Skin Wars (2014–…): Season 2, Episode 9 - Episode #2.9 - full transcript
In the wild world
of competitive body painting,
there's nothing more fierce than
the power of transformation.
Skin Wars:
The only limits
are your imagination.
You won't believe your eyes
as 12 of America's
most talented artists
compete and push the boundaries.
Absolutely breathtaking.
Some will rise to the top...
While others will watch
their dreams go down the drain.
It fell pretty flat.
It's the challenge
of a lifetime for $100,000
and the ultimate title
of Skin Wars champion.
Does anyone want orange juice?
- I'm okay.
- I'm drinking coffee.
I'm still here.
I have a chance
to win this grand prize.
It would be amazing.
But I know the last
few challenges,
I have consistently been
on the bottom.
There is one of us
at this table right now
who's gonna walk
away with $100,000.
Even though Lana is one
of my top competitors,
I know that I'm considered
a threat.
I have this inner determination.
No matter how you look at it,
we've all really made it,
like, super far,
and that's, like, totally cool.
I know.
I'm feeling pretty amazing
to be in the top four,
but I don't feel safe at all.
I'm still feeling really nervous
because, I mean, Avi, Lana,
and Cheryl Ann
are all great painters.
- That was the first time
- I was in the bottom two,
like, the bottom,
and it was really freaky.
- And I thought for sure
- I was going home.
- At this point, you know,
- we have to bring our A-game.
To be in the bottom two
was definitely not my A-game.
I definitely want to go
in there today,
just give it my all, you know?
- Yeah. Cheers to us.
- We're in the final four.
- And the final four.
Salud.
- When we walk
- into the workroom,
we see these models
with their backs to us.
I don't know what's going on.
Hello, painters!
- Hey.
- Good morning.
Congratulations on making it
to the final four.
Thank you.
You know, to be on the top,
it's very challenge.
Now I have to stick
and stay there.
You've survived all kinds
of challenges
- since you first
- started this competition,
but today,
we're gonna bump it up a notch.
Yay!
I feel always really connected
to pregnant women 'cause
- I've been pregnant
- myself with my daughter,
and it's what I'm here for.
I will win for my daughter.
Lana, you look tickled
pink and blue.
Yes, I'm a mother too, and so,
like, I can feel it.
I really, like, love
when you're expecting child.
It's the best feeling
for a woman.
You are about to create
a Mother Nature inspired
baby bump design.
Ooh.
- We want to see your
- interpretation of Mother Nature
on the baby bumps of these
mommies-to-be.
And the kicker--you can only use
brush and sponge.
No airbrush.
No airbrush!
Everyone can beat me now.
- Can we have more
- challenges like this?
- All right.
- Let's welcome back our judges.
World champion master
body-painter, Craig Tracy.
Hello, painters.
And the owner of Skin City
Body Painting, Robin Slonina.
Hi, everybody.
We want each of you
to do something unique.
- So, you know,
- glance around the room.
Make sure that you guys
all have very different designs
honoring these four
very unique women.
And stay away from clichés,
if possible.
- You will have just
- 1 1/2 hours
to complete your painting.
- Ooh.
- All right.
And you will be judged on
creativity and design concept,
- technique,
- and execution of the challenge.
The winner of this challenge
will get an extra advantage
in the next challenge.
I am so close
to being in the top three,
to having a chance
to win the entire competition,
so I definitely want
to get the advantage.
Your time starts...
- Now!
- Good luck!
I want to win Skin Wars
so badly.
The title and the money,
that's gonna mean so much.
- Victoria, nice to meet you.
- Victoria, nice meeting you.
Hi.
I'm Cheryl Ann.
- Nice to meet you.
- I'm Stephanie.
- Nice to meet you, Stephanie.
- I'm really excited.
It's exciting
to paint a pregnant model
because you're literally
transforming their body.
Mother Nature is our theme,
and I immediately start
thinking Tree of Life.
- I'm Aryn.
- Hi.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
And I will tell you,
he's a mover.
- His tush is right there.
- Aw.
Uh, pregnancy kind of
scares me a little bit.
- I've always just been a little
- weirded out by, like,
- when they kick and stuff
- like that.
I'm like, ugh.
- If you want, we can
- kind of go with,
- like, a froggy theme,
- you know?
That sounds cool.
Aww.
- They like the brushes.
- Yep.
It's beautiful.
I'm painting the Tree of Life
growing from roots like we
are growing from our parents,
and I have the branches
with growing apples on it.
I think it's really moving.
Do you see it--feel it?
I see it's moving, yeah.
I can do, like, little animals
inside the tree for you.
When I looked around the room,
and Cheryl Ann,
she have a tree,
and I see Avi.
He was painting a tree too.
I'm a little bit
nervous at this point.
I hope I'm not gonna be
in trouble.
Ah, you stole my idea.
- Oh, the judges
- are not gonna like this.
No, no, no.
I didn't even glance first.
I see everyone doing a tree.
The one thing Robin said
was be aware of your neighbors
- and what they're painting
- so you do something different.
But it's handled differently.
I feel like I'm screwed
because it's too late
to change things about it.
Hey, you guys, we just have
30 minutes left.
Avi, how you doing over there?
- I'm good.
- Putting small detail.
Avi's definitely been
in the top a lot and won a lot.
- How are things
- without the airbrush?
I'm doing pretty good
for paint and sponge.
Yeah.
He's my biggest competition
'cause Avi is an amazing
technical painter,
and he's also creative.
- But overall,
- I think there's a good chance
- I could be in the top,
- especially after seeing
that everyone else did trees.
Okay, you guys.
We have one minute left.
Just one minute.
Lana and I have been going
head-to-head
- throughout this entire
- competition.
Knowing I've gotten
the same concept as Lana,
I'm hoping that mine will
stand out and be more
conceptually challenging
and difficult than hers.
Time's up. Tools down.
- Well, we can't wait to talk
- to you about your work.
- Hi, Avi.
- Hey, how are you?
It's gorgeous.
- Will you please tell
- us about it?
The first thing when you're
thinking Mother Nature,
you're thinking about how from
seed, it's turning into,
like, a tree, and so I create
the heart,
and from the heart,
creating the baby.
