Work of Art

Episode 9: Exile on Main Street (Challenge)

2011-12-15T14:31:00.000-08:00

From Bravo: "China and Simon take the remaining artists out of their comfort zone, to a quaint town in the Hudson Valley. The artists wander the streets, meet the locals and seek inspiration from a slower-paced lifestyle. They are instructed to create an undated version of Americana using only materials sourced from the town."
-To put it plainly: The artists had to pick out a stranger from a small town and do a unique portrait of the person based on what the artist learned about their subject on the spot.

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site here]

Our Challenge: Pick a person, any person. Do their portrait. Show us your work and tell us about it!
Submissions (1-2 images of your work and a brief description) due to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com by Monday! Have fun with this one, guys!

Episode 8: Sell Out

2011-12-14T11:31:00.000-08:00

From Bravo: "Simon takes the artists on a field trip through the streets of New York City. After turning a corner, a row of empty tables and easels is revealed –- one for each artist. In the ultimate battle of commerce vs. "high art," the artists will work in teams to create a minimum of one piece of art that they must sell to the public, but that is also worthy of presenting in a gallery show the following day. The winner of the challenge will receive a cash prize in addition to keeping the money they earned selling their work." Check out all the deets here.

So...

Here's the thing for last week (Episode 8): I really couldn't think of a way to adapt this challenge for us home participators. Also, participation overall has fizzled. One person submitted to the car challenge and offered to not be showcased here if no one else submitted. I've also been dealing with some personal/health whatnots of my own and I'm less than enthusiastic about this season. I think the timing is just way off for me (and everyone, it seems). I'm certainly not quitting on you guys and I'll post a challenge for tonight's episode (promise). And if you guys are still in and want to create something, then I'll absolutely post it here. If not? I'm in no position to judge you.

Cheers,

~Lindsey

Episode 7: La Dolce Arte (Challenge)

2011-12-01T06:44:00.001-08:00

From Bravo: "The artists must utilize one automobile component from a Fiat 500 and transform it into a piece of art. From utilizing the engine block, being inspired by the facade, or even using the leather seating as a canvas, the contestants have total artistic freedom."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site here]

Our Challenge: Clearly, we all don't have access to Fiat 500 car parts. Or any car parts for that matter. So we're going to have to adapt this a little: Make a sculptural piece inspired by a car or any part of a car. That's it! Get creative with this one! And have fun!

Remember, submissions (1 -2 images and a small blurb about your work) are due Monday to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

Episode 6: Street Dealers (Works)

2011-11-30T13:01:00.001-08:00

You guys, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get this posted. I've had the plague for about a month. And with exception of the last few days, I spent the previous week-and-a-half doped up on Children's Benadryl and in bed. I nearly missed Thanksgiving. Anyway... on to the artwork!

Artist: Becky Cochrane

"This is a photo I took at the Houston Arboretum in April 2008. During times of stress or frustration, I seek out places like this one. When my mind races with all the things I wish I could change, I come back to this mantra, so I put it on the wall--but only in the photo. I'm not subversive enough to ever tag someone else's property. If I did, though, I'd sign it with a ram symbol because I embrace my Aries nature."


"Welcome Home"

Artist: Kathryn Read
"The Bible study for this week is to focus on the purposes of our lives. I believe one of the main purposes of my life is raising my kids. Since the artists on "Work of Art" were paired up to work on a large public piece of "street art", I decided to go literal. I paired up with my neighbor girls who helped me make a chalk art drawing to welcome home my son from college."

Artist: Brad Dumm

"I went to the Palm Springs Gay Pride Parade during the first weekend in Nov. and had a great time. This drag queen was so funny! I took lots of pictures of her. For this challenge I took one of those funny pictures and photoshopped it onto a gate door in my back yard. I like the way it came out..."

Untitled for now

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky

"Okay, so this is just the raw sketch for the street art piece I'm doing. I haven't finished because I've been sick for what seems like forever. I barely had the will to shower, let alone paint. So imagine this image on a painted "brick wall" and colored in... just for now until it's finished and then I'll post the final product. Thanks for understanding."

Episode 6: Street Dealers (Challenge)

2011-11-17T08:30:00.001-08:00

From Bravo: "The remaining artists are challenged to leave their mark on New York with a work that embodies the subversion of street art."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site here]

Our challenge: Obviously I don't expect you all to go out in the dark of night and tag a 40ft wall. SO: create a work of art that embodies the subversion of street art. Use a giant canvas, use plywood, use a piece of paper (the images will all be the same size on the website). Just make sure it screams "Street art!"

As always, submissions (one or two images and a blurb about your work) are due to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com by 11:00AM Monday. Personally, I'm so stoked about this one I could just burst... or something...

Have fun, you guys! I can't wait to see everyone's works!

Episode 5: Ripped from the Headlines (Works)

2011-11-15T07:24:00.001-08:00

Title: The Polarizing Nature of Celebrity Outing
Mixed media on 8x10-inch stretched canvas

Artist: Becky Cochrane
" I drew words from newspaper articles and ads to illustrate contentious issues around the public's near-obsessive speculation about celebrities' sexual orientation. These words surround closet doors which, when opened, reveal an article about yet another couple thrust into the limelight and the "Are they? Aren't they?" publicity that surrounds them."

"Contentment"

Artist: Kathryn Read
" My Bible verse for this week was from Hebrews 13:5, speaking of contentment. The headlines of late have been about "The Occupiers" protest movement. I wanted to point out that those on both sides of the issue seem to me to be in the wrong...we should be content with whatever our position in life, not being selfish in what we've been given, and not begrudging others what they have."

*More works to come!*

Episode 5: Ripped from the Headlines (Challenge)

2011-11-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

From Bravo: "The artists must rummage through bins of newspapers to find a headline that strikes a cord with them and are then challenged to create a piece of art that illustrates the story they selected."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site here]

Our Challenge: Find a headline from any newspaper that strikes a cord with you and create a piece of art illustrating the story you select. Additionally you need to find a way to incorporate some of the newspaper itself into the work.

Remember, submissions (one or two images of your final piece and a small blurb about your work) are due Monday by 11:00am to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

Episode 4: Back to School (Works)

2011-11-07T11:29:00.000-08:00


Child's piece serving as inspiration: "Flowers" by Jared Kim, found here.

"Porcelain"
Graphite, pen, ink, acrylic, & water color on 140lb water color paper.

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
"The moment I saw Jared's piece I knew I wanted to use it. I instantly fell in love with his color palette and his playful, less traditional depiction of a still life. I'm not typically one to enjoy still life paintings, but this one I love. Instead of a literal translation, I went with a porcelain face instead of a porcelain vase (with my own spin on it) and a more abstract use of florals. Additionally, I really wanted to stick with (and honor) Jared's color palette."


Child's piece serving as inspiration: "For Mommy" by Kathryn's daughter, Brooke Read

"Love"

Artist: Kathryn Read
"Even though I do art projects with elementary school kids, I chose to do something a little more personal and use a piece of artwork that my daughter Brooke had given me many years ago for Mother's Day. The piece is quite abstract and reminds me of blowing wind, flowing water, and flowing lava. I tried to think of those things as I was painting with the same color pallet she had used. The heart was a nod to the love shared between child and parent, with the thought in mind of the verse for this week: --And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.--Colossians 3:14."

Child's piece serving as inspiration: A collaborative piece by two 1st grade classes (tackling a concentric circle mosaic inspired by Russian abstract painter Wassily Kandinsky) found over at Studio-Kids: A Place for Kids and Art.

"The Kids Are All Right"
Acrylics and bottle caps on twelve 2x2-in canvases mounted on one 8x10-in
canvas

Artist: Becky Cochrane
"This is the newest addition to my Bottle Caps and Friends pop art series. I think that we're born innately creative. Children's creativity is encouraged and rewarded, often until they reach a certain age, when they're directed to more 'practical' pursuits. I think if creativity continued to be nurtured into adulthood, we'd be more fulfilled as individuals and as societies."

Child's piece serving as inspiration: Artwork from an Easter Seals 2012 calendar. You can purchase the calendar HERE. Proceeds will help Easter Seals provide support to children and adults living with autism and other disabilities and the families who love them.

