I ABSOLUTELY love love love A Work of Art and really hope to see it again soon!Can we have a clue if it will continue???

Hi,
After watching most of the episodes, I love the show and wish it will continue! I just love it. The format is great, using different ages for the artists, using jurors/judges. In saying that, I believe the jurors will get better in sounding less cliche when they have more experience being in front of the camera. Some of the things they said to the artists were a little embarrassing, (especially Simon's response to the female artists nude portraits.) Also kicking artist Erik off the show "too" early, because he "wasn't playing nice", even though their team's work was a better piece than the red teams, didn't quite make sense artistically. The red team should of lost (and then Erik could of continued) since everyone on the Blue team was strong. Almost all the finalists were on the blue team! Miles & Abdi were great! (I am surprised you didn't have more talented female artists on the show, there are so many in NYC of all ages!?)

I agree with "my biggest problem is when." Abdi: has grown so much, im so proud of him! miles: this guy used to hurt smal animals when he was young, hes had a great childhood & is super good looking, reminds me a bit of ted bundy!
Peregrine: ahhhh, i will be paying attention to her for she inspires me to greatness! She is truly a Dada goddess in my eyes!

Ok, can't wait for the next SHOW! Please hurry!

SIMON....YOU WERE MY FAVORITE ....... YOU WORKED VERY WELL WITH 'ALL' THE ARTISTS AND YOU COULD SEE IT ON THE SHOW THEY ALL SEEMED TO REALLY LIKE YOU TOO.

You were a fine mentor throughout and enhanced the gentility of the show. Loved it, loved it all.

Thank you so much for your inspiring attitude during this show. My husband, always thinking I'm nuts for having an Art History degree, finally got it over the course of this show. I think he loved your comments as well - you were a guide for him into an unusually alien world (for him, and even sometimes for me).

I am very disappointed, after reading the bio's of the contestants, that these people have actually been quite successful as artists prior to competing on this show----even Eric has had some attention.

There are so many gifted artists out there who deserve a shot and never get one, it leads me to feel that the show is contrived and missing out on REAL, untapped talent!

BTW... Peregrin's tree---WTF? Completely Junior High amateur art project.
Give some raw artists a chance!

My biggest problem is when the judges/critics allow a competitor (Miles) to put forth his opinion on someone else's piece. This happened more than once, and both times half the judges were nodding like bobblehead dolls (Jerry in particular) while he ripped the opposition. What's the point of having a judges panel if they can't form their own opinion/assessment.

My biggest problem is when the judges/critics allow a competitor (Miles) to put forth his opinion on someone else's piece. This happened more than once, and both times half the judges were nodding like bobblehead dolls (Jerry in particular) while he ripped the opposition. What's the point of having a judges panel if they can't form their own opinion/assessment.

I am so proud to see the true diversity of human's being shown on television. Not only are the cast being seperated but pulled together by their true imaginations. I hope to see more of the show now that I'm hooked.

As an Artist I am enjoying the idea of forcing an artist to create something not of his/her choice. This pushes the artist to create with an energy that they seldom use during their Normal creative processing time. It may not be their best work but I think it will teach them to dig deep fast, or crash. It will sharpen their talent in the end. They may wind up developing something New and Fresh for the Art World, which God knows we Need ~ Happy my two picks are still in the running.

Look at "So you think you can dance" and how that show teaches the audience about the hard work and dedication that is required to be an exceptional dancer. It is too bad this show is so damaging to those of us who have dedicated our lives to fine art. I have written into this blog a few times and my comments are not posted.
Maybe my disdain for the judges reaction to Jacyln's work.
As a teacher, fine artist and mentor I find this show disturbing because it rewards the idea that art is some silliness with no need for any technical skill sets just bizarre behavior. Fortunately Abdi has made it to the top showing someone with strong technical and emotional skills. I hope a rethink of this type of show will happen in order to encourage the study of the arts not more cutting of art programs. The people judging the show should have some technical skill sets of their own. The idea that the judges are not fine artists.....but gallery owners and art critics. Look at SYTYCD the judges are accomplished in the field on their own right.