How did you do
without the airbrush?
I thought it's gonna
make me slower, but no.
Nothing can stop you.
Okay, tell us about this belly.
I've paint Circle of Life,
and inside of the tree,
growing baby,
like, there's apples
growing on this tree.
Lana, did you look over
and notice that Avi
was also painting a tree?
- You know, like, I think
- at first,
we've been all, like,
concentrating on our designs.
Do you feel that you've maybe
taken the obvious choice,
creatively?
- Kind of a little bit
- disappointed,
and I'm just hoping my tree
is the best.
We've seen two trees
in two paintings.
Oh, great.
I'm the third Tree of Life.
- Why didn't they come to me
- first?
I want to incorporate
into a Tree of Life for you,
but I want to have the spirit
and the essence
of the mother and the father.
I can see in their eyes
they are so annoyed
that we didn't listen.
Now, we did tell you
to look around the room
and try to be unique
and not use the same themes,
and it seems like
everybody ignored me.
Explain more specifically what
is different about your tree.
- Okay, what's different
- about my tree
is that I have the parents
incorporated into this,
and from the roots, a little
seed with a little sprout.
Because we're getting so close
to the end, don't play it safe.
So tell us about your belly.
She's having a little boy,
so I made a happy,
loving, mommy frog,
and a little tadpole baby.
- I feel like we're looking
- at the cover
of a really adorable
children's book.
- Yeah.
- I want to read it to my kids.
- Yeah, I didn't think that
- would be, really, a style,
but other people do, so I was
like, ah, this'll be fun.
- Well, that's smart
- because we did ask
you guys to have variety.
- So you started
- with something
- that you thought
- nobody else would do.
Mm-hmm, right.
Great, thank you.
- All right, painters,
- you've given
the judges a lot to discuss.
We will be back shortly.
Well, guys, what do you think?
For them to overlook
such a strong instruction,
I think there seems to be
a little issue with listening.
Our first look was with Avi,
and I loved his concept.
I loved that he sprung
those roots
out of the side
of the tree, you know?
What a creative choice.
But I feel like Lana really
did a great job
making that kind of fantasy
style work for her mother,
and it's so suited,
the shape and energy
of being an expectant mother.
Cheryl Ann's work felt like
Cheryl Ann's work to me,
you know?
There weren't any surprises
for me.
I wanted that tree
to really kind of unfold,
and it just kind
of felt stunted.
Aryn, her painting absolutely
stood out from the others.
There was no Tree of Life.
- You know, I liked
- what you said, Rebecca,
- that it looked like
- a storybook.
Didn't it?
- At least Aryn
- was smart enough
to think no one's
gonna do a frog.
- Okay, so have you made up
- your minds?
Yeah, I think we've made up
our minds.
Painters, the judges really
loved the fruits of your labor.
You all created beautiful art,
but there can be
only one winner.
We are the final four
and now every advantage,
it's really important,
'cause it can be the key
to winning the $100,000.
The winner
of this challenge is...
- I really want the advantage
- at this stage
- because after being
- on the bottom--
my spot in the competition,
like, I'm scared.
Painters, the judges really
loved the fruits of your labor.
You all created beautiful art,
but there can be
only one winner.
The winner of
this challenge is...
Yeah!
- Froggy.
- Congratulations, Aryn!
It's definitely important
after being on the bottom
to be on the top again
because that just shows
you can fight back,
so having that chance
to win again is awesome.
Painters, when we tell you
to push your variety
and your creativity,
we really mean it.
But Aryn,
you brought the creativity,
and that gave you
your win today.
Congratulations.
Aryn, you have won
a huge advantage
for the next challenge.
Are you ready to hear
what that is?
I'm so ready.
- Are you ready to hear
- what the next challenge is?
- Yes!
- Well, too bad.
- I can't tell you
- what it is until tomorrow,
but I can tell you we're about
to push you
outside your comfort zone.
- What?
- Get some rest.
See you in the morning.
Good night.
Good night.
We don't know exactly
what this challenge is gonna be,
and Rebecca said that we would
be out of our comfort zone,
so I'm a little bit nervous
just because I have no idea
what to expect.
- Hello, painters.
- Hi.
Hi, welcome to the picturesque
California Coast.
Oh, outside,
fresh air, bright sunshine.
It is just amazing.
In your first challenge,
you painted some
beautiful glowing mothers-to-be.
Today, you'll be painting
the mother of all subjects,
- Mother Nature.
- Wow.
With a nature blend challenge.
- Ooh.
- Nice.
You will have just three hours
to create a body painting
that makes your model
seamlessly disappear
into a nature-based backdrop.
- Okay.
- Wow.
A vineyard, a Zen garden,
a farm, and an ocean view.
And here to judge your work,
please welcome RuPaul Charles.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Hi.
And who better to judge
a nature-inspired blend
than our special guest judge?
She not only specializes
in landscape imagery,
she's the winner
of season one of Skin Wars.
Please say hello to our very
own Natalie Fletcher.
Hello, you guys.
I am so excited that Natalie,
- the first winner of Skin Wars,
- is here.
I can't wait to show her
what I can do.
Natalie was
my biggest inspiration
coming on to the second season
because I admired her creativity
in every challenge
that she did, and I strive to be
just as creative.
You will have three hours
to create your design.
You will be judged
on the following criteria.
Camouflage and blending ability,
creativity and design concept,
technique,
execution of the challenge,
and you will be judged
on a final photo of your work.
This is the last challenge
to determine
who will compete in the finale.
Natalie, you've stood in
the same spot as our painters.
As an expert in blending
and landscape, do you have
any tips, any advice?
You want to work
from your monitor
and from the view of your camera
- because that's what you'll be
- getting judged by.
- But you also
- want to take into account
that the sun
will probably change,
so things like clouds
and shadows,
I would save for the last thing
that you do.
Now it's time to find out
which backdrop you'll be
blending your models into.
Aryn, because you won
the first challenge,
you get first choice
of backdrops,
so choose carefully.
Excitement face.
So I walk around,
- and I'm looking
- at all the things, and the one
that really catches my eye
is this brilliant red tree,
and it's the Zen garden.