Artist: Brad Dumm
"I found this art, done by a child of a sun with sunglasses and painted hands as the sun rays. It was used for an Easter Seals 2012 Calendar. I took the concept and used my Photoshop skills to create my own version of the Easter Seals art."

Episode 4: Back to School (Challenge)

2011-11-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "In the spirit of youthful imagination, the artists are challenged to create a piece of art inspired by the original artwork of the child they are paired with."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site here]

Our Challenge: Find an original piece of artwork created by a child. If you have kids in your life, get something from them, or you can Google image search "children's artwork" for a plethora of images. And Rhonda came up with an excellent idea of using Methodist Hospital greeting cards, all created by child patients. Make sure that whatever children's artwork you choose, you're able to site your source and give credit to the kid's work. I will not post your piece if you cannot credit the child's piece.

Once you have your child's artwork to serve as inspiration, create a work of art that is inspired by and compliments your child's masterpiece. Submit a photo of the child's artwork as well as one or two images of your final piece (and a small blurb about it) to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com by 11:00am Monday.

I'm really excited about this one and I hope all of you are, too! Have fun!

Sidenote:

2011-11-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

I know last week was a rough one for a lot of us, and I hope everyone gets past their sicknesses and stresses much sooner than later. I just want to say that if any of you do decide that you'd like to make a POP art piece or if anyone new would like to come in and rock out any of the previous challenges: Go for it! Feel free to submit any of the previous weeks' works to me any time. I'll be sure to update the site with the new material. I don't want anyone to feel discouraged from submitting works after the fact. That being said, have fun watching the show tonight and I can't wait for this week's challenge!

XO,
~Lindsey

Episode 3: Make it Pop (Works)

2011-11-01T11:49:00.000-07:00


"The Created vs. The Creator"

Artist: Kathryn Read
"This week I combined the styles of Pop Art artists Andy Warhol, Jim Dine, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana, and Wayne Thiebaud. The scripture passage focus in my Bible Study group for this week was Psalm 139. With this week's Work of Art challenge, I tried to make the statement that "Pop Culture" places the focus of life on the people and things that are CREATED... entertainment, celebs, food, money, even nature and our own bodies, instead of focusing on the CREATOR...GOD."

"The Three R Movement"

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
"One of the biggest movements going on in popular culture today is "going green." More and more people are getting passionate about reducing/reusing/recycling. People are being encouraged every day to find innovative ways to reuse materials instead of creating more waste. And in the process of doing so, many of these people are finding that they have a real passion for it. This illustration is my commentary on that growing passion for preserving our planet."


"Before and After" Mixed media on 8x10-inch stretched canvas

Artist: Becky Cochrane
"There are events or moments in our lives which we recognize as "before and after" points. As a girl, I really did want to teach the world to sing and live in perfect harmony, and Coke gave my generation one of our first points of visibility in the advertising world with that song.

As part of my Bottle Caps pop art series, I show that most American icon, the Coca Cola logo, as a cluster of balloons floating away against the sky. What replaces them in my life is a different visual: white balloons released at AIDS memorial services and funerals. These five white balloons are goodbyes to my friends Steve R, Jeff C, John M, Tim R, and Pete M."

Episode 3: Make it Pop (Challenge)

2011-10-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "Andy Warhol summed up a generation of consumerism and launched the POP art movement with a painting of a Campbell's soup can. For this challenge, the contestants must create a piece of POP art that captures the popular culture of their time as effectively as Warhol did."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site here]

Our Challenge: Same challenge! Take inspiration from Warhol's great works but create your own unique, current, relevant POP art masterpiece.

Submissions (one or two photos of and a short blurb about your work) due to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com by 11:00am Monday. Have fun and be bold! Be amazing!

Episode 2: Art Movement (Works)

2011-10-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

So apparently Blogger hates .gif files and keeps effing mine up. Click on the image above to see the moving file as intended.

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
"If I'm to take inspiration from Parkour and the bustling of New York City, I think of a swirling mass of multiple movements, not particularly any singular motion. Whenever I see anything that creates the "oil and water" effect I think of dance. The fluidity of the constantly changing and evolving movement that dance provides. I'm completely mesmerized by it. To me it's the perfect example of a contained chaos, which, is exactly what the movement of Parkour simulates. So I shot some time lapse photos of food coloring being added to swirling water and pieced them together. Additionally, I wanted my background to give a slight nod to a brick wall: showcasing the relationship between the urban inspiration for the art."

Artist: Marika Christian

"Dash is a dog that is always in motion. You're thinking, "DUH, he's a Jack Russell..." But his "motion" is much more then that. He loves to play catch with his Baa Baa, he is always ready to shake his booty with a little doggie dancin' - and our walks are fabulous. Losing weight is hard for me, I have food issues, but lately it's been easier because of this guy -- we're both a little dedicated and since I've started longer walks, and taking them in different locations I've lost 13 pounds. So his motion keeps me in motion. His motion makes me lead a better life. So thanks, Little Man ! "

Artist: Becky Cochrane

"Title: Movement: Finding the Balance

Explanation: I superimposed words over some of my older paintings. Usingthe shifting words and colors and the seesawing of the toy, I wanted toshow how we constantly try to strike a balance with the competingemotions, stimuli, external forces, and experiences that keep our lives influx.The song used in the video is Randy Newman's "He Gives Us All His Love.""

Artist: Kathryn Read

"Of course, I decided my inspiration for this week would have to be my daughter twirling baton. After taking some action shots of her at practice, the verse that popped out at me at Bible study that night was Philippians 4:9, which speaks of actually practicing the positive words I used in last week's project. I played with 4 of the pictures I took of Brooke and the baton in motion to come up with a poster. You can catch a video of her twirling at the International Cup this past August on my blog."

Episode 2: Art Movement (Challenge)

2011-10-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "For their second challenge, the artists must use Parkour, a discipline where participants overcome obstacles using only their bodies to move from point A to point B in the most creative and inventive way possible, as their inspiration."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site Here]

Our Challenge: Same challenge! And let's PLEASE do better than the artists on the show. They completely missed the mark on this one. Even Simon de Pury was all, "WTF?!"
Get inspired by Parkour type movement and make something explosive! It's all about the movement.

Remember, submissions (1 or 2 photos or a video (link to your video hosted elsewhere like Vimeo or Youtube)) with a small blurb about your final piece are due by 11:00am Monday to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

Episode 1: Kitsch Me If You Can (Works)

2011-10-18T10:01:00.000-07:00


Original "Kitsch" Piece: Jousting

Final Piece: Knights Carousel

Artist: Kathryn Read

"I decided to only give myself a few minutes to decide from any artwork I could find at only one trip to the Salvation Army. The picture I chose reminded me of a carousel, and of course jousting knights. That night at Bible Study, it occurred to me that the Knights of the Round Table probably took their motto of how a knight should live from that's nights Bible Verse: Philippians 4:8--- ...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. I decided to make a carousel of 8 knights; one for each word to live by. A (poor quality) video of the carousel spinning can be found at my blog."


Finel Piece: "Variations Click HERE to listen to composition

Artist/Composer: Josh Newton

"In classical music the Theme and Variations form has always been around. And it is perfect for this challenge - take a melody everyone knows (opera aria, chorale tunes, religious chants, etc) and vary it a bunch of times. After watching the episode, and seeing some of the choices, I settled on THE PERFECT tune. I don't want to give it away, but here it is with five variations, and a reprise (there is a short introduction - I am sure when the tune comes in you will recognize it). I am not sure if the minor variation, or the really weird variation is my favorite."

Original "Kitsch" Piece

Final Piece: "It's the Child Who Suffers"
Materials: paper, glue, ink on 16x20-inch stretched canvas

Artist: Becky Cochrane

"As little as I can tolerate it when people say "Think of the children!" as a knee-jerk reaction to things they don't like or agree with, lately, "thinking of the children" is something I can't avoid. I can't visit an online news site or watch a news show on TV without hearing a lurid story of children abused, abandoned, or killed.
I took what I assume is meant to be a playful illustration for a nursery and altered it with real headlines or excerpts from news articles and essays relating to child violence. Sadly, such accounts weren't at all difficult to find."

