Work of Art, The Next Great Artist on Bravo

I came across a show called Work of Art, the Next Great Artist  on the cable network channel, Bravo. It was kind of interesting and I was intrigued by the title more than anything. I was curious as to how the contestants were chosen and eliminated. Who decides these guys are the Next Greatest anyways?

The show is basically a bunch of young, hipster artists competing to win a large sum of money by competing against eachother by creating works of art with the days given theme or common materials to work with. There is a time limit for each artist and they are given a variety of themes they need to use in their art. They sometimes are required to use a certain material as well.

The show is pretty lame in my opinion. The people who are all judging are super snotty and don't really seem to have a pulse on what's cool these days anyways. And how does anyone expect the artists to be inspired to create worth while peice when they are required to be competitive? I've always thought of artists as being easy going types who are able to create because they are relaxed enought to let the creative juices flow. To make matters worse for the artists, they have this guy come in mid project and give them advice on how to make their projects more "winnable". I think this guys just messes the artists up more, stressing them further. Another thing that irks me about this show is how the catty attitudes and drama are highlighted in the show more than the artists and their work. Of course, it is a show on Bravo and we all know that competition reality shows are what sell. Plus, this is a show that is monitored by the FCC and can't have to vulgar of content or else no one whould watch.

Even though I do not like the premise of the show, I still watch it if I come across it so I can see the cool works of art that are created. I usually end up liking the project that looses. Not sure what that says about my taste in art?

 

Did the artists' controversial works go too far? You be the judge!

http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/photos/rate-the-work/episode-4-rate-the-work#image-63637

My Neighborhood Graffitti Artist

The exit off the 55 freeway to my house has two giant billboards. There had been a multitude of various advertisements plastered up there. Mostly for Vitamin Water, Coke, and various B-movies. Most of these billboards end up with all kinds of tagging and graffitti. They are quickly changed out and removed within a day or two. But lately, there has been a graffitti artist who is so subtle with his graffitti and tags that it goes unoticed by whoever it is that would order the billboard removed once it has been tagged. I have started noticing the billboard now, looking for new "improvements" to the ads on the giant billboards.

The best one and my favorite is the latest installemnent. The two billboards went up about a month ago, advertisements for the Adult Porn Conventions. I was disgusted to see a blonde chic in a provocative pose with her mouth open plastered twice on ajoining billboards in my neighborhood. The ad is placed so I have to see it coming and going from my house. It is so gross and annoying. But now, the cleaver artist has made the woman look as if she has been shot in the head! There is no tagging or other evident typical graffitti on the board, just a bloody hole in her forehead. I was cracking up when I saw it! The billboard has been there for almost a month! I'm sure everyone in our neighborhood hated the origional ad. Who wants an ad for Porn in their neighborhood? Where I live is families and old people, most definately not the ideal audience or consumers targeted for the porn convention. But I bet my fellow neighbors chuckled at the graffitti artist addition to the add.

I wish I were able to get a photo of it, but every time I try I'm never at the stop light long enough to get out my camera.

Other installements that have been improved have been making Ellen Degeneres' ad for Vitamin water into a graphic art-like piece with all kinds of dots and colors. It looked great and actually as if it were meant to be the ad. The one stayed for about a week before being replaced by a horrific ad for Knott's Scary Farm. My daughter had to hide her eyes every time we drove past because it was so ugly. I wish the artist would have done something with that one. Another one was altered for the better in my opinion was the basketball player making a slam dunk. The artist tagged over the Sprite logo. I think it said "douche" but I couldn't be sure. My husband, who follows basketball said it did. That billboard was removed in the next couple days also.

I usually hate all these ugly ads that have gone up in our neighborhood, but now I actually like them. I hope the advertisers continue to fuel the artist with all kinds of crap and drivel so the artist whoever he or she may be can create entertaining peices for me to enjoy.

Who questions the authenticity of their reality?

I was wondering why and how some people question the authenticity or actuality of their lives. Some say that our life is just a dream or a projection of our own imagination. I've even met some mentally ill people who believe they under control of some sort of machines and medications. The one common factor I have noticed about those who are questioning that their lives are real are all unhappy with the current state of their lives. Maybe the only explaination for why these individuals are so miserable or mentally ill is for them to tell themselves that "this all a dream, this isn't real".

However, I have had days that I felt were so terrible it had to be a nightmare. I;ve also been so sleep deprived and exhausted that I could barely distinquish awake from asleep and dreaming. But, once I've gotten back to my normal self, I am able to realize what is real and what's not. And my reality is pretty great, so I don't want to question it and I just enjoy the good times and try to roll with the punches during the bad times.

But if I had a terrible life with all kinds of mental health issues or unhappiness, I'm sure I would question my reality as well. I met many patients in the lock down units during my psych rotation and they all believe that The Matrix, Inception and Avatar as well as other similar Sy-Fy movies  are completely real and they fully represent reality for them. They were mostly schitzophrenic and off their meds but they were still very articulate and if you let yourself be sucked in by their words, it's easy to beleive their rationales and buy into their illness.