Which one is it gonna be?
I think that I'm gonna
go with the Zen garden.
Okay. Sounds relaxing.
- And for the rest of you,
- you get to pick
your backdrops as well,
but you have to get to it first.
When I say go, you will race
to any of the backdrops
- you choose
- and grab a paintbrush.
First player to grab
the brush gets the backdrop.
On your mark.
Get set.
Go!
Good luck!
I do love, like,
wine and grapes,
and I thought this is--I want
this station be mine.
I never did camouflage
in the nature,
and to be on the outside,
and to work against the sun,
that's tough.
I get the ocean view,
which I think
is an exceptionally dynamic and
difficult camouflage painting
because I have to incorporate
the sky and the sea
and the land.
It's like that tree pose
for, like, yoga.
I have never done
a nature blend before.
There is so much pressure
- because I definitely want to be
- in that final three
so that I can definitely win.
I won the first camouflage
challenge,
and I need to show the judges I
don't have to use only airbrush.
I also--I do paint and sponge,
like, brush and sponge,
and I do want
to be on the final three.
- In this competition,
- I think Cheryl Ann,
my biggest competitor 'cause
she have a same art
school background like I have,
- and we painted a lot
- of landscapes.
- So, like,
- I know she's technically
prepared for this challenge.
- I'm pretty excited
- about the challenge today,
but three hours is not a lot
of time to do a camouflage,
so I'm a little nervous.
- The sun is coming that
- direction, so...
- The lighting situation
- with this challenge,
it's a big deal 'cause the sun
effecting our design,
so I was worried about this.
Oops. Just tore it.
I tried to paint the hair,
and that wasn't very successful,
so I put a wig cap on her.
The wig cap
is tearing around her ear.
- This is a little too small
- for you.
I have to pull and glue it down
and paint over it.
It's--it's presenting
its own challenges.
Two hours, painters.
Two hours.
Time's flying.
Hi, Cheryl Ann.
You're doing ocean view.
Ocean view,
which I'm really kind
of excited I got this,
and I thought, like,
this would just be so pretty.
- I could paint the flowers
- into her.
- The ocean's gonna
- be in the background.
This gorgeous tree.
- Now, have you made
- any arrangements for the sun?
You remember Natalie's advice
was to keep an eye on the sun.
Right, well, just having
mainly this tree
and her head will be the sky,
so keeping it that soft blue,
- no matter what happens
- with the sun,
that last 20, 30 minutes,
- if there's clouds,
- I'll pop in clouds.
- What are you struggling
- with the most?
My bald cap tore
a little bit, you know,
so I just want to keep it--
the illusion.
- Sure, sure.
- That's what I'm working on.
- Great, thank you so much,
- Cheryl Ann.
- Thanks, you guys.
- Good luck.
Thank you.
Avi.
- Hello.
- Hello.
So you got the farm.
Yes, I got the farm.
What is the biggest challenge?
- The brightness of the sun.
- The brightness of the sun?
Now, we see you're doing
some hand painting, Avi.
- Because there is a lot
- of texture that I have to do
with the sponge and brush.
- Okay, great.
- Well, thank you, Avi.
- Hi, Aryn.
- Hi.
Is the sun changing things
for you, Aryn?
Uh, yes, it's definitely
creating something
- of a challenge,
- but this whole area
is kind of shaded anyways.
When you're doing a nature--
a nature blend,
it's those big contrasts
and stuff
that really make your piece pop.
- And the fact that you picked
- the one that had
that bright red,
which can be a challenge
to work with, but you're doing
a really good job with it.
Excellent.
- Thank you, Aryn. Good luck.
- Thank you.
- Hello.
- Hi, Lana.
Those grapes look delicious.
- And was this your first choice
- for a backdrop?
Yeah, I ran to here,
and I really like this
kind of winery looking.
I want even to incorporate
my model's hair.
It looks like wine.
- Yes.
- Oh, sure.
- That's really smart.
- Uh-huh.
- So what's your
- biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge
to surprise with
really nice pose,
and I have this
big wine barrel.
So it is a darker pose,
you know?
She's very much in shadow,
but I think that might be smart
because of how much the sun
is gonna change.
Well, we can't wait
to see the final result.
- Cannot wait to finish
- it in time.
Great. Get back to work.
- Thank you, Lana.
- Okay, thank you so much.
- Good luck.
- Good luck.
Thank you.
30 minutes left
to earn your spot
- in the final three,
- painters.
30 minutes?
Oh, my God.
This light situation
not help me hide her feet,
but I think, like, whole body
was disappearing pretty well.
I need you to hold it now
more than ever, okay,
'cause I'm doing
last minute details.
- Um, so what are you gonna
- do with this money?
- I'm mostly doing it
- for my family.
I working really hard
to support them.
This is not the time
to fail and go home.
- This is time
- to push yourself really hard
and impress the judges,
and it's really important
to be in the top three.
The money is a big deal.
- Time's up! Tools down.
Painters, welcome
to the Skin Wars semi-finals.
- Whoo.
- Thank you.
Well done.
You've beaten out
so many competitors,
and now it's down
to the final four.
- Yes.
- Congrats.
- Thank you.
- Thank you so much.
- How are you guys
- feeling after some time
out in Mother Nature?
A little sunburned.
- Sunburned, a little bit.
- Sunburned.
This was your last challenge
before the finale.
You had just three hours
to create a nature blend
body painting.
At the end of tonight,
there will be one winner,
and one of you will be
going home.
Now let's say hello
to our judges.
Craig Tracy.
- Hello, painters.
- Hello.
- Hi, Craig.
- Robin Slonina.
- Hi, everybody.
- Hi, Robin.
RuPaul Charles.
Nature is cruel!
And our special guest judge,
landscape blend specialist
and Skin Wars season one
champion, Natalie Fletcher.
- Yay.
- Whoo!
I remember being up there,
and my heart's, like,
beating for you guys.
It's really--it's intense.
Okay, painters.
It's time to take a look
at your landscape blends.
All right, Avi.
- It was really, really,
- challenging.
I did 99.9999, paintbrush.