**More works to come**

Episode 1: Kitsch Me If You Can (Challenge)

2011-10-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "For their first challenge, the artists must use pieces of "bad" art, such as a painting of dogs playing checkers, a velvet cowboy, and a sculptural golden peacock as their canvas. Mentor Simon de Pury explains that in order to reach the top of the art world, they have to start at the bottom. Series judges China Chow, Jerry Saltz, and Bill Powers will be looking for the artist that distinguishes themselves from the group by turning their abomination into a masterpiece."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site Here]

Our Challenge: Use a piece of "bad" art, such as a painting of dogs playing checkers, a velvet cowboy, or a sculptural golden peacock as your canvas (just examples from the show, but really, go find ANY piece of "bad" art (may I suggest flea markets and dollar stores...)). Transform that abomination into a masterpiece. Make sure you take "before" and "after" shots of your piece.

Submit one "before" photo and one or two "after" photos with a small blurb about your piece to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com no later than Monday, 10/17, 11:00AM. And if you haven't already done so, please submit a link to where you'd like to be credited for your work.

Have some fun, guys! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Introductory Refresher for Season II:

2011-10-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the deal. Bravo is in its second season of "Work of Art," searching for the next great American artist. It airs on Wednesday nights. Set your DVRs!

What this blog is all about is watching the show, and then taking on the challenges posed to the artists on the show each week. Any artist is welcome to participate. This is how it's all going to go down:

1.) Watch "Work of Art" on Bravo every Wednesday night.

2.) After the show (either really late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning) read this blog for the adapted challenge. *Sometimes the challenges posed on the show are not directly transferable to us viewers at home. We'll be doing the same challenges as the contestants on the show, but we may have to adapt a little to the fact that WE'RE not on the show.

3.) Do the challenge! This is a chance for some seriously creative homework. A chance to work outside of your comfort zone or usual medium. A chance to expand upon your work as well as your work ethic, as there is a deadline!

4.) Each week, submit 1-2 photos of your finished work as well as a short blurb describing your work to: lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com NO LATER THAN 11:00AM EVERY MONDAY!

5.) By Monday night (Tuesday morning at the latest), see everyone's work from each week's challenge RIGHT HERE!

6.) Feel free to leave comments, spark discussions, or just browse the amazing work we're all putting into the world.

This is a chance to take on an amazing challenge and really inspire your work. And all submissions will be credited to the artist.

If you're interested, shoot an email to Lindsey at: lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com with the title, "I'm Interested!" In the body of the email, leave your full name and a link to a website where you'd like to be credited. That's it! You'll receive an email confirming your interest and probably a couple of emails here and there with updates about your participation on this site.

Thanks for checking us out, and we hope to see you participating!

Final Episode: The Big Show (Nikie Brown)

2010-10-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

From the artist: "This is my Doll Series. I've had this idea in my head for a long time and am glad for the opportunity to bring it to its fruition. Thanks Linds! I've attempted to place young girls in mature looks and turning them into mannequins or "dolls" with a goth, emo or "broken" look. Throughout our life we strive to have so many material things that, more often than not, are left by the wayside like broken dolls no longer loved."

"This came about by accident, but I ended up taking a series of these to use in a triptych as an abstract look."

" I wanted to play on light and dark, good and evil while still keeping the doll effect."

Nikie Brown is a self taught commercial photographer. She has been taking photographs since the age of 10 as she followed her grandfather around with his still and movie cameras.
Although a Kodak Instamatic was her first, her love has been her Canons. In her menagerie is her Canon T-70, EOS Rebel G, EOS Rebel XTI, Canon 7D, as well as one of her grandfather's Yashica Instamatic cameras.

Always with an eye for the abstract, Nikie enjoys sharing her creative and imaginative finesse through her photographic art. You can follow Nikie's photography as well as purchase prints HERE.

Final Episode: The Big Show (Timothy Forry)

2010-09-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

From the artist: "The theme I chose for my final collection is Loss. At first, I chose this theme because one of my biggest fears is losing people that are close to me. So my first few pieces deal directly with that particular aspect of loss. However, I started thinking about all of the ways we "lose" things, ie: weight, keys, our clothes, virginity, etc... so I plan on expanding and exploring some of those aspects of Loss as well. To unify the collection, I plan on sticking to monochromatic or very limited color for each piece.

Then I had a radical departure from where I started, but that's all part of the process. As I was working on what would become "What Have We Done", which started out as a still life, I had a divinity moment and knew where I wanted to take my theme of loss and how I wanted to express it. I began to focus my thoughts on loss of resources and then let my subconscious take over. I was only able to complete the painting and most of the drawing before and I have started another painting. I plan to keep going with this theme for as long as I can ride it."

Temporarily titled Loss 1

Medium: Charcoal on watercolor paper

Size: 30" x 22" (Unframed)

Temporarily titled Loss 2

Medium: Pastel on archival paper

Size: 25.5" x 19.5" (Unframed)

What Have We Done

30"H x 24W"

Acrylic on Canvas

The Spill (a work in progress)

32"W x 26"H

Charcoal, Pastel, Watercolor & Ink on watercolor paper

Timothy Forry is a writer. He co-authored It Had to Be You, He's the One, I'm Your Man & Someone Like You--writing with the fabulous partners who make up Timothy James Beck. He also writes under the pseudonym Timothy Ridge and wrote a sexy little novella titled The Vampire Stone which appears in a collection called Midnight Thirsts. When he's not writing, he sells rare children's books, owns a design firm and creates paintings. You can keep up with Timothy HERE.

Final Episode: The Big Show (Sean Kramer)

2010-09-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

From the artist: "After going to the Bayou City Arts Festival last spring, I was inspired by Audrey Heller’s Overlooked Undertakings. I wanted to use these ideas and take pictures for use in my boyfriend’s salon studio. The series is called “Cheveux”, which translates to hair in French. I wanted to show how everyday items in the salon can be pretty playful with these miniature models."

Battle of the Weave

Climbing to the Top

Death by Blowout

Gel Beach

Hairscalator

Holy Bubbles Batman!

Incarhairted

Sacrificial Brush

Time for a Trim

Waiting for the Subway Brush

We're on a Roll Girl

Cut and Comb

Sean Kramer lives and photographs in Houston, TX. You can follow his work HERE.

Final Episode: The Big Show (Notes)

2010-09-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

As the submissions for final collections are coming in (today is the posted due date), I'm doing everything in my power to efficiently organize these collections for posting (translation: Dear God, that's a lot of images)! Because of the number of people participating (times) multiple images and descriptions per person (equals) a little heavy for one post, I've decided to share with you one collection per day. I'll post the first collection tomorrow, the second collection on Monday (I don't do the computer thing on the weekends), etc and so forth. Not only does this help keep things less daunting and overwhelming for me, but it also sets up a platform for showcasing the individual artists. I like that. You guys deserve some spotlight for sticking with this project all these weeks. If I could afford to buy you all a pony I SO WOULD. With sprinkles on top. That's how much I appreciate your dedication.

That said, I'm super stoked about these collections (you guys, they're really good so far) and cannot wait to share them with all of you. And for those of you artists following along that maybe didn't get your collection done in time? This totally buys you a few more days! I won't tell anyone you were late. ;)

Final Episode: The Big Show (Works, Take I)

2010-09-07T11:01:00.001-07:00

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"Waiting for the Subway Brush & The Climb to the Top: I originally wasn’t going to participate in the Work of Art Final Challenge, but I figured what the hell. After going to the Bayou City Arts Festival last spring, I was inspired by Audrey Heller’s Overlooked Undertakings. I wanted to use these ideas and take pictures for use in my boyfriend’s salon studio. The series is called “Cheveux”, which translates to hair in French. I wanted to show how everyday items in the salon can be pretty playful with these miniature models."

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
"To illustrate that, even stick figures have deep-seated mommy issues stemming from childhood. I'm creating a series of drawings in which my sticks are involved in benign children's games, or sports or activities and see only their mothers. I've tentatively titled my series "Oedipus Playground," because it made me giggle. Also? It would be my band's name if I had any musical talent. I don't. I blame my mother. Unless she's reading this."

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: smoness
"This is a series I've had in the think tank for some time now, so I'm grateful for the Work of Art Challenge, pressing me to bring this series into fruition. The series is called "A House is Not a Home," and it's about assessing one's priorities: discovering the things that are truly important. And finding that often times, the things that matter the most to us in the end are not the things we initially strive for. The contrasts of a life filled with people instead of things, versus the large house with the unused rooms. The interpretation of "home" as a feeling, rather than a place. Altering one's lifestyle to working toward "home" instead of "house" and the unexpected effects of implementing said altered lifestyle.

