Episode 3: Watch Party!
June 23, 2010
Want to read the live discussion from Episode 3? Click “Comments” link at the bottom of this post to read them all and leave your own thoughts if you’d like. Then join us back here next Wednesday for another live chat and Wednesday Watch Party!
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Got thoughts on tonight’s episode? Comment below as it unfolds!
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"Work of Art" Picked Apart 
Here we go. 2 minutes until show time!
We’re ready for Episode 3, especially because it explores the marriage of art and literature–right up our alleys!
-Kristin Stefek Brashares, ABN Editor-in-Chief
Seems like the artists are a wee bit resentful of Mr. Miles winning two in a row…will he capture a third victory tonight?
-Kristin
Is this going to be a team challenge? That will be very interesting…
-Catherine
Loving the challenge! Art and literature, I don’t think it gets any better than that!
Recreating classic book covers; I agree with the artists – so cool!
The winning design on a Penguin book – wow. That’s some motivation.
-Kristin
It seems like some of the contestants already resent Miles. -Gabe
OMG! Talk about exposure! This is going to get interesting….
Wow, that is a fantastic prize! And I’m glad it’s not a team challenge. That would have been too much, I think.
-Catherine
Jaclyn, how have you not read “Pride & Prejudice”?! I was an English major in college, but still, that’s a classic!
-Catherine
I like this week’s contest, especially after last week’s so-so theme. -Gabe
I hope that “young, modern Dracula” doesn’t turn into Edward from “Twilight.”
-Catherine
Miles never ceases to amaze me. He is going to read the entire novel before he paints the cover? IS that really possible? I’m at a loss for words.
Seems like the artists are more into this challenge than any other.
Miles raises a good point. Shouldn’t the artists read the book and have a good feel for it before picking up a paint brush. It’s the whole idea of designing with a purpose. That’s makes for great design.
-Kristin
Miles may be getting back into my good graces. I appreciate that he is taking time to read the book, although I hope that doesn’t affect his time.
-Catherine
Yeah, Catherine, I’m worried about that, too. I think Miles is taking the best approach to this, but he’s not leaving himself much time…he definitely won’t be able to slip in a nap 🙂
-Kristin
OK, Judith, you are waaay too out there again with the hand prints. Also, I know you’re a “fine artist,” but it’s not all about you!
-Kristin
Will Sarah Jessica Parker make another cameo this week? -Gabe
Eric actually read “Alice in Wonderland” and has someone of the book’s artwork on his arm. …impressive! -Gabe
“Alice in Wonderland” would be a great piece to work on. So much opportunity for fantasy.
Wow, Miles actually got the book finished! Well done!
-Catherine
Wow – lucky for Erik – he pulled the only book he’s read.
And, I have to agree with Nao: there’s no way Erik’s piece is going to win over the judges.
-Kristin
Well done, Simon, for reminding the artists that even if the art is good, it has to relate to the novel!
-Catherine
Is Simon actually offering constructive criticism tonight? It’s refreshing that he’s not just nodding his head and moving on.
-Kristin
Darby? Darby?!
I give up.
-Catherine
You can always tell when Simon doesn’t like someone’s piece. -Gabe
Funny that Miles smirked when Jaclyn told Simon that she “read the synopsis.” I’m thinking she’s not on the right track either. A half nude shot of herself. Yeah, that’s not going to win over the judges either.
-Kristin
I really like Mark’s work. He hasn’t won yet, but I see him going far in this competition. I hope my gambling is better than Gabe’s.
-Catherine
Jaclyn seems a hot mess right now. Maybe she should have pulled a Miles and read a little more than the synopsis. The image is beautiful, but I don’t know how relevant it is to the novel. I may have to agree with Nao on this one..
-Marylyn
If Judith is not voted off tonight, I just might stop watching this show. OK, not really. But if it was my vote, she would be off!
-Kristin
Mark’s piece raises a good point. Is it better to lean toward commercialism? What do book publishers look for in a cover? I’m sensing a story assignment here…
-Kristin
If you read the book, you have a heck of a chance to advance to next week. -Gabe
How is it that Abdi is always running out of time? His work always comes out so great, though. I wouldn’t sweat it except for that the last shot of his work looked nowhere near complete.
