I am so happy Abdi was chosen. He deserved it. Not to mention he is an amazing role model for young artist with true artistic talent. He is such a positive person and genuine good hearted person, he deserves this win and more.

Amanda could have pulled it out of the fire if she explained that her portrait was 2-dimensional because her subject was so shallow. I think Amanda showed a lot of potential and you should have given her a chance. When she was bumped I realized that this was a marketing, reality move -you kept the failed controversial ones who will create drama

one on one one hour duels one time.

Bravo TV land! the clash of personalities and opinions gives this show its own unique energy. Kudos to Sarah Jessica Parker for making it possible! The visual arts for better or worse makes us think, what really does matter? The fluctuation between chance events and fate, is it destiny? are some born to be great? can the next greatest Artist be living in a cardboard box in a city park? "The siren call of the Arts can drive some mad with desire" others are deaf to the sound, most are stirred by a meaningful tale told in book form,movie,play,performance,or image. Let me correct that all of us are effected by our time and place and your opinion Mr Powers adds to the mix. How about allowing the viewers to vote,via texting or email and posting the viewers picks at the end of the challenge?Bravo again I'll be watching

I was delighted to find a show dedicated to art and it's creation. I have a standing appointment with BRAVO on Wednesday evenings at 10:00 PM! I am facinated with the choice of artists and the the challenges. As a working artist I know that I would thoroughly enjoy creating art to meet these challenges. I would like to see more of the creative process itself and fewer interuptions while following a creative process are always a plus.

I do hope that the series continues! Should a second season be in the works I would love to apply/audition for it!

Nothing wrong with a portrait challenge, but the notion that a portrait is about the 'essence' of the sitter is long out-dated. The range of artists is somewhat narrow given the broad range of contemporary art practice. The responses from the 'judges' could be given more attention, unless they're comments really were as vacuous as they came across. Bring on next week!

I can't wait for the next episode--LOVE this show!

Sarah Jessica Parker saw the genre that fine artists knew was missing in the reality tv world. This is a natural follow-up to Project Runway. The first episode managed to captivate a room full of teenagers as well as a forty-something year old. FYI we watched a replay on the computer and the absence of commercials was great.

I was so hoping that a show like this would be possible. I didn't think it would happen, but I am thrilled that it has. I am eager to watch the next episodes and I like many others that have posted here are interested in seeing more of the process.

Thanks for giving the making of art the spotlight.

Good luck to all the brave artists who are the first on the show.

I am already hooked on this show and can't wait for the next episode. Love to see the variety of styles. It is inspiration to us all. Thanks, Bravo, for continuing to remember the artists out there!

Great show! I loved seeing the creative process. Very clever first elimination competition.. Can't wait for the next installment.

Love it, love it, love it. The next few weeks is going to be a thrill ride for Artists. Myself included.

Great show. Easy to see the producers chose some talented artist for the show. Its unfortunate that some come with the requisite attitude that comes with getting some success. It was sad to see Amanda go but it wasn't her lack of talent that got her cut,it was the judges looking for the literal interpretation of "portrait". Neo didn't nail it either so I assume shes got the controversy factor needed to make a reality show interesting and thats why she made the cut.

Thanks bravo! I'm an aspiring artist and I have to say the show is really great. I can't wait to see the next episode. In some cultures unfortunately, art is not so important anymore.Thank you for give us some hope to those who have chose art as a part of their lives.

Great show!
Any of the bottom three could have gone home, I think. And I loved the top three. I have to disagree with the other poster though, I do think the clown painting, on the palette, on the easel was a little bit more unintentionally kitsch than it was conceptual because it did to seem to reference those clown paintings (and It!) that were popular in 60s more than it did the artist. But I'm glad he didn't go because you just know that thousands of untrained artists are out there rooting for him to pull it together and step up his game. The abstract wasn't bad at all, it was pretty but I agree with the judges, it looked more landscape-y than portrait-y. And just a touch generic and soft.
I didn't mind the conceptual piece that showed Miles' movement but it didn't seem a complete piece...maybe if she'd strung together some video clips of him zipping around the studio and projected that on the map, it would have pulled the concept together a little better and been more clearly a portrait. But of course everyone's got ideas. It's not my art work- so take that with a grain of salt.
Anyway, really loved the show. Will be looking forward to next week's episode. That was Andres Serrano, right? Cool.

Great show -- I enjoyed the first episode and look forward to the rest. I have to agree with the commercial content -- glad I have a DVR.

I had to agree with dropping Amanda. It seemed to me that she left the one part of her signature style that could have redeemed her. Where was the text? It was the one way that she could have given a glimmer of the missing 'portrait' content if she had only given more of the story of her subject. She could have added energy that was otherwise missing (the wall paper comment was right on - not so for her other work). It wouldn't have been enough to move up much, but would have easily passed Nao's non-portrait with a little Courier 128 point type.

wow, the show is awesome!! It was WAY MORE than what I expected!

thanks for making a show dedicated to art, after feeling tired of too much Project Runway, i was hoping for a show like this one!

Once again, LOVE IT!