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"Untitled (So Far)
Acrylic on unbleached muslin

These are seven panels (of potentially twelve to sixteen) that are part of a project I'm working on. Each panel is 9x18 inches. Since the project won't be completed until the beginning of November, it's possible that I won't be able to show the finished work or explain the concept on the Work of Art blog when everyone else's work is finished. But I wanted to show the work in progress because it will be what consumes a lot of my creative energy over the next couple of months."

Artist: Timothy Forry
Twitter: N/A
"The theme I chose for my final collection is Loss. At first, I chose this theme because one of my biggest fears is losing people that are close to me. So my first few pieces deal directly with that particular aspect of loss. However, I started thinking about all of the ways we "lose" things, ie: weight, keys, our clothes, virginity, etc... so I plan on expanding and exploring some of those aspects of Loss as well. To unify the collection, I plan on sticking to monochromatic or very limited color for each piece.

My first piece is temporarily titled Loss 1

Medium: Charcoal on watercolor paper

Size: 30" x 22" (Unframed)

Second piece is temporarily titled Loss 2

Medium: Pastel on archival paper

Size: 25.5" x 19.5" (Unframed)"

Final Episode: The Big Show (Challenge)

2010-08-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hey, Work of Art followers! I am SO, so sorry that this post is extremely tardy. I've been swamped with travel preparations, a Pat Benatar concert, flying from Houston to Columbus, and playing softball in the World Series. I'm still in Columbus playing ball, but hey! I've found five minutes of free time and a mild Internet connection (thanks for nothing "Columbus Bar 41"), so that I could update this here website of ours. That said:

From Bravo: "The final contestants have been sent home to prepare a full solo exhibition. Climaxing in a large-scale gala opening, the finalists present their collections to the judging panel to determine “The Next Great Artist.”"

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our challenge: Since the contestants were given three months to complete their final collections, I'd like to give us one month. And since I totally suck and didn't get this posted until way late, let's start our month from this next Monday, August 23rd. We'll make the due date Thursday, September 23. Use that month to create your final collection (as many pieces as you choose, as well as the theme of your choosing). To keep us on our toes, let's create a deadline for half-way through the month. So, Monday, September 6th, submit two pieces from your final collection along with a description of your collection's theme/inspiration.

I hope you're all inspired to jump on board for this final challenge. I can't wait to get home from Columbus to begin work on my collection. More so, I can't wait to see what you guys throw down. So dive in! Get creative! And have fun!

Episode 9: Natural Talents (Works)

2010-08-09T08:01:00.001-07:00

*Click on boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"This week, I had a lot of ideas on what to do. I wanted to do something more chaotic and free-form, to internalize a natural flow to the piece. As far as source material, I thought both about incorporating actual nature elements (bird songs, rivers flowing, wind, crickets, earthquakes, sunspots, etc). In the end, I decided to use music that was representative of natural elements, a technique which has been used in music for centuries.
"Fantasia on an operatic theme" is a piece for solo flute, based on some of the music from an opera that I am writing. Here, the flute represents an ethereal bird that visits the main character in a dream, and eventually leads him both to the woman he will fall in love with, and sings outside his window when he committs suicide at the end of the opera (shh, that part is a secret)."

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"Unleaving (Acrylic, metallic, and ink on two 9x12-inch panel canvases):
I found these fallen leaves in the Ozark mountains and picked them up to bring home with me. Knowing they'd fade, I photographed them so I could remember their vivid colors later. Here, I want it to appear that they fell from my paintings.
Autumn, bittersweet but beautiful, is my favorite season. I took my title from a word coined by Gerard Manley Hopkins in one of my favorite poems, "Spring and Fall." I want this work to convey the beauty, humanity, and mortality found in his lyrical language."

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
"Miasma (Graphite, pencil, ink, garden dirt): This week, we were challenged to get inspiration from our surroundings and use materials from those surroundings to create a piece of art. The last few days, I've played in dirt a lot. Also? I'm a dirty, dirty girl. Normally, I'd end that statement with "and I should be punished," but I think my mom reads this blog, so I'm keeping my dirt clean. So anyway, I started thinking about how life sometimes becomes a whirlwind of crap that just doesn't care what it picks up and spits out. Then I realized that stick figures, being relatively lightweight, would be ripe for the pluckin' for a small dust devil. Rather than call this "In a Vacuum, No One Can Hear You Scream," I went with "Miasma," because that word totally kicks ass."

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: smoness
"Stronger (charcoal, paint, and rocks on art board): By posing an outline sketch of a body form to shoulder a pile of rocks, I want to convey that even a shell of a person is capable of withstanding great burden. That oftentimes the seemingly weakest of human beings endure worse than those more physically able. And that if you can just hold on, keep from letting go, relief will always be there not far from reach."

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A
"While in Lake Arrowhead, CA this past weekend, I struggled to come up with a worthy submittal for our final challenge in "Work of Art Follow." I thought nothing would be more appropriate than to dedicate a piece to our moderator, Lindsey, who has worked hard for all of us during this journey. Thanks, Lindsey - it was great fun!"

Episode 9: Natural Talents (Challenge)

2010-08-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "The remaining four artists head out of bustling New York City to the quiet refuge of a nature preserve. Here, they are invited to draw inspiration from their surroundings – exploring the landscape and gathering natural materials to incorporate into their piece."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our challenge: Create a work of art inspired by nature. Incorporate one or more found natural objects (leaves, rocks, twigs, dirt, etc.).

Submissions due Monday to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com. -- Personally, I'm really excited about this week's challenge. I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Episode 8: Opposites Attract (Works)

2010-08-02T06:38:00.001-07:00

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: smoness
"Up & Down: Because I have very little control over what and when I eat, and because my body only absorbs a partial percentage of the nutrients I put in it, my weight constantly yo-yos. Generally, I'm very good about keeping myself at a healthy weight. But sometimes I'll hit "scary weight" status, which (beyond causing me to freak out a bit and inhale a deep fried cheeseburger dipped in ice cream) prompts me to snap photos of myself. A means of documenting what my body goes through. From a scientific viewpoint, I'm fascinated by it. From a human viewpoint I'm upset by it. The contrast of looking up through a tree's branches against looking down at its cast shadow is like looking at the exact same image that's been distorted in two very different ways. Which is pretty much how I feel about looking at my body on a daily basis."

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"Fists and Palms
Medium: photographs
I shot tight fists versus open hands as a metaphor for opposites: stinginess and generosity. People speak of giving without expectation; I think such a quality is almost impossible for us. We clutch, we grasp, we want. We may not ask or expect to be repaid in kind, but we hope, perhaps for love, approval, friendship, gratitude, kindness, companionship, respect. Often it seems the person who protests the most passionately that he or she gives without expectation most wants or needs repayment the most. A gift becomes an attempt at emotional leverage, and trust is replaced by fear of loss."

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"Hard/Soft: I have had a very busy week here, so I will admit that I borrowed a picture from my archives for this challenge. This is a picture I took recently while I was out walking. It just amazed me how the abundance of flowers (soft) were growing through the narrow lines of the concrete (hard)."

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
"Candy Mountain: Opposites are, very often, two sides of the same coin. Unless you're talking about actual coins, because basic vocabulary tells us that George Washington is not the opposite of South Carolina. For this challenge, I chose heaven and hell. Sometimes, too much of a good thing becomes just a crushing mountain of cellulite and tooth decay, and one man's heaven is another man's hell."

*Photo redacted per artist's request*

Artist: Nikie Brown
Twitter: wishnikphoto
"Opposites Attract - Pleasure/Pain: "It's a fine line between pleasure and pain" - The Divinyls
My photo depicts the opposing forces by showing how pain can be an overwhelming sensation that boosts one's climax to pleasurable levels."

*Click on boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"...through a forest of flowers: For my theme, I chose to deal with something really personal, after a conversation between Jen (my wife) and I about her bipolar disorder. She described what it is like and compared her depression states with the times where she feels good as “darting through a forest, noticing all the flowers, instead of the dead trees and cold stones”. I tried to symbolize that initial, cold feeling, with the sudden wave of happiness, but the shadow of that depression hanging behind it."