I feel like this is
a different Avi.
You really got challenged
on this instead of just kind
of skating your way through it,
and the fact that you chose
to go paintbrush
instead of airbrush kind
of surprises the heck out of me.
But you've done things here
that are spectacular.
I really love the push
and pull of now you see her,
now you don't of this image,
and, you know, some of it,
- I think was more successful
- than others.
That one trunk on the tree,
it was a little bit off,
- and the colors
- weren't quite matching,
but overall, I think you
technically did a great job.
- And how many times have you done
- nature blends before?
First time.
- This was your first time?
- Yeah.
I just want to punch you
in the jaw.
It's really gorgeous.
Okay. Thank you, Avi.
Thank you very much.
Aryn, tell us about your work.
I had the Zen garden.
- So what I wanted to do
- with this one
is that I wanted to go
with a way more daring pose.
You've chose
really beautiful colors
in the background,
and you made the absolute most
of your model's pose,
and you took chances, which I
really appreciate in you.
I love this challenging yoga
tree pose that you did for this.
- It really suits
- your environment,
and that just adds another
layer of creativity
to what you have done here.
- For some reason,
- my eye is drawn
to the hip on the side.
What I would've maybe done
is scootched her over,
you know, just like two inches,
and made that hip--
the hill on the hip--
the rest of it just
go a lot further back.
Okay. Thank you, Aryn.
Yeah, thank you.
All right, Cheryl Ann.
I really wanted
the ocean background,
and I also wanted to incorporate
the land, the sea,
and the sky.
The head and the sky,
that was the most
challenging part for me.
I love the tree
on the torso.
I think that might be
my favorite part
of all of the paintings,
but that head kind of does
stick out like a sore thumb,
and in a blend like this,
you really don't want that.
- And I knew that the bald cap
- might be a little funky,
but I also
could paint it perfectly,
whereas I can't paint perfectly,
the hair.
So I thought I'll take the risk.
- There are certain things
- you just can't paint away.
- You can pose it away.
- You can pose it away, exactly.
I would've hid the head
completely in the tree.
Okay. Thank you, Cheryl Ann.
Thank you so much.
Okay, Lana. You're next.
My station was a vineyard.
I want to make really
feminine pose.
I loved how feminine
the pose was.
I thought it was very beautiful.
You walk up to it,
and it does have a feel to it.
It is a beautiful connection
that you're creating
between your model
and the actual vine itself.
I think it was clever
to hide your model a little bit
from the shifting sun,
but you didn't quite
escape the shadows.
I do wish there was a little
bit more shadow on her leg
that would match with that back
barrel a little bit more.
And everyone else had
something that you didn't have,
and that's, you know,
taller grass or flowers
to kind of hide the feet
because feet can be kind
of obvious in paintings
just like we were talking about
how the head is the same way.
Feet are just so hard
to--to blend in because
there's just an obvious shadow.
Thank you, Lana.
Thank you.
Painters, you all overcame
nature's elements
to create some beautiful blends.
Please head back to the lounge,
and we'll call you back shortly.
Well, okay, guys.
What do you think?
- I think they all did
- a great job,
and I think they all had, like,
an equal amount of challenges as
well with lighting and shadows,
and so I feel like it was
a fair game across the board.
Aryn put it all together.
She had the pose, the color.
She challenged herself,
and ultimately came out with
a really solid finished piece.
On the negative side, I never
lost the face in this piece.
I could always see that face.
- I thought the colors
- were a little off,
and I wish
that the pose in the face
was just a little
bit more peaceful.
I actually go back
to your earlier point
which is I wish
that she had brought the hip
behind the pagoda a little bit
- so that you could do that push
- and pull.
Absolutely.
- That would've
- been really brilliant.
All right, how about Avi?
Overall, there was just
something so harmonious
about his piece.
I mean, I could just look
at that picture all day.
The leg that was up and had
that very prominent tree trunk
on it, that tree trunk
wasn't lined up exactly,
and, you know, those colors,
they weren't dark enough.
They were too bright.
- That was, like,
- his Achilles heel,
- was that particular
- tree trunk for me.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay, how about Cheryl Ann?
There were other choices
that Cheryl Ann could've made
that would've just
nailed this painting.
I'm being distracted
by the head.
Well, and if you're gonna see
the outline of the head,
it would be then, at least, nice
to have it be a feminine head
because it kind of had
a strange alien look
that really was distracting.
But I think, really,
she did a better job
at color matching than anyone.
So once again, we have
a beautiful painting
from Cheryl Ann,
but she creatively made
a few bad choices.
Let's talk
about Lana's painting.
You know, I loved how just
beautiful and romantic
Lana's model looked
in that environment.
I do wonder if maybe she was
playing it a little bit safe.
And it's not to say
that she's a bad painter.
Technically,
it's a beautiful painting,
- but then she also got
- into a little bit
of trouble with that barrel
and the light source.
- It bothered me
- that you could see
Cheryl Ann's head on her model,
but it really bothered me
that you could see Lana's feet
on her model
because that's kind
of two big signifiers
of the human form, you know?
The top and the bottom.
And she was hiding so much
in the rest of the body,
- you would think
- she could've just brought
that hiding technique
down to the bottom as well.
So, judges,
have you made your decision?
- I feel like the work
- is all so strong,
it's just splitting hairs.
I think we know
what we have to do.
Yes.
It's all come to this.
Like, this whole reason
that we worked so hard
is for this moment.
- At this point, I want to puke
- all over the place.
Welcome back, painters.
Hi.
You each captured
the California landscape
brilliantly with your paintings,
isn't that right, judges?
Absolutely, this was
stunning work,
and we're all so proud of you.
Thank you.
I am a native Californian,
and you made me fall in love
with my home state
all over again.
You're all amazing painters,
and I can truly see
why you four are the top four.
Thank you.
This was the closest decision
the judges have had
to make all season.
Even though you all had
incredible nature blends,
tonight there can be
only one winner,
and one of you is going home.
Even though you all had
incredible nature blends,
tonight there can be
only one winner,
and one of you is going home.
Avi.
Aryn.
Congratulations.
You were our top two.
