The Positively Positive

I have always liked Bravo’s other creative reality show, ‘Project Runway’, even though I have no clue about anything to do with fashion. I’ve never studied it and usually just turn to my trusty Glamour magazine (yes, I subscribe to Glamour, what of it?) when I want to get a clue as to what I should buy when I go shopping for a big event. Still, even without any knowledge of fashion, I enjoyed that show because I could appreciate the creativity that goes into it.

‘Work of Art: The Next Great Artist’ is different, I knew it from the moment I first started watching. Because art is something I do know a little about. Yes, I pretty much exclusively write these days but that wasn’t always the case. I’m packing to move to a new place soon and recently came across my old sketch books and paintings, etc. Now I’m not gonna claim that I was any good, but at the very least I’ve tried my hand at a few of the mediums the people use on the show – everything from photography to sculpture, watercolors, and even graphic arts.

Having first-hand knowledge makes this show ever so much enjoyable for me. Unlike ‘Project Runway’, where I struggled to understand the difference between fabrics and styles, I know how these artists feel and what it’s like to try and figure out how to get your creation to come to life. Maybe that’s why I write now. Writing seems so easy, when I think of what I want to say, I go ahead and say it. When I was sketching it wasn’t always like that. I’d think of an idea, an image I wanted to convey, and then bang my head against the wall trying to make it come out the way it was in my head.

In this week’s episode, we see the artists dealing with that problem. Tasked with the job of creating a new cover for a classic novel, each goes about it in their own way. Personally I loved what the winner did, a conceptual picture of a time machine for ‘The Time Machine’. Also I was really happy the crazy lady who wrote her title backwards got kicked off. Her attitude of being above the idea of selling her work got on my nerves. Um, if you’re not interested in commercializing your art then why be on a show where you’re out to win $100,000 for the best artist?

Overall I really enjoyed this episode and I can’t wait until they repeat the first two so that I can catch up and commence with becoming as addicted to this show as I was to ‘Project Runway’.

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I have to say that if anyone had told me even a year ago that I would end up liking a show about a Hollywood stylist I would’ve laughed in their face. Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against style or stylists. I guess I’ve always just pictured them as people who are really snobby, looking down on us “little people” with disdain.

After seeing a few episodes of this show I see now that I was wrong. Rachel is simply a woman with a job. Yes it’s an unusual job and yes it allows her to do things and meet people that some of us can only wish about, but in the end it’s a job and in my opinion she does it really well. I wouldn’t mind having her style me at all.

I also have to admit that, at first. I found her associate Brad a little annoying, but now he’s really starting to grow on me. I find that I’m laughing out loud at least a few times during the show from his antics, which is always a good thing.

It’s also true that in the beginning I liked Taylor, but now actually find her quite annoying as she’s usually grumpy. When she’s in a good mood though, she can still be fun to watch.

I love seeing all the fashion on the show and the clothes really are another member of the “cast”. Some of the stuff is so beautiful, I just wish I could afford it. Sigh.

Overall a really fun show to watch and I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of this season.