I have to tell you - I have enjoyed every show. I have not always agreed with the judging but I still find all the characters fasinating and I am thrilled that my favorite is still in the running. This is television folks - enjoy it for what it is!!

My daughter, who is an aspiring artist, watch the show together. We were so excited when we saw previews. It made me think that finally art is getting the publicity and recognition it deserves in our society. However, we have grown more and more frustrated with every episode. It seems as though real talent and skill are set aside for who can be the most dramatic on camera. I cannot stand Miles and I seriously doubt his talent, although I think he is very skilled at BSing everyone. The most frustrating thing is that the judges buy into it. It seems whoever can offer the most convoluted explanation of their work gets the prize. Whatever, let's make art accessible to everyone. Art doesn't have to be complicated to be good. Ask Michaelangelo or DaVinci. It's sad that she feels all she has to do is take her clothes off and label it female sexual empowerment and she wins. Now if she was overweight and really uncomfortable with how her body looked, then she might be justified in calling it art. Jacki will be fine posing for Playboy after the show is over. If I were Sarah Jessica Parker, I would get out while you still can or at least insist on an overhaul of the show. Figure out how to really help art. Find really talented college students, let them audition and pay their way through college or something.In the meantime, we are rooting for Abdi and Nicole.

For a $100K and the prospect of your own NY show I'm staggered at the opportunities this group has taken no notice of; look at the brilliancy's of the contests: a self portrait (think Van Gogh, Kahlo, Rembrandt, Chagall); a book cover (Wells, Austen, Shelley, et al); sculpturally making use of banal objects (Picasso, Braque); not one of them even discerned the challenge to depict an Audi in what might well have been a sizzling Commercial Art competition.

Did anyone notice on the last episode Miles gag and cover his eyes when mark showed his scar? Was he offended by Marks scar or girth? In any case, I was really disgused with Miles. The show is just like Survivor, they pick a contestent to be the villan or hero and edit it to fit that. I'm ashamed that I have watched this show up to that point. Good luck with it from here on I'm done.

Y'know, we all wish that great art was produced by great human beings, but it just ain't always so. Some of the greatest love songs were written by the most insensitive louts; some of the most spiritual works of art were created by artists with only the basest and most carnal outlook on life. There is a lot to dislike in all of the participants; there are similarly endearing qualities in each for many viewers.

Art criticism necessarily focuses on the art and not the artist. Most critics have little interest in speaking to the artist until they have formulated their judgments--and that is if they EVER choose to interview the artist.

How well an artist can articulate what he or she is doing has little relationship to the quality of the art s/he produces. As a teacher of art history (one of the contestants is a former student)I can coax an artist down to road of thoughtful familiarity with great art and artists but I can't force them to be as skilled with language as they already are in their mediums of choice.

I'm a professor and this is a good example of why I never assign group work. Eric got a rotten deal. But he shouldn't feel too bad, as it's clear that "Work of Art" is a shit show with no real credibility. Someone should really try producing a legitimate version.

I watched the 8th episode of the Bravo TV show "Work of Art".
On that episode, one of the "artists" was talking to another about the "Allegory of the Cave" of Socrates (???!!!) Then, the other "artist" repeated this gigantic mistake again to the camera. Then, he repeated the same stupid mistake to Simon de Pury, that remained silent.
Finally, the "artist" stated the same crazy mistake in front of a panel of 4 "critics" and NO ONE corrected him! The "Allegory of the cave" belongs to PLATO, not Socrates! This is a serious, dramatic mistake. Mr. Jerry Saltz is someone who is presented as "the Senior Art Critic for New York Magazine. He is a two-time Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism." Someone with such a high profile should never, in any circumstance, let such a dumb mistake pass overlooked.
Mr. Plato and Mr. Socrates, I am sorry for all the ignorance in the world!