You will be competing
in the finale for $100,000.
Your landscapes
were so impressive
and beautifully painted.
It could've gone either way.
Avi, you're a technical master.
Aryn, you're a creative force.
But tonight, it came
down to who made their model
disappear more
into their nature blend.
Tonight's winner is...
Avi.
- Congratulations.
- Good job!
To win for the fourth time,
and to be the person
that win the most challenges
just make me feel
confident and good.
I have a big chance
to get the whole thing.
Well, congratulations
to both of you.
Thank you so much.
- You've made it
- to the final three,
and both of you are gonna be
competing for $100,000.
- So close.
- We can touch it.
You may head back
to the lounge.
I'm in the finale!
- I can't believe it.
- I'm so excited.
- I can't wait to get started.
- Whoo, champagne.
It just feels, like,
so rejuvenating to know that,
like, even this late in the game
that I'm still, um,
considered a top painter,
that I still have, like,
the ability to potentially win.
Lana, Cheryl Ann,
you are the bottom two.
The last thing
I want is to be eliminated.
Just to be at the final four
and not make it
to the top three
is crushing.
One of you is going home
tonight.
Please step forward.
You guys are both such
exceptional painters,
but unfortunately,
one of you lost by a head,
and the other lost by a foot.
Now, Lana, you had some
issues with shadow and blending.
Cheryl Ann, you should've hidden
your model's head.
All in all,
it was a missed opportunity.
You are truly exceptional
painters,
and both of you deserve a spot
in the final three.
The judges wanted to give
each of you
another opportunity
to decide who stays.
So we are going
to hold a paint-off.
Wow.
Truly, it is a second chance.
You both did a good job
on your paintings,
but we feel like
you could do better.
Bring it, paint your asses off.
I'm getting nervous 'cause
I want to be on the top three.
- This is, like,
- a really big deal.
This is a battle royale.
I want to see you two blondes
go head-to-head and toe-to-toe.
The battle of the blondes.
Lana. Cheryl Ann.
You are the bottom two.
The judges wanted to give
each of you
another opportunity
to decide who stays.
So we are going
to hold a paint-off.
Wow.
You will have 1 1/2 hours
to create a cityscape blend
based on a Los Angeles backdrop.
You can pick different
poses and placement,
but you will use
the same picture.
You will be judged
on technique, creativity,
and execution of the challenge.
- The painter
- with the better piece
will become our third finalist.
The other will be
the last painter
sent home before the finale.
This is a battle royale.
I want to see you two blondes
go head-to-head and toe-to-toe.
This painting
means the difference
between being in the final three
or going home.
I have worked so hard
to be here.
I have sacrificed so much.
Everything is at stake for me.
For the last spot
in the finals,
your time starts...
now.
And they're off.
Lana and I have 90 minutes
to do another camouflage
painting into a photograph
of downtown L.A.
- Can I have you put
- your hair in a bun?
Do you have a hair tie?
Lana and I are both fighters.
Throughout this competition,
it's just kind of been
me and Lana going head-to-head.
I think I will swap with Lana.
Lana, you get to take
30 minutes away from
one of your competitors.
- Who's it gonna be?
- Cheryl Ann.
I think you were more intent
on trying to get back at me.
I chose strong painter,
but not the fastest one.
So here I am again with Lana.
It all comes down to this.
It's a battle of the blondes.
Like, one leg up.
I knew right away this is--
will be battle,
'cause we need to show who
is the best at this point.
Could you do, like,
a super--super star pose for me?
Kind of like...
- or maybe even like this,
- holding... you know.
Like this?
- You know,
- we have a same background,
and I know Cheryl Ann have
- really good blends
- and abilities.
So what's separating us
at this moment
is how creative you po--
your pose.
What if you, like,
put your hands up?
This is so much going on here.
What I should do now?
And I was start
thinking about pose,
and at this point, Cheryl Ann
already was painting her model.
So this highway's
gonna come down.
You can keep
your feet relaxed.
I had this idea to pose my model
sitting with her legs
propped up to really make
my painting blend in seamlessly,
making this camouflage
fairly easy.
I'm trying to make it, like,
that's all gonna be dark greens.
- This is, like,
- the edge of that.
Painters, one hour.
You're at the one hour mark.
You're totally
my good luck charm.
- I'd definitely try
- and match up
all the buildings, like,
on all the edges.
Natalie,
you've been through this.
What do you think's going
through their minds right now?
- There was a lot of emotion
- going through my head,
which is why I went so
emotional with my paintings.
I'm just getting
nervous about Lana.
I feel like I'm killing it.
She is blending perfectly.
- She is going
- into that background.
I have enough time for details,
and Lana,
she doesn't have a lot covered.
I have this one in the bag.
45 minutes.
You're at the halfway point.
It's definitely the battle
of the blondes right now.
Cheryl Ann is almost done,
and Lana's still
just painting away.
I was concentrating
on applying so fast 'cause,
like, it was so much to do,
all these houses
and trees and branches
and freeway
with all these lines.
I need to concentrate.
This is my chance.
15 minutes, painters.
15 minutes.
She put the paint
on there fast, didn't she?
Uh-huh.
Three, two, one.
Time's up. Tools down.
- Whoo!
All right,
well, I don't how the judges
are gonna decide,
but they have a lot
to talk about.
So please head back
to the painter's lounge,
and we'll call you out shortly.
- Thank you.
- Thank you so much.
What do you guys think?
To be honest, I'm frustrated
with Cheryl Ann's choice.
I feel like she put her model
down in the corner.
She used 1/3rd
of the whole space
that she was given to use.
I feel like Lana's composition
was more creative.
I'm looking at who made
their body disappear more.
I feel that the top of Lana's
model doesn't disappear,
but Cheryl Ann's model,
for the majority,
except for the leg, disappears.
But she balled her up and put
her in the darkest corner.
And made her disappear
in doing it.
I hear what Craig is saying,
I really do.
She did blend her model
into the picture.
Okay, judges.
Have you made a decision?
Yes.
You both created
an amazing cityscape
in 1 1/2 hours,
but only one of you will get
to move on to the finals.
It's time to find out
who will be our third finalist.