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A
"Sports and Leisure: When you think of sports and leisure, usually you think of them in the same category, but here I see a different perspective. Sports is teamwork, action and movement. In this example, leisure is an escape from teamwork, action and movement."

Episode 8: Opposites Attract (Challenge)

2010-07-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "The artists are paired and must create works about opposing forces: Heaven and Hell, Male and Female, Order and Chaos."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our challenge: Obviously we can't be paired off, so let's (on our own) create works depicting opposing forces. Feel free to use one of the opposing forces given to the contestants on the show, or come up with your own opposing forces to illustrate.

As always, have fun! And get submissions to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com by Monday!

Episode 7: Child's Play (Works)

2010-07-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Artist: Timothy Forry
Twitter: N/A
"Sibling Rivalry:

Medium: graphite, colored pencil and crayon

When I was a kid my older sister had a Spyrograph and would make these elaborate designs and color them so beautifully, but mine would never turn out as nice as hers. In this piece I was trying to evoke the frustration I felt at not having the same skill level."

Artist: Nikie Brown
Twitter: wishnikiphoto
"Materials: Pipe Cleaners, Vintage Cameras, Pom Poms, felt on poster board.
As long as I can remember, my grandfather always had some type of still camera or movie camera with him. I loved playing with them. As I got older, my grandfather and I would have conversations over cameras. I always enjoyed these talks. My grandfather was very forward thinking and ahead of his time. He was an artist, sculptor and photographer. He loved new technology while still not leaving the old behind. In my creation, I made the vintage cameras contemporary, by stylizing them with glowing edges. This represents my grandfather's vision of the future. Although I did not inherit his talent for painting, I hope that I have some of his creativity."

*Click on boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"For this week, since I have been working with sound, I decided to do a version of a children’s song. And since for me, it is all about trying to say something with every piece, this time I tried to express my feelings about this time of the year. Since my birthday is in early July, the week after July 4^th, it kind of bisects the summer very neatly and cleanly, or at least what my perception of “summer” has always been. Once it gets to this point, particularly the end of July, I start coming to the realization that this beautiful weather, and the whole summer deal is so fleeting, and is going to be over really soon. Especially when I start thinking about school starting in a month, and the zucchini in the garden just about ready to pick (pumpkins will be soon after). I love summer, and I love fall… I just wish they didn’t have to end. I know, I know, how very tortured artist of me. The song that I chose is a song called “Come Little Leaves”, and here is the text:

Come, little leaves, Said the wind one day; Come to the meadows With me and play. Put on your dresses Of red and gold; For summer is past, And the days grow cold. Dancing and flying, The leaves went along, Til Winter called them To end their sweet song. Soon, fast asleep In their earthy beds, The snow lay a coverlet O'er their heads.

It is from a poem by George Cooper, and the music is by Thomas J. Crawford, although I adapted each slightly. I was going to get it recorded, but unfortunately Holden’s run in with a glass topped table, and the ensuing trip to the ER put a damper on that. Maybe next time!"

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"Break Through:
Everything and everyone who can encourage a person's creativity can also beat it down. Sometimes the same person or event can do both. I'm a writer, but I see similarities between my early efforts, growth, and confidence as a writer reflected in how I came to paint.

For this challenge, I took a papier-māché box and painted it in solid colors inside and out. One side is painted but left blank. On one side, I've mimicked my childhood drawings. One side recreates my adolescent doodling. One side has an account of a day at a friend's house that could have come straight out of my ninth grade diary.

In junior high, my best friend and I began to work on separate collages together. I might have been cutting other people's words and images from magazines, but I was deciding how to combine and arrange them. And I was letting someone else see and judge my work. Recalling that, I made a collage for this piece showing forces that can foster, hinder, and/or judge our creative efforts and also uses words and phrases personal to my creative experience.

My pipe cleaner girl goes through all that to push off the top of the box. The outside of the box top reflects the use of color and technique that I use now in my paintings. But the inside box top shows that those were there all along. I had to take that movement toward expressing myself and understand the power of collaboration (whether with a companion, an editor, a fellow creative person, a cowriter, a mentor, a critic); accept the necessity of putting effort and persistence into it; and be willing to let my words or paintings go out into the world, to be judged for good or ill."

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A
"When I was a kid I didn't like to rough and tumble and play sports like most boys my age. My sister and I preferred to play inside with our toys, our dog and watch the television. My mom was a teacher with a special interest in art, so she taught us to paint and draw. In this piece I wanted to show my reluctance to be close to athletes, yet wanting to be a part of that world. Art bridges these gaps for me.

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"I honestly have no idea when my artistic expression began. While growing up, I always seemed to be doodling. My notebooks were always my favorite spot for it. Of course I didn't have pencil colors with me in class, but I usually ended up doing the same thing every time alongthe margins. Usually I'd try to come up with a cool way to make my initials look like a great logo (I don't think I ever succeeded).Ragin Cajuns (for the University of Southwestern Louisiana at the time) was for where I dreamed I'd go to college. WHS is where I went to high school, and #72 was my football number. So this is where I think most of my artistic expression came from. Oddly enough I think most of it came from being bored in class! I am glad to say that I'm not sorry for that. I'm happy with the way my artistic expression has changed over the years."

Episode 7: Child's Play (Challenge)

2010-07-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "The artists find themselves in the Children’s Museum of the Arts, filled with finger paint portraits and crayon collections. Their challenge is to create a work that is symbolic of the moment their artistic expression began, using only kid-friendly materials to create an adult masterpiece."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our challenge: Hooray! This one is actually transferable! So, same challenge for us: Create a work that is symbolic of the moment your artistic expression began, using only kid-friendly materials to create an adult masterpiece.

This week is gonna be fun. I can't wait to see what everyone produces. And I will TOTALLY have something this challenge. I'm sorry I've been so swamped, you guys. Let's pick it up and everyone submit this week! Send submissions to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com by Monday!

Episode 6: Open to the Public (Works):

2010-07-19T08:26:00.001-07:00

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
"Exultation -- Pencil, colored pencils, pen & ink on sketch paper:
Nestled between the Houston Museum District and the Texas Medical Center lies Hermann Park, one of Houston's many green spaces. Hermann Park includes a golf course (because all big city parks need golf courses), the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science/IMAX Theater/Cockrell Butterfly Center, and Miller Outdoor Theater. The latter sits in front of Hippie Hill, a grassy knoll that allows free access to theater and musical performances for those of us willing to schlep blankets, wine and food up the hill from our cars. During the day, kids and adults play and roll all over the hill, under the watchful eye of this little fellow, perched atop the hill, and looking down at the theater. Or away from it. It's really hard to tell. But I digress.

The last time we went to a performance at Miller, I remember thinking, "Wow, that sculpture just ate a fish." Did I mention there was wine? Then I thought, "It's totally standing there like Yul Brynner in 'The King and I.'" Then I imagined spikey-headed subjects just gathering around him to worship him. Because, Hello? Wine. Naturally, when challenged to pick a public art installation, I thought about my king of the hill, and imagined my Rasta stick figures being attracted to him as a leader, much like the Martians' reaction to Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story." Why yes, this is how my brain normally works. No, I am not under the care of a mental health professional. Anyway, I researched the sculpture and learned this: Atropos Key refers to the Greek Goddess of Fate, Atropos, (the cutter of the thread of life). According to Greek mythology, Atropos, and her sisters Clotho (the spinner of the thread of destiny) and Lachesis (the measurer of the thread) were responsible for human destiny. Well crap. He's not a king. He's not even a guy. But she is a goddess, perfect for worshipping!"

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"I was inspired by the Williams Waterwall in Houston. It is an amazing place to go sit and relax.
My thoughts were to create a giant clock on the ground. There would be 12 stone fountains on the outside of the circle. On the top of the hour, the fountain will shoot up. At 4o'clock, it will shoot up four times. At 8 o'clock, eight times. The fleur de lis on the face of the clock represents light and life."

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"On the east wall of Houston's Wortham Center are seven 70-foot stainless steel columns, artist Mel Chin's Seven Wonders. By day, the sun illuminates them. At night, they're lit from inside. Each column uses art work designed by local children cut into 150 metal panels. The young artists were all born in the year of Houston's sesquicentennial, 1986, and their art illustrates specific themes relating to Houston's history.