-Kristin
I’ve loved Abdi’s work in the last two episodes, but I’m not impressed with what he has going so far. Come on Abdi, you can do it!
BTW, I’m not predicting a winner tonight. It’s not fair to the contestants. -Gabe
That’s very thoughtful of you, Gabe.
So, is Penguin reissuing a classic with the winning artist’s piece?
-Kristin
I appreciate that tutorial, Miles. I feel like there should be a “Do not try this at home.” disclaimer for that fire.
-Catherine
Is Miles approaching this as an installation? Not sure that’s going to work. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Oh, Judith, your piece keeps getting worse. It looks just like her cat art. She’s not really adept at branching out.
-Kristin
That was a very interesting comment from Mark. He does commercial art all the time and he doesn’t feel like a sellout. We can add that to the story idea you were thinking of, Kristin.
-Catherine
Miles just challenged his inner Tom Hanks from “Cast Away.” -Gabe
If only there were FedEx boxes around.
-Catherine
I feel like Miles is a little bit of a Frankenstein with his artwork. Trying to get the electromagnetic blah blah blah just right to bring his work to life!
-Marylyn
It’s interesting that the artists seemed the most excited about this challenge at first and now they’re all not really digging what they created.
-Kristin
Poor Abdi. I really like his work, but he is struggling with this one.
-Catherine
Maybe they should have provided all the artists with the Cliffnotes or Sparknotes for this challenge…
-Catherine
I think Judith needs some sleep. Where’s Miles installation piece when we need it?
-Kristin
Are any of these pieces going to be good? Why am I thinking not?
I’m sensing a TON of dissapointment from the judges.
-Kristin
Simon de Pury, stand up comedian, ladies and gentlemen.
-Catherine
After all that reading, Miles didn’t end up tying the piece back to the book.
Now that we’re going around the gallery, no one really has done that.
-Kristin
It’s interesting how critical the artists are of their pieces once they see them in a gallery setting.
-Catherine
All of this looks like art. None of it looks like a sellable book cover.
-Kristin
I think Eric took a big step forward this week. -Gabe
Judith’s pieces remind me of Rorschach tests and mirrors, which can be great, but not when you do it each time.
-Catherine
OK, Kathryn Court just answered one of my questions: “Simplicity is important.”
-Kristin
I’m calling the winner now: Mark!
-Kristin
Wait! I like John’s piece a lot, too.
-Kristin
Oh Judith, you just sent yourself home. Don’t be on this show if you don’t want to work on assignment. It’s a series of assignments!
-Catherine
Judith is going home. My bet.
-Marylyn
Mine, too.
Jaclyn didn’t exit her artist comfort zone either. And, OMG! I can’t believe she didn’t spell the name right!
-Kristin
Exactly. Thank you, Jerry Saltz. Judith defaulted to her comfort zone. Can you be a successful artist in general if you do that too often?
-Kristin
Oh wow, I didn’t notice she misspelled it!
Are the judges going to make the artists comment on each other’s work? I thought Miles did it last week on impulse, but now I’m starting to wonder if it was clever editing.
-Catherine
I wonder what some of the best book covers of all time are.
-Kristin
I call John for the win and Judith for the lose.
-Catherine
John’s “little ladder” reminds me of something from a Shel Silverstein cover.
-Kristin
“Happy, peppy, let’s go to the zoo.” That is sophisticated critiquing right there.
-Catherine
Wow – go John! His dad’s a librarian – so cool. I’m happy he won.
He even said in the beginning, “what will it take to beat Miles?” There was a bit of foreshadowing there for sure.
-Kristin
Wow, I actually got both of them right this week.
Sad to see Judith go, but she definitely deserved it.
-Catherine
OK, looks like I can keep watching the show now: Judith’s off. No wonder they had so much footage of her. That always happens on reality TV. The one who gets voted off gets the most TV time.
-Kristin
Great episode tonight. We all agreed that this one was one of the best so far.
Until next week!
-Kristin