I recently started watching this show and immediately was hooked. This has absolutely nothing to do with the reality of being an artists, since if its on demand, we call that commercial art. But here is my take after a few episodes: BEAUTY ALWAYS WINS. Apparently, according to your panel, art is about narcissism. The fact is Mr. Pury could barely bring himself to shake hands with overweight, overwrought Mark. But get him near those breasts and his face would light up. Miles, the male beauty is also treated with delicate hands...his kids school art was the most nonsensical art ever produced and not one judge had the nerve to ask: what are you thinking?
It's a beauty contest folks, and breasts or Miles is gonna win.

My biggest problem with this last team challenge was the reaction that the critics had to Abdi's painting. Now I know that it surely wasn't the best, but when he told the judges that there was an allegory to Plato's Cave in the painting, the judges simply said, "I didn't understand it; it's just a black spot in the painting." Aren't these people supposed to be experts?! They just seemed to not care at all. There was no effort to understand the picture at all. They said it was just a black spot in the painting, but Miles' whole piece was a black spot! If this show does manage to continue, I would love to see some changes in the judging panel.

In the past couple of episodes I have come to really like Nicole's work. She has been consistently creative and her pieces are diverse, unlike Jaclyn and Miles who seem to do the same things every week. I like Abdi's personality, but it seems difficult for him do come up with ideas and all of his art looks superhero-y to me. I think it will come down to Peregrine, Nicole and Miles in the finale. The judges do kiss Miles's ass though, I expect him to win. I think viewers should vote.

Yes, AM, I agree. My gf and I were watching the first episode and saw immediately that he was acting. His behaviorisms were so varied and inconsistent, you could tell he was faking it for drama's sake. I don't know that he's solely to blame though. He is likely surrounded by people that make him feel "special". And I'm sure Bravo's storywriters (yes, that's what they're called!) fed a lot into this to add some television flare to the series. But I think there are a number of egocentrics and sociopaths in the art world. It can produce some interesting artwork. On this show, however, the egocentrics (there are more than one!) are either stifled by the format and time constraints, or they just weren't chosen well. I've seen very little, if anything, on here that would make it into a credible gallery. I hope they do a 2nd season but take their contestants and artists more seriously next time. A show like this should be managed by ARTISTS not network hacks (I'll be shocked if they allow this post!)

Oh help me Rhonda!

I find it so bizarre that people are so obviously crazy jealous of talented people-like Miles. Blogs from "so-called" educated teachers and nurses etc...wow, get over it. It's a reality TV show, not life or death.
Rock on Miles!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a fan
:)

I am not an expert on art, but as a nurse, I am an expert on people like Miles, and I meet lots of them, especially in today's overdiagnosed, overmedicated, zero personal accountability society. Miles is a highly intelligent, probably talented, yet severely egocentric, immature, master manipulater. He uses his "diagnosis" as an excuse for selfish, passive-agressive, behavior. Similar to a small child, I doubt whether he is even capable of genuine empathy or sympathy, and I suspect most of his displayed emotion is carefully contrived. Judging from his behavior and physical appearance, I suspect that he either abuses his meds, or is overmedicated. I doubt whether he "feels" much of anything, except self-gratification on a very basic, selfish, survival level. OCD is very real, and when severe, can be totally devastating and render a person incapable of living a normal life. However, Miles is completely aware of and responsible for his own actions, and knows exactly what he is doing. It's a good thing he attached himself to the "art community." If not, he probably would be a criminal. We have a term for people like Miles in the health care world - "professional patients."

The more we watch it, the more we get annoyed:
men judges are fascinated with Miss Eternal Genitalia, whose "self discoveries" are getting to a clinical point. Lack of art skills and talent is happily forgiven for a glimpse of the oldest tool of manipulation.

So much for the "reality"....
Well, be honest, change the name of the show - "amateur artistic self-expressions".