My canvas, "Two of Seven," uses dark green and blue backgrounds in acrylics, a dusting of black and silver body glitter on the blue for the night sky, and torn and painted aluminum foil to represent two of the seven columns. To pay homage to the children's work, I designed rectangles of rough stencil art to represent some of the images that make me think of Houston: the Texas state silhouette; a butterfly to represent not only the city's gardens but the Cockrell Butterfly Center (and by extension, Houston's great museums); logos for the pro basketball and baseball teams; the longhorn as a symbol not only of Houston's past but the significance of the Livestock Show and Rodeo; a Live Oak in honor of all those that grace the city's neighborhoods; a Lone Star; the city's downtown skyline; and the shuttle to represent Houston's leadership in the space program."

*Click boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"This piece is based on an installation at one of the Maine capital area buildings. The Maine Arts Commission has made a concentrated effort to get more public art works there, and this is based on a stained glass installation on the Williams Pavilion. I tried to capture the sense of the light dripping through the glass, and creating these fantastic shapes and images on the floor of the building itself."

Episode 6: Open to the Public (Challenge):

2010-07-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "The remaining artists are challenged to create a large-scale, outdoor installation piece. The artists must put egos aside and collaborate effectively in order to create a public art masterpiece in just two days."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Since we can't exactly all get permits and have access to the materials needed to create a large, public installation piece, we're going to do the next best thing. Our challenge: Find a public installation piece or work of art somewhere in or around your home town or city. Create an art piece inspired by your found public installation and its space. Use the visual or performance medium of your choice! Have fun! Get inspired! Enjoy the hunt!

And as always, get those submissions in by Monday to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

Inspired:

2010-07-15T06:34:00.000-07:00

You guys! This is awesome. One of our dear Work of Art followers was inspired by last week's challenge to exercise some creative writing. I love that!
I give you a poem, by the one and only, Michelle Gardner:

Rush Hour Houston

Four lanes across creeping, crawling
Slow progress
Lights outta sync
Strategic maneuvers
Seek the open space to get ahead
Right lane?
No!
Mind the bus!

Wait, why are you braking?
Oh, I see. Because the car beside you braked…
Moron.

Green light and most cars race forward
There’s always one
Keep up!
Don’t impede our progress.
Pay attention.
Move along.

Oh dear, is traffic interfering with your phone call?
Boo hoo.
HANG UP!

Waddaya waitin’ for – an engraved invite to turn?
Red light
Open lane
Turn right
GO!

Two cars moving side by side
Finally one gives ground
Squeeze into the open slot
Empty lanes ahead…
Floor it
Fifty. Sixty-five. Seventy.
Eighty
ahhhhhhhhh

Episode 5: Art that Moves You (Works)

2010-07-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"Houston, Texas: Materials: Acrylic, glue, ink, and four 2.3-inch canvases on one 18x14-inch canvas.
Statement: No matter where I am inside my adopted city, or coming home to it, my heart lifts EVERY time I see the downtown skyline. I love the skyscrapers and the colors of Houston's parks and landscaping which are visible year-round. I'm a five-minute drive from downtown, a five minute drive from several fantastic parks, and as if that's not enough, I'm less than a ten-minute drive from the works of many of my favorite artists. I've tried to mimic some of their canvases here. I never dreamed I'd live where city streets could take me to Rothko, Picasso, Braque, Pollock, Monet, Van Gogh, Ensor, Mondrian, Newman, Cézanne, Magritte, Jasper Johns, Klein, Miró--a visual feast."

Artist: Nikie Brown
Twitter: wishnikphoto
"I live in the country and what moves me is when I come home at night and look up at the night sky to see hundreds and millions of stars. This is the night sky at my house on an extended exposure. This is one of my many attempts with the plan being to keep my shutter open all night."

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
"Escape, Mon: Charcoal, pencil, colored pencil, and ink on sketch paper. I am two things. Well, I am many things, but for the purposes of this challenge? Two. First of all, I am a city girl through and through. Seriously, if I prick my finger, I will bleed Starbucks and concrete. Also, I am a Taurus in almost every sense of the word. As such, I love the ground. I love playing in the dirt, and I love rolling down the road on my motorcycle, on my bicycle, and in my car. That's my mental floss. Though I love living in the shadow of downtown Houston, when I roll down Allen Parkway, on either four wheels or two, I hit the gas and just fly around the curves toward sweet, sweet freedom. By way of Starbucks."

*Click on boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"This composition is a serenade for strings and piano, and I tried to capture a bunch of prominent features of my home town. For one, there is this Episcopal Church on a hill overlooking the whole area that has bells that go off every hour. You can hear them everywhere when they go off, and that was the big inspiration to this piece. Second, is the Kennebec River, which runs through all of the surrounding cities, and as it passes by the house where we live, it is about 250 feet wide, and flows very strongly. It floods every spring, throwing the whole area into a mini panic. Finally, I tried to give this piece a sense of scale, since there is a lot of really picturesque moments, like the sun coming up over the river, or the view overlooking the valley from some of the surrounding hills."

Artist: Timothy Forry
Twitter: N/A
"Litchfield, CT: Acrylic on Canvas.
Litchfield, as a town, is a paradox. It is at once in love with its history and traditions, yet the thinking is very forward and cosmopolitan. To express this, I chose to do an abstraction of the iconic steeple of the 18th century church in the center of town--which is the most photographed church in New England. I think the completed piece successfully illustrates the paradox."

Artist: Jennifer Mathis
Twitter: JenXer
"My tribute to Houston street artists: Weah, Give Up, 2:12, Ack!, and Eyesore."

Artist: Micki Brown
Twitter: N/A, but she food blogs HERE
"I created a photo collage about driving. I have had two accidents in the past year, neither of them were my fault—but the experience has left me shaken. I have always been a cautious driver and now, I am a freakishly nervous driver as well.

I took a lot of close-up photographs of my car with a completely different concept in mind, but found myself gravitating to the wheels and break-lights and their crucial role in car wrecks. So this is the unexpected result—you might even call it an accident."

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A
"These are ink outline tracings from two different photographs I took of downtown Los Angeles. I used the copy machine to take the color out. I wanted to convey the feeling of urgency and energy as you drive into the middle of my city."

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"Peace of Mind: One thing I love to do is get in my car and drive. If I need to clear my head or just get out of the house, I get in my car and drive. It is one of my favorite activities to do around Houston. When I first moved to Houston, I would go get myself lost just to learn the city. Even with the numerous roadsigns and constant traffic, I can still find peace of mind driving around."

Episode 5: Art that Moves You (Challenge)

2010-07-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "An artist’s city often serves as a source of inspiration, and for their elimination challenge, the artists must create a piece of work that is reflective of their experience driving through the streets of Manhattan."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our challenge: Let's create a piece of work that is reflective of your experience(s) driving through the streets of your home city. This is a pretty broad challenge. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

And again, submissions due by Monday, 11:00AM to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

Episode 4: A Shock to the System (Works)

2010-07-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

Because I am completely incapable of inserting any type of code that would make this post go behind a link (I searched the Internet for such code and came up with bupkis. if you know how to do that stuff, by all means, tell me what's what), you guys are just gonna have to roll with the fact that it's out in the open. In your face and whatnot. Consider this a disclaimer of sorts: WARNING! Shocking material below! Not safe for work! Not safe for children or kittens! Definitely not safe for my grandparents! Are you reading this, Grandpa?! GO AWAY (just this once. please. I love you).

If you're still reading, you're not a child, nor a grandparent of mine, nor do you mind shocking material. Thank you and have a lovely day.

Okay, FINALLY, the works:

Artist: Susannah Perry
Twitter: PaintingChef
"Helpless: Pencil and colored pencil on paper
A pregnant blow-up doll with severed hands. I imagine you think I should be looking into therapy right about now. But is it shocking? Depends on your perspective. After a 6 year battle with infertility that I feel I lose a little more every day, it’s shocking to me. Cycle after cycle, month after month, people in my position measure their lives in increments of ultrasounds, injections and bloodwork results. You lose your femininity and your allure in the bedroom and might as well be just another blow-up doll on a shelf. Nothing is spontaneous. Nothing is sacred.
Your body no longer belongs to you, for all purposes, your hands have been severed. Take this pill, this shot, this test. Have sex on this day and this day but not this day. Have your partner jack off in a cup on this day but only between the hours of 7 and 9 and only if he’s been celibate for the last 48 hours. But no more than 52 hours. That’s too long.
I lost control of my body and my life and my marriage last year while trying to get pregnant. I lost my individuality. I lost my sense of adventure. I was shocked at who I had become.
And yes. My hair really is that big."

