HUMBOLDT — “You hope to think art is more than just a replication of something,” Elizabeth Corbett said.
It has always been the simplest things that have prompted Corbett to paint, whether it be the fading light in an alleyway, long shadows in the morning or cows grazing in a field.
Corbett, who lives in Humboldt with her stepfather, Thomas Roach, said when she was caring for her mother just before she died she oftentimes would be very upset on the drive back from Moran.
“I remember there was something incredibly calming about the cows in the field,” she said. “I thought about that a lot.”
Now she dedicates her time to painting the things that make an impression on her, but she hasn’t always had the luxury of being a full-time artist.
Corbett grew up in rural Missouri with her mother and stepfather, before attending the University of Kansas to major in art. She studied for her master’s degree in art from Wichita State University as well. Her art then took a backseat to a career as a flight attendant for American Airlines, where she worked for 17 years. After retiring from the airline, she worked for a short time as a gallery attendant in the Wichita Art Museum.
Her mother wanted to live in a rural area, so she and Corbett’s stepfather moved to Colony before settling down in Humboldt. Before her mother passed away, Corbett promised to look after her stepfather.
That is when Corbett’s path led her to Humboldt, where she could dedicate all of her time to her passion.
“I’m appreciative that I can do that,” she said. “I haven’t had that since grade school.”
The fruits of her labor had not fallen short either.
Corbett has garnered several awards for her work in art shows on a regional and national level. Most recently, her painting “Adoration,” won the Walter Bebout Memorial Award (best pastel) in the 2013 Art Show at the Dog Show Awards. The contest showcased artists from across the nation. She also has best-of-show awards from Fort Scott and Chanute, and second and third-place awards from Topeka shows.
Getting her work out in shows and galleries has been a full-time job for her as well.
“It’s a struggle and that is part of the journey,” Corbett said. “I drive a lot, I have a lot of miles on my little Ford Fiesta.”
Living in a rural area has given her the opportunity to work free of distractions, but has its challenges as well.
“You feel a little isolated (as an artist), you can’t even buy a tube of paint in this town,” she said.
But, in the end, her current life has opened many doors to her as an artist. It is the everyday moment that can give Corbett the inspiration she needs to make a unique piece of art.
“I can remember spending hours drawing my dolls as a kid,” she said. “The first thing I was attracted to was color.”
She still wants to evoke the simplest emotion that a daily moment can provide.
“You want to convey how you felt about a scene,” Corbett said. “It makes you feel empowered with your thinking.”
Corbett will be showing her art in Humboldt’s Works of Art studio gallery in May, and the Pioneer Bluffs Show in the Flint Hills coming up in July.
Artist find depth in simple moments