- I want to be here more
- than anything,
and I want to win this more than
anything, because I need this.
I don't want to go home.
You both created
an amazing cityscape
in 1 1/2 hours,
but only one of you will get
to move on to the finals.
It's time to find out
who will be our third finalist.
I thought both of you girls
did such a good job.
Lana, I loved the movement
of yours,
and, Cheryl Ann,
your model definitely blended.
Thank you.
It was really exhilarating
to watch the two of you
just go at it.
It seems kind of cruel to put
you under that kind of pressure,
- but listen,
- the stakes are very high.
We're talking about $100,000.
Lana, I loved how you were so
ambitious in your design.
You really chose a challenging
thing for yourself to paint,
a challenging
pose for your model to hold.
This was just amazing
for us to watch.
Cheryl Ann, technically,
you made your model disappear.
- You should be very proud.
- Thank you.
It's time to announce
the judges' decision.
And our third finalist is...
Lana.
Yes!
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Thank you so much, guys.
I did my best,
I did, like--I really
like, I put everything
in this painting.
Congratulations, Lana.
You will compete for $100,000.
Please head back
to the painter's lounge.
- If I can just speak
- from someone
who's been on both sides,
- you're super-talented,
- you know that,
and you're new to the game.
So just imagine where you're
gonna be a year from now,
two years from now,
five years from now.
You may not have made it
to the final three,
but you have stood out,
- and you have made
- a name for yourself.
This is not the last time
we're gonna hear Cheryl Ann.
Thank you so much.
It just means so much
to hear your compliments.
It's time to go wash off
your canvas.
- Hi.
- You did so good.
- Oh, my God.
- Hug.
The hardest thing any artist
can ever do
is put their artwork out there.
- I love you guys, I do.
- We love you.
In the end, I'm only always
humbled to have been here
and to have had my chance
to fight fairly and cleanly,
and I've kept my chin up
this entire competition.
Even if I don't have $100,000,
I have my integrity
as a painter,
as a person.
I did nothing but shine.
Next time on Skin Wars...
Congratulations.
You are the final three.
This whole finale
is gonna be the thing
that changes your life.
Each of you will have two
assistants to help you out,
and you may recognize them.
Seriously?
- This is one of the
- most challenging skills
in body painting.
My goal is to blow
the judges' mind.
- One minute!
- I want this so bad.
Minds have been blown.
The winner of the $100,000
grand prize is...
of competitive body painting,
there's nothing more fierce than
the power of transformation.
Skin Wars:
The only limits
are your imagination.
You won't believe your eyes
as 12 of America's
most talented artists
compete and push the boundaries.
Absolutely breathtaking.
Some will rise to the top...
While others will watch
their dreams go down the drain.
It fell pretty flat.
It's the challenge
of a lifetime for $100,000
and the ultimate title
of Skin Wars champion.
Does anyone want orange juice?
- I'm okay.
- I'm drinking coffee.
I'm still here.
I have a chance
to win this grand prize.
It would be amazing.
But I know the last
few challenges,
I have consistently been
on the bottom.
There is one of us
at this table right now
who's gonna walk
away with $100,000.
Even though Lana is one
of my top competitors,
I know that I'm considered
a threat.
I have this inner determination.
No matter how you look at it,
we've all really made it,
like, super far,
and that's, like, totally cool.
I know.
I'm feeling pretty amazing
to be in the top four,
but I don't feel safe at all.
I'm still feeling really nervous
because, I mean, Avi, Lana,
and Cheryl Ann
are all great painters.
- That was the first time
- I was in the bottom two,
like, the bottom,
and it was really freaky.
- And I thought for sure
- I was going home.
- At this point, you know,
- we have to bring our A-game.
To be in the bottom two
was definitely not my A-game.
I definitely want to go
in there today,
just give it my all, you know?
- Yeah. Cheers to us.
- We're in the final four.
- And the final four.
Salud.
- When we walk
- into the workroom,
we see these models
with their backs to us.
I don't know what's going on.
Hello, painters!
- Hey.
- Good morning.
Congratulations on making it
to the final four.
Thank you.
You know, to be on the top,
it's very challenge.
Now I have to stick
and stay there.
You've survived all kinds
of challenges
- since you first
- started this competition,
but today,
we're gonna bump it up a notch.
Yay!
I feel always really connected
to pregnant women 'cause
- I've been pregnant
- myself with my daughter,
and it's what I'm here for.
I will win for my daughter.
Lana, you look tickled
pink and blue.
Yes, I'm a mother too, and so,
like, I can feel it.
I really, like, love
when you're expecting child.
It's the best feeling
for a woman.
You are about to create
a Mother Nature inspired
baby bump design.
Ooh.
- We want to see your
- interpretation of Mother Nature
on the baby bumps of these
mommies-to-be.
And the kicker--you can only use
brush and sponge.
No airbrush.
No airbrush!
Everyone can beat me now.
- Can we have more
- challenges like this?
- All right.
- Let's welcome back our judges.
World champion master
body-painter, Craig Tracy.
Hello, painters.
And the owner of Skin City
Body Painting, Robin Slonina.
Hi, everybody.
We want each of you
to do something unique.
- So, you know,
- glance around the room.
Make sure that you guys
all have very different designs
honoring these four
very unique women.
And stay away from clichés,
if possible.
- You will have just
- 1 1/2 hours
to complete your painting.
- Ooh.
- All right.
And you will be judged on
creativity and design concept,
- technique,
- and execution of the challenge.
The winner of this challenge
will get an extra advantage
in the next challenge.
I am so close
to being in the top three,
to having a chance
to win the entire competition,
so I definitely want
to get the advantage.
Your time starts...
- Now!
- Good luck!
I want to win Skin Wars
so badly.
The title and the money,
that's gonna mean so much.
- Victoria, nice to meet you.
- Victoria, nice meeting you.
Hi.
I'm Cheryl Ann.
- Nice to meet you.
- I'm Stephanie.
- Nice to meet you, Stephanie.
- I'm really excited.
It's exciting
to paint a pregnant model
because you're literally
transforming their body.
Mother Nature is our theme,
and I immediately start
thinking Tree of Life.
