Art can be seen as a testimony of one’s true nature or a way to express oneself; for Eli Corder, however, art is a visualization of a legacy, as if someone were to take a picture of valuable memories and display it on a canvas. Corder views his artistic sensibilities like an instinct or even a sixth sense.
“I don’t even remember when I first started to like art,” Corder said.“I just tried it out one day and loved it since.”
The earliest piece of art Corder recalls creating is one of himself as a superhero in elementary school, depicting himself on a high pedestal early on. Throughout his early years, he began dabbling in acrylic paint. He also fell in love with a natural and realistic style of art which thrives on skill, precision, and accuracy to embody the beauty of real life.
An example of his love for realism is his use of animals and nature in his pieces. A favorite painting depicts a realistic elephant holding its baby with its trunk. The painting shows glimpses of mastery with blending and tone, as the painting is monochrome with black and white being the center colors of the piece, with grey undertones and silver highlights.
He comes by artistic talent honestly. His mother could construct beautiful paintings, his father could sketch realistic drawings, and his siblings had artistic backgrounds, with his older sister taking AP Art. However, Corder will be the first to pursue art as a career by majoring in Art at ETSU.
Along with his family, he credits Donnie Quales with influencing his growth as an artist. Corder recalls being in almost every single 2D-based art class the school has to offer, having Quales by his side since freshman year.
“I like how fast he can do his drawings,” said Corder. “It shows his experience and I hope I’ll be able to [draw fast] too.”
The subjects of his pieces derive from his own life. Whether it’s a painting for his sister’s wedding or a picture of his late childhood pet, he pinpoints what is special to him and paints it with such skill and precision that a simple glance would invoke nostalgia.
“I enjoy painting things that are special to me and the progress is always worth it in the end, even if it takes forever,” said Corder.
Corder has considered himself to be a reserved individual, but has stepped out of his comfort zone into leadership as an Art Club officer. He became more confident in his style, and was even named “Best Dressed” in the senior class. He takes fashion seriously by wearing vibrant outfits every day and even designing his clothes with details like graffiti.
“If there was one thing I could tell myself before I started high school,” Corder said, it’s “don’t be afraid to be you.”