Artist: Jennifer Mathis
Twitter: JenXer
"Prescription medications. I need them, I hate them. I want to be rid of them, I can't live without them."

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"The Final Thrill of Personal Extinction"

*Click boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"The zeppelin Hindenburg went up in flames, on May 6th 1937, and the radio broadcast from Lakehurst, New Jersey is one of the most famed and compelling in all of radio. I have sampled from that broadcast, combined with a series of instruments (piano, clarinet, bass clarinet, piccolo and flute) for this piece which I just call "Lakehurst.""

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"Dealing With Diabetes:
Materials: Acrylic, ink, blood, bloody tissues, magazine collage, book excerpts, product packaging, and used lancets and glucose test strips on canvas.
Statement: Diabetes may not seem shocking in art, but it's shocking to the person who has it. Words and pictures on the canvas present the challenges of dealing with this chronic illness including fears of blindness and amputation, unfounded guilt about the illness, and the wearying necessity of being aware of the content of everything eaten every day and daily testing of blood glucose."

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: smoness
"Living with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome has created a number of food and body issues for me. This four-frame piece is to display desire, angst, anger, and emotional frustration toward food and eating on a daily basis. All while feeling bound and disfigured by the illness. The shower setting is symbolic of feeling trapped and flooded."

Artist: Nikie Brown
Twitter: wishnikphoto
"The Hypocrisy of Atheism: The story behind it is there are some atheists out there who rant and rave about things like, you can't say Merry Christmas or put God on the dollar bill, etc. Yet, during the holidays such as Easter and Christmas they want to get the gifts and hunt the eggs."

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A

Episode 4: A Shock to the System (Challenge)

2010-07-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

From Bravo, "The artists are challenged to create a piece that is shocking and memorable, and speaks to issues that are important to them personally."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our challenge: Exactly the challenge posed to the contestants on the show. Create something shocking, memorable, and reflective of issues important to you. C'mon, show us what you got!

*Submissions due by Monday, 11:00AM to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

Episode 3: Judging A Book By Its Cover (Works)

2010-06-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

*Click on the works to view larger versions*

Artist: Timothy Forry
Twitter: N/A
" Medium: Pastel and digital type."

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
"I selected H.G. Wells' classic science fiction novel, "War of the Worlds" for two reasons. First, I've read it. Second, have you ever tried to draw a stick figure whale? Not easy. They come out looking like airplanes. I chose to create a literal interpretation of the book, because of the novel's campy adaptations on radio and in film and TV, plus the stick figurey aspect of the martians' war machines. Also? It's fun drawing stick figures being hit with death rays. My submission was created on sketch paper using pencil, pen and ink, and colored pencils."

Artist: Micki Brown
Twitter: N/A, but she food blogs HERE
"I created art for the book The Scarlet Letter. I tried to portray the tension that exists in a reductive community which is held together with suspicion, gossip, and rumors. Everyone has dark corners and secrets in their private lives; finding fulfillment in a society where one is under constant attack by external forces is nearly impossible."

Artist: Susannah Perry
Twitter: PaintingChef
"The Secret Garden was one of my favorite books when I was little. I always had this image in my head of the garden gate being iron and covered in ivy, although I think that in the book it is very clearly described as tall and wooden. When I was about 13, my mother and I saw the Broadway adaptation of the book and they used a revolving stage in the production. It was the first time I'd seen a revolving stage used (I didn't see Le Mis until later that year) and I was fascinated. I wanted to incorporate the three things that I've always associated with this story, the iron gate, the ivy and the rotating stage. This is acrylic paint and ink on canvas. And I have to confess to adding the lettering in Photoshop. The humidity in terrible in Tennessee right now and I just couldn't get the canvas dry enough to do the lettering by hand. Although I do think that if you look close enough, you might be able to see some of the pencil lettering through the paint. My plan for the lettering (and I will still do this once the thirty-seven pounds of paint finally dries) was to make the letters resemble the spikes and finials of the iron gates that apparently exist only in my mind..."

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"I was happy to see this title on the list because I recently read the novel for the first time and loved it. Other covers for MOBY DICK show the tortured Ahab, the white whale, or perhaps both locked in battle. But to me, the power of the novel lies in its unfathomable depths: the ocean that conceals Moby Dick and the darkness that lies within Ahab. The perspective I used for this painting is the narrator Ishmael's as he stares down into the water and has a fleeting glimpse of what may be the elusive whale."

*Click boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
"I had a lot of problems with this week, but I finally settled on Treasure Island. I tried to capture a couple of different feelings - the openness of the sea, the prevailing sense of adventure, and then that slight feeling of dread (you can hear it at the very end in particular, in the quotes of Blow the Man Down). Hope you enjoy!"

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"Materials: Photographs, paper, pencil colors

I wanted to use one of my art strengths for this challenge, which
would be photography. Then I had to think. Since I didn't have any
pictures of children in period clothing, I decided to draw some of my
own. I figured that would give the cover a little more playful and
childlike feature."

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: Smoness
"Materials: acrylic paint and ink over a photograph"

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A
"Bright colors and a good simple graphic - easy to see and eye catching; Conveying an essential part of the story but doesn't give anything away. When looking at a table of 25 book purchase options, which one will jump out at the buyer? That was my goal."

Artist: Jennifer Mathis
Twitter: JenXer

Episode 3: Judging A Book By Its Cover (Challenge)

2010-06-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "The contestants meet the President and Publisher from one of the largest book publishers in the world, who guides them through the impressive history of the marriage of art and literature. For their elimination challenge, the artists are charged with creating innovative cover art for a classic novel."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our challenge: Create an innovative book cover for one of the Penguin classics listed below. Your choosing. And I'm purposefully not listing the literature used on the show, because I'd like for all of us to start from a fresh perspective. We've seen what does and doesn't work for the novels given to the contestants on the show. So pick out a Penguin classic and run with it!

-Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
-Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
-Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
-The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett
-Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
-Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
-Moby Dick by Herman Melville
-The Odyssey by Homer
-Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
-The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
-Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
-The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
-Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
-The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
-On the Road by Jack Kerouac
-1984 by George Orwell

Remember, submissions (an image, a short description of your work, & if you haven't done so already, a link to where your work can be credited) are due by MONDAY, 11:00AM, to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

All Official and Stuff

2010-06-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

Well would you lookie there: We have a Facebook group! Thanks to the amazing Internet skills and dedication from our own, Susannah Perry. If Susannah lived in my neighborhood I'd totally be baking her some cookies. And maybe even buying her a pony. With glitter on top. That's how much I appreciate her taking the reins on this.

So if you want to get in on some good discussions, read more about the artists, or just stalk the group through yet another Internet avenue, go! Join us! We won't bite. Well, I can't speak for Rhonda. But the rest of us are safe.

XOXO

Episode 2: The Shape of Things to Come (Works)

2010-06-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

Artist: Susannah Perry
Twitter: PaintingChef
Chasing the Dragon: "I wanted to focus on all the crap that comes between people in a relationship. I think that while technology is an undeniable convenience, it has also added a layer of complication to things that can send so many mixed messages. And eventually, if you don't get it right from the beginning, communication (or the lack of it) can become an entire third party in a relationship, usually dragging it down. So we end up with everything we WANT to say floating in the air around us while we find ourselves tethered to the technology that can become the only physical thing connecting us. Phone calls, IMs, texts, voice mail, it all comes between us and we lose the ability to sit down, cut through the shit, and have an actual conversation.

Canvas with acrylic, magazine collage, cell phone and ethernet cable."