- I'm Aryn.
- Hi.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
And I will tell you,
he's a mover.
- His tush is right there.
- Aw.
Uh, pregnancy kind of
scares me a little bit.
- I've always just been a little
- weirded out by, like,
- when they kick and stuff
- like that.
I'm like, ugh.
- If you want, we can
- kind of go with,
- like, a froggy theme,
- you know?
That sounds cool.
Aww.
- They like the brushes.
- Yep.
It's beautiful.
I'm painting the Tree of Life
growing from roots like we
are growing from our parents,
and I have the branches
with growing apples on it.
I think it's really moving.
Do you see it--feel it?
I see it's moving, yeah.
I can do, like, little animals
inside the tree for you.
When I looked around the room,
and Cheryl Ann,
she have a tree,
and I see Avi.
He was painting a tree too.
I'm a little bit
nervous at this point.
I hope I'm not gonna be
in trouble.
Ah, you stole my idea.
- Oh, the judges
- are not gonna like this.
No, no, no.
I didn't even glance first.
I see everyone doing a tree.
The one thing Robin said
was be aware of your neighbors
- and what they're painting
- so you do something different.
But it's handled differently.
I feel like I'm screwed
because it's too late
to change things about it.
Hey, you guys, we just have
30 minutes left.
Avi, how you doing over there?
- I'm good.
- Putting small detail.
Avi's definitely been
in the top a lot and won a lot.
- How are things
- without the airbrush?
I'm doing pretty good
for paint and sponge.
Yeah.
He's my biggest competition
'cause Avi is an amazing
technical painter,
and he's also creative.
- But overall,
- I think there's a good chance
- I could be in the top,
- especially after seeing
that everyone else did trees.
Okay, you guys.
We have one minute left.
Just one minute.
Lana and I have been going
head-to-head
- throughout this entire
- competition.
Knowing I've gotten
the same concept as Lana,
I'm hoping that mine will
stand out and be more
conceptually challenging
and difficult than hers.
Time's up. Tools down.
- Well, we can't wait to talk
- to you about your work.
- Hi, Avi.
- Hey, how are you?
It's gorgeous.
- Will you please tell
- us about it?
The first thing when you're
thinking Mother Nature,
you're thinking about how from
seed, it's turning into,
like, a tree, and so I create
the heart,
and from the heart,
creating the baby.
How did you do
without the airbrush?
I thought it's gonna
make me slower, but no.
Nothing can stop you.
Okay, tell us about this belly.
I've paint Circle of Life,
and inside of the tree,
growing baby,
like, there's apples
growing on this tree.
Lana, did you look over
and notice that Avi
was also painting a tree?
- You know, like, I think
- at first,
we've been all, like,
concentrating on our designs.
Do you feel that you've maybe
taken the obvious choice,
creatively?
- Kind of a little bit
- disappointed,
and I'm just hoping my tree
is the best.
We've seen two trees
in two paintings.
Oh, great.
I'm the third Tree of Life.
- Why didn't they come to me
- first?
I want to incorporate
into a Tree of Life for you,
but I want to have the spirit
and the essence
of the mother and the father.
I can see in their eyes
they are so annoyed
that we didn't listen.
Now, we did tell you
to look around the room
and try to be unique
and not use the same themes,
and it seems like
everybody ignored me.
Explain more specifically what
is different about your tree.
- Okay, what's different
- about my tree
is that I have the parents
incorporated into this,
and from the roots, a little
seed with a little sprout.
Because we're getting so close
to the end, don't play it safe.
So tell us about your belly.
She's having a little boy,
so I made a happy,
loving, mommy frog,
and a little tadpole baby.
- I feel like we're looking
- at the cover
of a really adorable
children's book.
- Yeah.
- I want to read it to my kids.
- Yeah, I didn't think that
- would be, really, a style,
but other people do, so I was
like, ah, this'll be fun.
- Well, that's smart
- because we did ask
you guys to have variety.
- So you started
- with something
- that you thought
- nobody else would do.
Mm-hmm, right.
Great, thank you.
- All right, painters,
- you've given
the judges a lot to discuss.
We will be back shortly.
Well, guys, what do you think?
For them to overlook
such a strong instruction,
I think there seems to be
a little issue with listening.
Our first look was with Avi,
and I loved his concept.
I loved that he sprung
those roots
out of the side
of the tree, you know?
What a creative choice.
But I feel like Lana really
did a great job
making that kind of fantasy
style work for her mother,
and it's so suited,
the shape and energy
of being an expectant mother.
Cheryl Ann's work felt like
Cheryl Ann's work to me,
you know?
There weren't any surprises
for me.
I wanted that tree
to really kind of unfold,
and it just kind
of felt stunted.
Aryn, her painting absolutely
stood out from the others.
There was no Tree of Life.
- You know, I liked
- what you said, Rebecca,
- that it looked like
- a storybook.
Didn't it?
- At least Aryn
- was smart enough
to think no one's
gonna do a frog.
- Okay, so have you made up
- your minds?
Yeah, I think we've made up
our minds.
Painters, the judges really
loved the fruits of your labor.
You all created beautiful art,
but there can be
only one winner.
We are the final four
and now every advantage,
it's really important,
'cause it can be the key
to winning the $100,000.
The winner
of this challenge is...
- I really want the advantage
- at this stage
- because after being
- on the bottom--
my spot in the competition,
like, I'm scared.
Painters, the judges really
loved the fruits of your labor.
You all created beautiful art,
but there can be
only one winner.
The winner of
this challenge is...
Yeah!
- Froggy.
- Congratulations, Aryn!
It's definitely important
after being on the bottom
to be on the top again
because that just shows
you can fight back,
so having that chance
to win again is awesome.
Painters, when we tell you
to push your variety
and your creativity,
we really mean it.
But Aryn,
you brought the creativity,
and that gave you
your win today.
Congratulations.
Aryn, you have won
a huge advantage
for the next challenge.
Are you ready to hear
what that is?
I'm so ready.
- Are you ready to hear
- what the next challenge is?
- Yes!
- Well, too bad.
- I can't tell you
- what it is until tomorrow,
but I can tell you we're about
to push you
outside your comfort zone.
