'WORK OF ART: the next Great Artist'

the first (aired on TV) so-called Reality Show for artists debuted on Bravo TV Wednesday June 9, 2010


I had been waiting with anticipation since I auditioned last year in Miami Florida. I found out about this particular screen test in the last hour and made the mad-dash with 2 original oil paintings in tow (Salad Bar & Everybodies Beautiful) to supposedly "wow 'em" with my originality and personality,... ... ... It was a muggy hot day in Miami and the line of artist prospects were forming around the block clutching their creations as they stood motionless in the sun's unshaded rays. Needless to say, the wait to get into the front door for processing seemed like it would never end (as I profusely sweated on the sidewalk) I only use my umbrella for rain & it was at home in the closet.

My turn to enter the door to the warehouse sized space filled with wanna-be TV-show stars came 2 hours later.  The application process was lengthy. They demanded to know everything about you on paper, but when it came to the face-to-face interview the young lady/art critic was serious and to the point, asking me inane simple questions like, "who's your favorite artist?" I won't get into the whole two minute (yeah, they only allotted me 2 minutes) interview, because it was stupid to say the least. Just like in everything: people have their likes and dislikes / favorite style or particular tastes, .. but, being a judge of the arts, maybe someone that can see one's inherent talent and skill would make a better critic, huh?

The mini interview ended pretty much as soon as it started. A quick smile and a thank you for coming topped it off. Oh yeah, she didn't have the time to glance at my originals that I lugged there to show 'em. "I don't have that much time" she blurted out, as I motioned her to my 2 large oils covered under black sheets. the unveiling might have been received with ooo's and aaahh's from the audience of artists but not from my interviewer. Going nowhere fast came to my mind as I stood there holding my pristine black bed sheets.

they say, "Everything happens for a reason,... the opposite must be true then,... Nothing happens for no reason"

As I drove away all I could do was to think of what I would've said to her - if given half the chance. So Victor, what would you do to be different and stand out as an artist on our reality show?,... what can u bring to the table ((the drawing table, nyuk nyuk)) that is original & would have our viewers coming back for more? Well, thanks for that awesome question Ms. nice TV Interviewer person. I would do whatever came to mind at the time, maybe ride my unicycle while juggling loaded paint brushes and sharp prismacolors all-the-while creating a piece of mixed media art.  Or, hmm ... i could hang from a scaffold while painting an over-sized portrait of Sarah Jessica Parker (exec. producer of the show) or animate a piece depicting a caricature creating a painterly portrait. I don't know really -- every day is different, especially when tasks are given, challenges are made with strict deadlines and conditions. That's what makes a creative mind work wonders. When there are no deadlines, no parameters or tough circumstances - one tends to be lazy.

I truly think "outside of the box" so much so that maybe in this case outside the very box that they were supposed to be interviewing me for. A show that will showcase people that are supposed to do just that as artists.

But, alas,... they'll never know, because I didn't have the chance to tell 'em,... to show 'em...


ps: the sponsor giving the grand prize of $100.000.00 is prismacolor colored pencils, GEE, I don't know anything about using Prismacolors