I really love the way the show turned out! I was unhappy, however, with the way you criticized Erik's artwork. I thought the power of presenting his work on the surface of a palette which sat upon an easel was wonderful. By presenting it on the easel it committed itself as a Work of Art, the palette to which to image sat on as well as the easel added to the conceptual nature of the artwork itself, which in turn added to the juxtaposition of artistic demeanor in the artwork. Also, by placing in the work on the easel, it added a very interesting, all-in-its-own look to the way viewers observed and constructed themselves around the painting. I would encourage Erik to use the easel as a mode of presenting the artwork again, but perhaps for a larger piece. The easel may have been more the appropriate portrait for Ryan as Ryan is a figurative-realist artist who exclusively works off the easel, where perhaps in the portrait of Mark a computer would have been better.

Amanda actually did catch the impression of the essence of the other artist - totally ditzie, white bread, matchy/matchy jewelry, hair perfect -- Valley Girl (and I am a white woman with faux blond hi-lighted hair, although much older and believe myself to be a bit more substantive sounding).

Amanda paints her emotional reaction to the Chicago gettos in strong but beautiful tertiary earth tones of rusting metals and peeling paint as well as strong colors representing the violence and tearing apart experienced by people who are fighting for their lives and existence in an urban environment. If you listened to the other artist's description of herself to Amanda ("Valley Girl" personified- voice and appearance), Amanda painted a vapid, superficial, fluff - just what the artist sounded like to me, the listener). Amanda's website is www.awgallery.com and her paintings are nothing like the one last night -- they are strong and vibrant, perhaps because of a different subject matter. Unfortunately, a visitor to a "portrait" show, and not having heard the other artist explain herself to Amanda, would not have been able to identify who the portrait was of -- on that point I would agree; and unfortunately, that was the crux of the challenge. Perhaps the expectations might have been explained and emphasized more clearly when the challenge was described, as Amanda is very strong in figure painting as well.

Amanda is an abstract painter, and she did her thing -- and in my opinion, having heard the young artist describe herself -- did capture exactly what was expressed audibly and in content by her subject. Let's remember this is the first time each artist has met the other artist and in that short time can really only go on what is expressed to them by the subject. Saying you have more depth than you sound like, means nothing. Just a failed ad-campaign.

It's a shame such a talented artist was the one chosen to leave, as there were other viable options. I feel the jurors, having so much expertise in creative arts, did not really take the time to "read" her painting of thin paints, superficial flowers, and fluffy content! To have stopped at calling it "wallpaper", tells me that a Juror - knowing that this is an artist who had to pass a fairly critical jurying process in order to be chosen - did not make the effort to see what the composition was depicting - perhaps a personality which comes across "as wallpaper", and perhaps Amanda was too polite to express that verbally. Maybe their job was simply to be "the visitor to a Portrait Show", knowing nothing more. If so, I guess I can see their choice. I was hoping that this show would educate me - an aspiring artist myself - as to how the mind of the Juror operates and how deeply they analyze the work in front of them. I am not angry, just disappointed in this regard.

I end my comments with the belief that the competition has certainly lost an artist of enormous capability and passion, and who would have added so much to the audience in understanding the process of finding the creation of art. I hope you will put this on the website as a response to the show, as I believe Amanda deserves to be heard by someone who, hopefully, understands her intentions. She did have a right to be proud of her piece.

Wow, brilliant idea and show! I loved every minute and can't wait for next week. It was fascinating to see different artists and watch the creative process in action.

The three finalists produced amazing work and each one of those pieces were incredibly powerful. The winning piece was phenomenal and truly exciting. I think using the word death threw people but he was pulling from past history. Having just been to the Stanford U museum. and seeing the death mask of the Stanford's son. gave me a different perspective on death masks and photographs. Miles took the protrait to a new level and it was amazing.

I, too, was disapointed that Amanda was sent home and even more with her piece. I thought her point of view would be unusual because of her background and based on work she submitted prior to the show. If only she had integrated her subject into the work...you know; a portrait.

Nao? She could have also been sent packing and was tripping over her own arrogance. The clown? Very scary number painting? Enough said.

Thank you Bravo for a truly wonderful and thrilling show. Seeing artists interact with each other is amazing and fun. This is what reality TV can bring to all of us...new ways of thinking and seeing. Love it!

I loved the show. More time to view all of the finished art work and less time in commercials would have made a perfect new show. Obviously, the format is similar to Project Runway, which I also love. Miles deserved to win! Less of the reality show energy (huge egos of some the contestants) would have been more enjoyable to watch. I'm not into the reality show aspect -- just the energy of the creativity.... As an artist, I'm more interested in seeing the art.

I loved the show! It was great to hear how the judges reviewed the work. It always seems a mystery when you get accepted or rejected from a juried show. I just love being given an insight into that discussion. I know lots of artists and spend time in their studios but something different is bound to happen under the pressure and time constraints of this show vs. the regular studio environment...and it was enlightening and exciting to watch that process. I'll stay tuned!

While I applaud Bravo for bringing a show on "art" I am constantly befuddled by the choice of contestant on these types of shows. It's almost as if producers have a certain required "type casting" to fulfill. Hint: pick people based on ability, and not tattoos, gender or sexual orientation.

GREAT SHOW!!! Loved the first episode! I'm so glad that Bravo created a show for artists. It's great.

Wow! I love this show! What an interesting way to start, too. Hats off, Bravo, you did it again!

I just wish there weren't sooooo many commercials. I'd like to see a lot more of the process of creating!

Good show, but the editing makes the outcome too predictable. From 10 minutes in you could tell that Amanda was on her way out.