremely detailed...but in gesture drawing for still life nudes? She always looks like a cartoon! :/

Semester DEUX PoRtFoLio

"Paradise"

This was a collage assignment. (For drawing- all of these were for drawing 2).

We had to experiment with the puch and pull affect.

I took pictures that I had taken while in New York and transfered them with Matte Medium- then I projected the image of the statue of liberty, and spray painted the wording and drew the subway map (painted actually). The words are lyrics to Coldplay's song "paradise".

I wanted to paint a little girl looking up at the satue of liberty...but I didn't think it would fit? And I liked the mystery of who the girl is and what it meant in relation to the New York theme..;)

The light has to catch the words right- so it was hard ot photograph:(

Still Life

Charcoal.

goal was to focus on the architectual structures so I wanted to enhance the crate...

Still Life

My attempt to be more abstract and less realistic...

kind of a fail? I like realisim too much!

Monochromatic Wash

This was done with acyrilic. Never have used acrylic before except when working with transfer images! Can tell I love my oil paints:)

Kind looks like Miley Cryus right?

"Wash with added medium of choice"

I did the base still life with acyrilic gouche, and then took pastels to add detail.

Close up.

I thought it looked better than the actual piece...

* Philosphical Moment *

Soo..
I was in the library today getting books for an architecture project we are doing in design. and I'm sitting there and I find this book about artwork with New York as it's content :) Heck yah! I get this huge smile and grab it and sit down in the asile and just flip through it....Not only am I obsessed with New York, but I am currently working on a mixed media collage piece about New York so it inspired me and made me all estatic cause it's my favorite place in the world ahaaa. Anyways-
Walking back to class thinking about all the books I found I had this philosophical- like life goal idea haha..

If I could make art, all my life and I'd be happy 24/7 and thatd be awesome. Yeah? Yah.
But if one of these pieces of art I make in my lifetime makes it into an art show or makes it into a book and someone stumbles upon it and it inspires them...or makes them feel something?
Then I will be satisfied with my art :)

La photographie dans Old Town: WiChiTa

yep. pretty much what the title says is what these are! These are my most recent photos, taken last week on a little date with my boyfriend!
Starting at the Keeper of the Plains...

i know this isn't a very awesome picture compositional wise...but the lights on the water were so pretty!

i just thought this looked really eerie