I didn't realize I was watching Work of Great Carpentry! Thanks for setting me straight, Simon! Bravo to the art teacher who called out Miles for his pretensions, snobbery and attempts to fool everyone into thinking he has talent. Miles can construct things, but his pieces feel hollow and soulless. I once had a literature student who did the same thing with a musical project. The technical savvy was there, but the work lacked any sense of heart. I didn't necessarily like all of Erik's work, but he had a right to expect his ideas to be heard with an open mind. Jaclyn and Miles' snotty comments about Erik's not belonging there made me cringe. Jaclyn strikes me as a limited artist, who keeps relying on others' ideas, while repeating the same gimmicks. Yawn. Miles just hides behind his OCD to excuse his obnoxious personality; I find that offensive. I know many OCD people who don't stoop to such behavior, so I don't buy the excuses. We all make the choice to be gracious or nasty, no matter what our mental health. Bear in mind, we're seeing what the producers want us to see. It's been obvious they were depicting Erik as the irascible outsider, while sucking up to Miles and Jaclyn. Let's also remember, Miles has gone on the record several times trashing his fellow artists' work during the gallery shows. We seldom hear what the other artists have to say at those moments. I agree I'd rather hear more about the art process, as well as the judging debates, rather than all this petty wrangling and still more scenes of the artists in their digs. Where is the substance?

The self absorbed disarray of body parts and art materials posing as art is the mirror image of the quality of this program. The premise still interests me but the show needs "An Extreme Makeover."

Thank God for DVR! I speed through this just to find out how crappy not only the art is, but worthless judging of the art. I was so looking forward to this show, and I have been soooo disappointed. Talent? What the hell???? It could have been such an enjoyable show, but you missed the mark big time. I will always wonder what these artists are capable of if they had the freedom to create. Yuck Yuck Yuck!

The more episodes my wife and I watch, the more we lament the fact that mere self-expression is replacing actual art and ability, and that the most important aspect of this show appears to be, not the quality of the work or talent of the artist, but the extent of the convoluted explanations used to justify mediocre or downright poor work. It's almost as if the work of art doesn't matter, just how well you can BS a reason for turning it out.

The format of this episode was unfair to the individual artist. I thought this was a competition about art, not people skills. Even with judging people skills, the fact that the other artists weren't able to find a way to incorporate any of Erik's ideas should have been a bigger deal than Erik's clear frustration by the end.

To Erik, stay with it.

Eric, congratulations, you are a true artist! You are the only one who has the guts to tell it like it is. This show only confirms what most of us know - the ArtWorld is incredibly conformist. Miles knows how to conform perfectly. I will still watch the show as long as Abdi is in it. He is the only one left with any talent.

I've learned valuable things from the show at this point: like that the most attractive people are just better artists and less attractive people suck. Also that being a failed actress makes you a great art critic. And if reality show producers pick favorites, you can't have a conflict with them or you'll get eliminated. Then again, it could just be a coincidence that every time someone calls Miles out for being a fraud they get cut. I've grown so bored with the casting of these shows. I think the public in general is starting to wise up about how contrived this show is. As far as critiquing art goes, Mr. Saltz is becoming a punchline in the art world. Here in NYC there is a growing disdain among curators for his lack of insight despite the impressive resume. His banal and junior commentary on this program proves that. He is a has-been and the other judges are just unqualified.

I am confused as to why Miles is still on the show.Should have left last night but was not even questioned about is work, could not have been a more random piece of work. he just seems to do whatever he wants.

The episode regarding childhood memories was questionable to me. Why was Miles not eliminated? What was his memory of his childhood? His piece certainly shed no light on this question. Even some of the other artists contested his work saying that he used a piece he had already done and just made some balls out of rubber bands to make it look different.
Miles is an actor. He should have been eliminated. I think the politics of the show is the only reason he is still a contestant.
Ryan's self portrait shows that Ryan CAN draw. The challenges are just not relevant to art.