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: Smoness
To Always Long for More: "I wanted to take an every day, often overlooked object and make it something noticeable by romanticizing it. Water bottles + electric cords = two things that shouldn't be together because the combination of water and electricity can be dangerous. But love in opposites is like that. loving what isn't right for us, creating a thrill or excitement in our lives where otherwise none exists. The pattern in the fabric is to show patterns and complacency in daily life. The red wire is meant to break through it."

by Micki

by Gabriel

Artists: Micki Brown & her six-year-old son, Gabriel Arthur
Twitter: N/A, but she food blogs HERE
"My work was inspired by the female shape of a tv remote that I pulled apart. Then I noticed that an old paper tray looked suspiciously similar to a kimono, so I used it and painted a classic landscape on it.
My son was inspired by "GRL" and created "BOY". I thought it was a clever response and perfect for his age."

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
Man's Escape from the Grind: "When I read the challenge, I thought -- as I always do -- about life, appliances and plight of man. Since I wasn't able to find an old, used crematory, I used a blender, wiring from an old vending machine, and Jell-O."

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
Caught Up in Love: "Materials - Duct tape, circuit board from phone, Christmas lights, telephone cord and wires from a change machine.
I wanted to use the cords and plug to portray a spider's web. Life
goes on every day, and sometimes certain aspects of it just get caught
up in it."

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
I Got Your Number: "Materials: Tabloid photos colored with pastels, markers, and pencils, old cell phones, old phone number buttons, wire that I coiled.
Explanation: I couldn't get the 867-5309 (Jenny) song out of my head, and I thought: Wouldn't it be great if all the Jennifers joined together in a Paparazzi Ass-kicking Network?"

*Click on boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: Marquis66
The Invisible Red String: "Based on the ancient Japanese story that two loves are connected from birth by a red string that no one can see. For this challenge, I took recorded sounds as my "Tech" - you will hear a reading of the waka "Irohauta," which you can find HERE. You can also hear Thunder sounds, which I got from HERE."

Artist: Timothy Forry
Twitter: N/A
The Future of Reading: "Materials: Old computer, unrepairable copy of Tom Sawyer and two other books, doll head, cardboard tube"

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A
"I used an old mixer as my electric device, pulled out the blades and replaced them with roses from my backyard, which I painted with some chrome paint to add to the "metalic feel" of the piece. I layed the mixer on a black quilt. Textures include the flannel of the quilt, the plastic housing of the mixer and the "chrome" rose blades."

Episode 2: The Shape of Things to Come (Challenge)

2010-06-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

From Bravo: "For their second challenge, the artists are taken to an appliance graveyard filled with televisions, toaster ovens, and an array of broken electronics. Using the trash heap as their canvas, the artists are charged with transforming one man’s trash into another man’s piece of art."

[See the full recap and extras on the Bravo site HERE]

Our Challenge: Transform one man's trash into another man's piece of art. However, since we do not necessarily have the same access to as many discarded electronics as the contestants on the show, I'll pose this: Use any found objects you can get your hands on. But let's incorporate at least one electronic element (a cord, light bulb, buttons, CDs, anything you have access to that you can use). That's it! Re-purpose anything you want as long as you include one electronic element.

Remember, submissions are due by MONDAY, 11:00AM, to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com. Since these works will be of the 3D nature, feel free to submit more than one image (no more than three) of different angles of your work, along with a short description of your work.

Okay, artists! Go! Create! Have fun!

A Quick Hello:

2010-06-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

Vlog for "Work of Art" challenge from Lindsey Smolensky on Vimeo.

Please pay no attention to the fact that my hair is a hot mess. And that I have huge bags under my eyes from sleeping only sporadically. Two thumbs up for my concert shirt though: The Airborne Toxic Event kicks ass. But not as much as you do. You guys are rocking my world right now. Can't wait for tonight's episode!

Episode 1: Self-Reflexive (Works)

2010-06-12T05:09:00.000-07:00

Artist: Lindsey Smolensky
Twitter: Smoness
"A friend of mine feels and speaks of her Grandmother almost exactly the way I feel and speak about my Great-Grandmother. Her stories always warm me, so I chose to paint a portrait of my friend's Grandmother, "Neena.""

Artist: Jennifer Mathis
Twitter: JenXer
"My husband, Chris."

Artist: Rhonda Rubin
Twitter: The_Rhonda
"Inspired by my friend, Tim, whose home and work life intermingle, yet he manages to keep all his balls in the air."

Artist: Susannah Perry
Twitter: paintingchef
Hours in the Kitchen: "My grandmother was, among many other things, a caterer. And her kitchen is where we spent the majority of our time together. More often than not, by the end of the night, it was just the two of us and we were a mess. These are some of my favorite memories of her, glasses askew, covered in flour, cake batter and whatever other projects had happened that day."

Artist: Becky Cochrane
Twitter: BeckyCochrane
"I don't watch much TV, but I do have a favorite soap opera and a favorite soap villain. This is my fourth attempt at drawing him. I think he's classically handsome, with a strong jaw, piercing eyes and a square chin. He could be a hero, but those looks make him even more enticing as a bad boy."

*Click on the boombox to play*
Artist/Composer: Josh Newton
Twitter: marquis66
"It's a piece that I wrote for my wife, Jen. I tried to give it a noble or strong character, with a hint of melancholy which Jen said she really understood. I also wanted to try to play on her love of music boxes, and bring that into the piece. Not an entire portrait of who she is, but certainly one little aspect of her."

Artist: Sean Kramer
Twitter: N/A
"This is my boyfriend, Joey. During our photo shoot, I was trying to portray the fun and serious sides of him, but here all I see is him looking into my soul."

Artist: Brad Dumm
Twitter: N/A
"This is my partner Jose - we went out to the park last weekend and took pictures while we walked (you'll see his camera in his hand, too). Jose always has such a great attitude and is perpetually happy. I think he is totally inspirational. I wish I could be more like this."

Episode 1: Self-Reflexive (Challenge)

2010-06-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

The contestants' mission is to create a piece of art that captures the essence of a fellow competitor (ie: a portrait).

[See the full recap and extras at the Bravo site HERE]

Our mission? Create a portrait (open to your interpretation) that captures the essence of... well... anyone of your choosing. Any medium is acceptable. However, if you choose a performance piece, your submission should be a video still or image of collected stills, or a photo capture of your performance.

Submit 1-2 images of your final work along with a short blurb (no novels! just a few sentences) about your work, NO LATER THAN MONDAY, JUNE 14th at 11:00AM to lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com.

And remember, if you haven't sent your "I'm Interested!" email to Lindsey yet, please do so before submitting: lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com

Let's get this thing started!

Introduction:

2010-06-10T16:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the deal. Bravo has a new television show called "Work of Art," searching for the next great American artist. It airs on Wednesday nights. Set your DVRs!

What this blog is all about is watching the show, and then taking on the challenges posed to the artists on the show each week. Any artist is welcome to participate. This is how it's all going to go down:

1.) Watch "Work of Art" on Bravo every Wednesday night.

2.) After the show (either really late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning) read this blog for the adapted challenge. *Sometimes the challenges posed on the show are not directly transferable to us viewers at home. We'll be doing the same challenges as the contestants on the show, but we may have to adapt a little to the fact that WE'RE not on the show.

3.) Do the challenge! This is a chance for some seriously creative homework. A chance to work outside of your comfort zone or usual medium. A chance to expand upon your work as well as your work ethic, as there is a deadline!

4.) Each week, submit 1-2 photos of your finished work as well as a short blurb describing your work to: lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com NO LATER THAN 11:00AM EVERY MONDAY!

5.) By Monday night (Tuesday morning at the latest), see everyone's work from each week's challenge RIGHT HERE!

6.) Feel free to leave comments, spark discussions, or just browse the amazing work we're all putting into the world.

This is a chance to take on an amazing challenge and really inspire your work. And all submissions will be credited to the artist.

If you're interested, shoot an email to Lindsey at: lindseysmo(at)gmail(dot)com with the title, "I'm Interested!" In the body of the email, leave your full name and a link to a website where you'd like to be credited. That's it! You'll receive an email confirming your interest and probably a couple of emails here and there with updates about your participation on this site.

Thanks for checking us out, and we hope to see you participating!

P.S. It should be noted that this idea sparked from a one Ms. Becky Cochrane, who for three seasons has performed a similar challenge with Project Runway. For three seasons she (as well as some other Internet contestants) have completed all of the Project Runway challenges by sewing the fashions for the ultimate diva: Barbie. You can see her "LJ Runway Monday" fashions on her blog (under the tag "fashion") HERE.