TLC - Work of Art, The Next Great Artist

[ArtisticRhythms]

I have been wondering if any of you watch this show on TLC...I think it is only in it's second season airing now. I'd be curious about opinions you may have concerning the artists themselves, their work, and the fact that this show can be used as a vehicle to advancement. Just when I think there couldn't be another 'reality' show idea, there is one!!

For myself, I enjoy it. I do question being time pressured, though, to create when I think a lot of creative types like to have time enough for inspiration to fully develop.

[Pub Wench]

I haven't seen it but will definitely check it out.  As far as needing time to be inspired, I did have a friend (non-artist) say to me  that her daughter (an artist) said   'all artists must have time to be inspired and she just never knew when that would happen.'   B.S.  Not if you want to make a living.   I sure never found the luxury of telling my employer, "I'm just not inspired today.'   Even now with our themes- I sometimes have to make myself get into something and that's okay.  You don't sit and wait for the mood to hit you. Most inspiration comes from 'doing' anyway.   It's a discipline we all learn as artists.

[ArtisticRhythms]

* not TLC, it's on BRAVO!! I get them mixed up as they both have similar 'reality' shows on.

Ha! I suppose this is true for most things in life...sitting around WAITING for it to happen to you is not usually the best course to take. I agree, I have found inspiration most often occurs within the process of doing or at least that's where it is fully developed and kind of grows on itself giving you new ideas as you go. And also it can be the most useful thing to help with a block, just start doing something, anything, I think.

On this show, I definitely suspect they chose some artists based on their 'stereotypical' artist personality...'tortured' and whatnot (although the one I'm thinking of already left!). The last challenge they did was to be inspired by Andy Warhol. I have to admit to not completely 'getting' a number of his works!!

[Gimnick]

Just to pick at a pet peeve... Warhol had talent, I'll give him that. But he championed capitalism - not creativity.

[Pub Wench]

I’ll definitely check out the show Sarah.  It’s not an easy to copy another artist‘s style, especially a famous artist’s work.  When I was in television my clients constantly brought me art books saying they wanted their jobs to be done in the style of Mondrian, Warhol or whom  ever.  AND I actually had to have my own work approved by the Norman Rockwell Estate and (on another job) the Patrick Nagel Estate in order to copy their styles for shows. (Isn't that bizarre? Their families trademarked their styles. ) I was approved on both and TOTALLY flattered.

And I agree on Warhol, Lelan.  He sold out.

[ArtisticRhythms]

Wow,...I think it must be a wonderful and unique way to see your work on tv. I can imagine you had a wide range of requests? Too, I have so often appreciated the artistry within the editing of a show. Moving works of art.

I think it would be hard to police style trademark violators...!

[Pub Wench]

I think the goal with copyrights is to detour people from exactly copying/profiting from an artist’s established styles that made them famous. With the Rockwell piece -the production company was taking it a step further.  They were doing a special anniversary show for the original Candid Camera show with Alan Funt. (30-40 year anniversary?) They drew the correlation between Rockwell’s work and Candid Camera -both which, which celebrated the common man.   My job was to take frames from the show footage, freeze it and then create a painting that looked like a ‘Rockwell Painting’-vignettes and all. (My work was done in oil on board for this and then shot for film)

The Nagel thing was the same but much tackier and sexier.  lol  It was for the Playboy Channel.

Quick Story: I clearly remembered watching Candid Camera with my parent when I was real tiny girl. (60’s era of blk&wht)  I was excited because Alan Funt actually came in for the initial production meeting. I went into professional demonstration mode- ‘this is how and what I would do on my big computer.’ (Trying to impress him, you know?)  Mr. Funt came up to the front and took a chair right beside me. He spun my chair around and grabbed hold of my hands. In his OH SO JEWISH WAY said, “Vikki. Stop playing with your magic box. Talk to Alan!”  I was suddenly 5 years old and speechless.

[ArtisticRhythms]

That's funny, I can imagine it!! I love when you share your tv work with us  Do you have images of them you could show us?

[Rustybucket]

I started watching this show late in the season, so I'm just now chiming in.  I'm just not feeling this show.  ( I watched all of last season)

I'm okay with the challenges and time crunch.  I don't enjoy the crying, give me a break...make the art!!!!  Just do what you do!!!  So what if you get kicked off...be somebody.     Life goes on after you get home,  there's only one winner so at least show the rest of the world what you've got.)

I think (just an opinion here ) most of the contestants fall into the same trap of many artists.  They are trying to please the judges (or second guess what will sell).  It waters down the real art that some have inside of themselves.  Real people respond to real emotion that occurs while the artist is creating the artwork.  Even if it doesn't get purchased, it is honest and people respond to it. 

Anyway,  I don't care who wins on that show.  I'm not tuning in again.  The judges leave me irritated too.

I'd rather see the work in The Challenge and the work of the visitors here anyday of the year.



