Final Episode: The Big Show (Nikie Brown)

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."

" 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

*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)

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)

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)

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)

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."