Alberto Vargas



Vargas



Alberto Vargas was and still is considered to be on of the great Pin Up Girl artists in history. He worked using water color and air brushing techniques. His father was a famous photographer and it is easy to see how he inherited the photographer's eye, creating paintings that look as it they are photographs. His attention to detal as well as enhancment of the models beauty are stunning.  The pin ups he created are iconic and well known all over the world.

He started out painting show girls and actually ended up marrying one of them. He went on to work famous Hollywood studios like Warner brothers and 20th Century Fox and worked for PlayBoy in the 1960's.  He created portraits of many famous women including Greta Garbo and Marylin Monroe. Vzrgas went on to create portraits for Esqiure magazine, where he did his most iconic works, icluding calanders. His work was very popular with the soldiers of WWII.

His paintings define an era and are a symbol of the 20th century woman. His origional works sell for thosands of dollars and continue to be popular and enjoyable today.

 

Gradient of Variation in Pattern

How much variation is pattern is considered to be desirable level depends greatly on the personality of that idividual and what aspect of their life they appretiate a lot or a little variety. Last week our group came to the concensus that having a large variety  and less predictability in the aspects of life that were on the more frivolous side. Music, friends, movies, fun stuff are all things that we did not consider predictability to be important. However, when it came to finances, kids, spouses, work and school we all agreed that predictability and little variety were best.

Some people constantly change and never put down roots because it is part of their personality. Their pattern of life is to try hard NOT to have a pattern. Others, like myself for instance, strive for the constant and predictable life. Maybe if I were younger I would be happy and enjoy surprises and unpredictability, but now that I'm older and have responsibilities I enjoy predictabiity. It's much less stressful.

Having predictable plans will allow someone to make other plans and allow time to address surprises that may arise in ones day. Planning and being prepared is like paying yourself in time and effort.

Plaster mold Beach Project



Over the weekend we decided that Sunday would be a great beach day. I was also able to do the plaster cast molding project while we were there. My oldest daughter, Isabella, was very excited about the project. She's a crafty kid and loves art projects, especially if they are messy.

It was a difficult trip since the baby is only five months old and cries unless she's being held. She definately did not like putting her feet in the sand. I thought it would be cute to do a mold of her little feet, but she wasn't having any part of it. My older daughter kept going further and further into the water making me nervous since the rip current was really strong that day.

It was a fun little trip and we had a good time taking advantage of such a pretty day. I think we will try doing this again but leave the fussy baby at home with daddy.

Avery excited Isabella getting ready to start plaster cast molds at the beach



Pressing her hand into the freshly fluffed sand

We poured the plaster of paris in the imprints left in the sand



Isabella's hand print



The plaster is starting to set

Seeing if it's all the way dry yet



Digging up the mold



Digging up the rest of the molds we made



It worked!



My mold is missing a finger, it broke off    :(

A fun family day at the beach

Survival of the Fittest and Beauty $$$

Beauty is equated with health and good genetics and has been the way species attract mates in the animal kingdom. Those who possess youth and beauty most likely are healthy and have the genes to pass on to ensure the species to continue on.  This is seen in brightly colored birds as well as human beings. But what about those animals that are so hideaous and frightening looking that they are able to survive and reproduce BECAUSE they are in fact so ugly that no predator is brave enough to attack it? Is that animal purposely ugly to others as a defense mechanism against predators?

The mockumentary about the trials and angst experienced by those who were considered to be The Beautiful People talked about the down side of being so beautiful. Would they have an easier time in life if they were to make themselves a little bit ugly? They might, but I can't imagine anyone doing that because it is so ingrained in our society and hardwired as a species to be the most beautiful possible that is almost unthinkable to make oneself ugly in order to fit in and be seen for what's inside.

The prettiest woman in the universe is named "Miss Universe" and is considered the most beautiful woman on the planet for that year. What does that title earn her? Money? Fame? Does it ensure that her genetics will continue on for generations to come? Of course it does. She will marry a billionare and have financial security and have beautiful little children who will also be financially secure with good looks as well.  But what if Miss Universe married a poor, unattractive artist or became a lesbian? Than her finacial security and procreation of pretty and finacially stable kids would most likely never be a reality.



Donald Trump Jr and his wife and  new baby

 So trying to be the prettiest, richest and strongest in today's world is just our species way of ensuring the survival of our species and to encourage procreation. The ugly, fat, unattractive, unhealthy, hairy and short millionaire will marry and lovely, healthy, young, leggy, blonde to ensure his genes will continue to proliferate. And they have a 50/50 chance of being beautiful as well. If they turn out to be unattractive adults, atleast they have their daddy's business sense and money, right?


Donald Trump and his wife and baby