I didn't have many complaints with your work of art. It was literal, but it had plenty of talent and structure and intent. It didn't pull together, but given the short-time game structure of the reality show, all the artists are stuck with a "first things first" win or lose approach.

I think you suffered a fate of chance in that some of the other art pieces looked more sophisticated, even if they weren't that great. Peregrine's XaudiX project was merely ok and Nicole's 'suspension of thoughts' bridge to nowhere looked far more compelling than it was. The only one that really fell was the map grid painting, a sad mistake to try and get away from photography on a challenge that begged for it (and claimed the top honors).

Your art has a place and you should be proud of what you have accomplished. Too bad happiness is valued below sadness and morose contemplation in the serious art world.

Jaime-

I admire your artistic talents. You are a skilled cartoonist. I would have enjoyed seeing you go further in the show, pushing yourself on the conceptual end.

However, I was disappointed that nobody did something really shocking on the Serrano episode. That mighty have been mocking the art world for insisting that government pay to endorse such work as Piss Christ. If somebody will pay $150,000 for his work, he doesn't need government money to promote it.

How about if someone had done Piss Mohammed? Would Serrano be so brave? I doubt it. Would the producers of the show have allowed such a piece? I doubt it. That sort of shocking can get you killed.

However, I do think it's a great show. Watching creative people go about their work is wonderfully entertaining. Bravo has certainly cornered the market.

Miles is talented and it's not an act. You don't get bags under your eyes at his age by acting. It's too bad Erik lost his cool. He's talented as well and I hope he continues with his art. Getting pissed off on a reality show is not a sin. To stop doing what you love is.

Abde appears to be a fine artist. His interesting concepts are backed by great technique, it seems. His sculptures of the young black men as bombs was brilliant.

MM

I think you have a very literal illustrators point of view in your works and it comes across is naive and unsophisticated because it is. Car dancing was a really obvious example of a blunt force literal conversation with your viewer. In certain aspects of design and publishing we deal with illustrations all the time but we seek deeper meaning and significance to draw the viewer into the story and its ideas. This isn't something you need to work on. It's not a question of technique, it is a question of world-view and observation of the human interaction with the empirical world. There is a long-standing argument with regard for appreciation and detailed observation that some artists "have it" and others don't. In someway, watching this series and the works of the artists in competition, I am challenged to examine that question - some artists have it some don't. Is it a nature or nurture problem. On the whole, I'd say it is both nature and nurture. and a lot of it is effort to really focus and dig deep.

Miles goes through all the emotional staging aspects of his creative process and those on the program with a more superficial external world understanding of art show contempt for him. But it is real and not an act. For whatever reason, he reaches deeper into a space of personal observation by using his techniques. Of course, everybody can expand their repertoire of techniques but he certainly is accessing clarity and vision that many others on the show dramatically lack. Eric is a good example. And Eric is immature, casting his failures out onto others and using childish name-calling and insecure self-sabotage as a defense. As he was flailing about aimlessly, there were people he tried to throw him a life-line and he just ended up attacking them as well.

Jamie, good for you!!! You always seemed like a very cool, thoughtful, well put together person. I was sorry to see you go and definitely wish you the best!!!

Jaime, I was sad to see you leave the show, but as you said, God had you there for the amount of time you needed to be there. You are a VERY talented artist and a lovely young woman. Thank you for bringing us your art to enjoy and for not compromising yourself or your Christian values. Now go out there and paint the world hot pink! God bless.

I am pleased with the outcome, I'm really glad that Ryan went home;he had no creative thought process! I love the show and hope it never goes off air! >Rare Substance!

I have a question, how does one get to interview and go on the show. I have someone who is interested her name is Marie Anglade she is living in France. Her art is beautiful, she is also a photografer. Beautiful girl, model material. If you could e-mail her and give her the information that would be wonderful. www.MarieAnglade.com

Thank you.

" ... it DID meet MY goal for this particular challenge which was to make the most ridiculous thing I could POSSIBLY make. "

sometimes that's the only way to live and still look yourself in the face. in spite of, or perhaps because of, the egg on your face.

" After realizing that I was either going to have to COMPLETELY revolutionize my approach to art making for the remainder of the competition OR go down in a burst of hot pink flames and sequins ... "

more perfect imagery cannot be found!

well done, jaime, on all fronts.