Has anyone checked out the new reality series “Work of Art” on Bravo? Set in New York, fourteen contestants compete against each other to become the “next great artist,” win some cash, and receive a solo gallery showing. Judged by art enthusiasts, gallery owners, and art critics, the artists complete in challenges testing their skills in a variety of media from oil painting to silk screening, all based around the week’s chosen theme. Themes are all over the place — in one episode artists used trashed electronics to create a sculpture that would reflect their personality. In another the artists had to create a work that was symbolic of the moment their artistic expression began, using only materials found at the children’s art museum (crayons, colored pencils, pipe cleaners, etc.).

I love checking out what the artists come up with and getting a glimpse into their creative process. It seems like some people can just hit the ground running, while others hit a road block and just can’t get their head around a project till the last minute, much like working in any design field. Sometimes projects just click, and others you need to take a minute (or hours) to have that light of inspiration. The hard part for me is watching this with my artsy boyfriend; he thinks that the art really can’t/shouldn’t be judged, because it is so subjective, and I always get an earful of this throughout each episode. I can’t say that I don’t agree with him, because some of the things the judges are loving, in my opinion, look like piles of waste or feel completely off-theme. How can you really tell what is the best? I try to look past what may be considered this show’s obvious flaw and just enjoy the clashing egos, back stabbing, and of course creative ideas and designs. Check out all the action on Wednesday nights at 11 on Bravo.