 

[ArtisticRhythms]

"I don't enjoy the crying, give me a break...make the art!!!!"  HA! Rusty, you made me laugh with that! 

Well, I definitely see where you're coming from. You probably wouldn't have appreciated this one girl who left early on whose art all had to do with depicting people's guts. It was, in my opinion...not what I would consider art, really.

It's funny when you hear in a lot of those cooking competition shows..."there's no crying in the kitchen"...or "there's no crying in baking"...or one of Chef Ramsey's that "this tastes like Ghandi's flip flop!"...

[Rustybucket]

I didn't get to see the "GUTS" girl but if that's what she does, then good for her for doing it. 

I like Project Runway and Top Chef.  I can see their skill and creativity.  It might be that the finished product is measurable to a minimum standard and a higher standard.  The art is harder, being subjective and all. 

I don't know,  I might cry too...when I'd get kicked off. But no crying during the rest of the time,  even if they're eating me alive during the critique. 

However, Chef Ramsey would not only make me cry but probably make me pee my pants too  , he's rough.

[Yolanda]

I totally agree with Rusty. The show disappoints me with how it seems like the artists are creating based on what they think the judges want to see. The artists don't / can't seem to stick to their style. If I don't normally create art from recycled material, then I'm not going to be inclined to complete a challenge using those materials. Out of the creative reality shows, project runway is my favorite.

[Rustybucket]

Yolanda,

I wonder what criteria they use to select the artists....  I wonder if whining is a requirement 

The Artist Challenge IS a virtual reality show (is that an oxymoron ).  We have challenges to themes in a time limit. 

[ArtisticRhythms]

Chef Ramsey is so harsh on Hell's Kitchen (and I don't think I could take it!) and before I saw him in other things, I thought, whoa...what the....? I didn't get at first how much that is part of the show. And I am a bit surprised that they've been able to have so many seasons. He does make us laugh, though, my kids and I just wait for his trademark insults, and often beat him to it..."you donkey!"

But, Project Runway and Top Chef (in all it's forms) I definitely love, too. Did anyone see the Accessory Project one? Started but just didn't capture my interest.

[Yolanda]

Rusty,
Drama from the participants is definitely sought after. But I guess that's TV for you.



Project Accessory is pretty good I think. But I didn't look forward to it every week as I did with Project Runway.

[Rustybucket]

Yolonda  what do you think makes Project Runway the best?   

I missed the last free weeks of Project Accessory,  I keep forgetting that it is on. 

Have you been working on any projects of your own, recently?  I was looking through your site...I don't think that I have ever seen your bowl before or James' work.  It is all really beautiful and you have a lovely site. 

[ArtisticRhythms]

I totally agree with Rusty. The show disappoints me with how it seems like the artists are creating based on what they think the judges want to see. The artists don't / can't seem to stick to their style. If I don't normally create art from recycled material, then I'm not going to be inclined to complete a challenge using those materials. Out of the creative reality shows, project runway is my favorite.

Hi Yolanda, I agree and was thinking the same thing...and too, for quite a few of them, the pieces seemed to give off that 'thrown together in the nick of time because I had to' feel. If the artist isn't in love with their work, doesn't it affect the way others see it? But, Rusty made a good point, with the challenges here, I don't always connect right away or at times at all with the subject, but creating in spite of that is where part of the challenge lies. And to make a living with art, most can't wait around for inspiration to strike.

So, then does the question become, are the reasons and motives for creating art qualify it to be any more or less legitimate as 'ART'? One answer that comes to mind is, well, if it ends up being a piece of crap, then what does it matter, anyway?! Of course, you can't pigeon hole taste, and so there's always someone out there who thinks your latest crappy work is a masterpiece. That is a wonderful thing, I think! 

[Yolanda]

The judges that are selected for a show set the tone for how the show will progress. Project Runway has one runway model, a well known fashion designer and a magazine fashion director and they worked well each other. They seem to judge as objective as possible (even though I didn't agree all the time. But that is totally fine.) And they seem to want the best out of each designer by giving them suggestions on what would work well in their designs.

The judges on the Work of Art show seemed to criticize more than offer suggestions. Art within itself is so subjective. It may be difficult to choose judges whose opinion isn't so personal. It seemed to me like the artists for the show were selected based on shock value.

ArtisticRhythms - I agree. What one person thinks is terrible may be beautiful to someone else.

Take care everyone until the next post! 

[Yolanda]

Rusty, thanks for the comments about the website. I must admit my husband and I have not updated our website as much as it should be. But that will change in 2012, Lord willing.
The economy may be bouncing back and we need to also. I have some pieces that will be added soon. Talk to you later.

[Gimnick]

Off topic comment for Yolanda: I would be remiss in my crusade against inactivity if I did not acknowledge those who are at whatever level of their involvement. Thank you very much for your participation and input.