Warhol probably would have loved this show. I believe he mentioned more than once about the artist as commodity... (didn't he?)

Hell, he'd probably be hosting it. His deadpan delivery would definitely be better than Chow's on-screen persona... Nothing against her, per-se. But c'mon, this is Warhol... hosting reality TV... it's perfect.

I am hoping that this message gets read at one point or another by Ryan.

Ryan, seeing the show tonight really, really touched me in more ways than one. You see, I too was raised by a mother of the same religious faith and I totally can relate to all you were feeling and could not communicate. I too am in the "arts" field and have been through what you are feeling and experiencing.

You should first and foremost find your inner self and realize that only you hold the key to your happiness, not the elders, religion, or family. I felt your pain, and the anguish of not being able to express your thoughts because that is what you have been taught to do by being taught not to question.

I wish you lots of luck and if you need a friend, count on the "outcast" such as myself who are in reality very worthy successful citizens who are considered black sheep in their world. Regards.

Erik....please don't think," not knowing what a person does, makes them better prepared for the challenges ahead!"

Sports stars study and practice...ART STARS study and practice and get the breaks of a life time!

Consider yourself LUCKY and never forget There are those artists out there that rival everything you know through your own narrow eyes, that can show you another world beyond all your cliche dreams.

Congradulations you are now part of the ARTWORLD....now what?

The integrity of the show is now in question. Miles should have been eliminated. He lead the group, he designed the piece, and he was responsible for the losing piece. You put ratings over integrity. Will no longer watch the show.

Wow! All I can say is that I am pleased that 90% of the blogs posted here are EXACTLY what I was thinking in regards to Erik's dismissal. I really think he didn't get a fair shake and I'm glad that he stood up to that mob mentality. If they had given him a chance perhaps they would have been the winning piece.

Personally, Miles' art is so drab, I mean has he used any color thus far? All of this work looks the same and is very boring....Jaklyn....wow if anyone doesn't deserve to be here it's her....my god she misspells the author's name on the book challenge? And it wasn't as if it was an unknown name either? I think she's extremely self-centered and arrogant...listen honey the only thing that's keeping you on this show is your fake tits-not your talent.

When this show first came out I was excited because I thought it was going to be like "Project Runway". A mix match of trained and untrained artists creating art even when it's out of their comfort zone (relating to time and materials). But so far all I see is pretentious snobby people and that includes the judges and the contestants..

And by the way, is that your real voice? You sound like a pompous ass, so comical...

I must say Sarah Jessica Parker, you produced a real dud...needs some work for sure. I guess we'll see if you last a 3rd season...doubt it

I am disgusted by the way people are attacking Miles. Has anyone ever stopped to consider that maybe he isn't putting on an act but that this is the way he actually is?
Perhaps it only looks like an act because of the way the show is edited. Food for thought.

In any case, Erik deserved to go home. They have given him a chance since the beginning of the show and he has not shown that he is as good of an artist as the people he is competing against. It's as simple as that. It has nothing to do with him being an "outsider" and without an art education. He attempted to contribute an idea to the project (the vines) which was shot down. So did he continue to come up with ideas for the team? No. I feel that was his shortcoming on this project. In the end, the judges could not see his mark on the project not because his ideas were constantly rejected but because he didn't have any. I'm sure that Erik has a chance producing art in some other capacity but compared to the other artists on both teams who were constantly contributing to the project he was just not up to par.

This show has become a dissapointment I had really high hopes that the art on this show would be just that art. Instead what I am seeing is the pathetic behaviors of individuals that strive to call themselves artists with the result being a badly acted soap opera. I have yet to see any artwork that deserves to be displayed anywhere let alone try to show the world what the art community really is. Long live the PBS ART 21

Weird show, art after all is in the eye of the beholder. Miles best watch his back as Erik is creepy and will prob blame Miles for the rest of his sad life as an artist!