- What?
- Get some rest.
See you in the morning.
Good night.
Good night.
We don't know exactly
what this challenge is gonna be,
and Rebecca said that we would
be out of our comfort zone,
so I'm a little bit nervous
just because I have no idea
what to expect.
- Hello, painters.
- Hi.
Hi, welcome to the picturesque
California Coast.
Oh, outside,
fresh air, bright sunshine.
It is just amazing.
In your first challenge,
you painted some
beautiful glowing mothers-to-be.
Today, you'll be painting
the mother of all subjects,
- Mother Nature.
- Wow.
With a nature blend challenge.
- Ooh.
- Nice.
You will have just three hours
to create a body painting
that makes your model
seamlessly disappear
into a nature-based backdrop.
- Okay.
- Wow.
A vineyard, a Zen garden,
a farm, and an ocean view.
And here to judge your work,
please welcome RuPaul Charles.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Hi.
And who better to judge
a nature-inspired blend
than our special guest judge?
She not only specializes
in landscape imagery,
she's the winner
of season one of Skin Wars.
Please say hello to our very
own Natalie Fletcher.
Hello, you guys.
I am so excited that Natalie,
- the first winner of Skin Wars,
- is here.
I can't wait to show her
what I can do.
Natalie was
my biggest inspiration
coming on to the second season
because I admired her creativity
in every challenge
that she did, and I strive to be
just as creative.
You will have three hours
to create your design.
You will be judged
on the following criteria.
Camouflage and blending ability,
creativity and design concept,
technique,
execution of the challenge,
and you will be judged
on a final photo of your work.
This is the last challenge
to determine
who will compete in the finale.
Natalie, you've stood in
the same spot as our painters.
As an expert in blending
and landscape, do you have
any tips, any advice?
You want to work
from your monitor
and from the view of your camera
- because that's what you'll be
- getting judged by.
- But you also
- want to take into account
that the sun
will probably change,
so things like clouds
and shadows,
I would save for the last thing
that you do.
Now it's time to find out
which backdrop you'll be
blending your models into.
Aryn, because you won
the first challenge,
you get first choice
of backdrops,
so choose carefully.
Excitement face.
So I walk around,
- and I'm looking
- at all the things, and the one
that really catches my eye
is this brilliant red tree,
and it's the Zen garden.
Which one is it gonna be?
I think that I'm gonna
go with the Zen garden.
Okay. Sounds relaxing.
- And for the rest of you,
- you get to pick
your backdrops as well,
but you have to get to it first.
When I say go, you will race
to any of the backdrops
- you choose
- and grab a paintbrush.
First player to grab
the brush gets the backdrop.
On your mark.
Get set.
Go!
Good luck!
I do love, like,
wine and grapes,
and I thought this is--I want
this station be mine.
I never did camouflage
in the nature,
and to be on the outside,
and to work against the sun,
that's tough.
I get the ocean view,
which I think
is an exceptionally dynamic and
difficult camouflage painting
because I have to incorporate
the sky and the sea
and the land.
It's like that tree pose
for, like, yoga.
I have never done
a nature blend before.
There is so much pressure
- because I definitely want to be
- in that final three
so that I can definitely win.
I won the first camouflage
challenge,
and I need to show the judges I
don't have to use only airbrush.
I also--I do paint and sponge,
like, brush and sponge,
and I do want
to be on the final three.
- In this competition,
- I think Cheryl Ann,
my biggest competitor 'cause
she have a same art
school background like I have,
- and we painted a lot
- of landscapes.
- So, like,
- I know she's technically
prepared for this challenge.
- I'm pretty excited
- about the challenge today,
but three hours is not a lot
of time to do a camouflage,
so I'm a little nervous.
- The sun is coming that
- direction, so...
- The lighting situation
- with this challenge,
it's a big deal 'cause the sun
effecting our design,
so I was worried about this.
Oops. Just tore it.
I tried to paint the hair,
and that wasn't very successful,
so I put a wig cap on her.
The wig cap
is tearing around her ear.
- This is a little too small
- for you.
I have to pull and glue it down
and paint over it.
It's--it's presenting
its own challenges.
Two hours, painters.
Two hours.
Time's flying.
Hi, Cheryl Ann.
You're doing ocean view.
Ocean view,
which I'm really kind
of excited I got this,
and I thought, like,
this would just be so pretty.
- I could paint the flowers
- into her.
- The ocean's gonna
- be in the background.
This gorgeous tree.
- Now, have you made
- any arrangements for the sun?
You remember Natalie's advice
was to keep an eye on the sun.
Right, well, just having
mainly this tree
and her head will be the sky,
so keeping it that soft blue,
- no matter what happens
- with the sun,
that last 20, 30 minutes,
- if there's clouds,
- I'll pop in clouds.
- What are you struggling
- with the most?
My bald cap tore
a little bit, you know,
so I just want to keep it--
the illusion.
- Sure, sure.
- That's what I'm working on.
- Great, thank you so much,
- Cheryl Ann.
- Thanks, you guys.
- Good luck.
Thank you.
Avi.
- Hello.
- Hello.
So you got the farm.
Yes, I got the farm.
What is the biggest challenge?
- The brightness of the sun.
- The brightness of the sun?
Now, we see you're doing
some hand painting, Avi.
- Because there is a lot
- of texture that I have to do
with the sponge and brush.
- Okay, great.
- Well, thank you, Avi.
- Hi, Aryn.
- Hi.
Is the sun changing things
for you, Aryn?
Uh, yes, it's definitely
creating something
- of a challenge,
- but this whole area
is kind of shaded anyways.
When you're doing a nature--
a nature blend,
it's those big contrasts
and stuff
that really make your piece pop.
- And the fact that you picked
- the one that had
that bright red,
which can be a challenge
to work with, but you're doing
a really good job with it.
Excellent.
- Thank you, Aryn. Good luck.
- Thank you.
- Hello.
- Hi, Lana.
Those grapes look delicious.
- And was this your first choice
- for a backdrop?
Yeah, I ran to here,
and I really like this
kind of winery looking.
I want even to incorporate
my model's hair.
It looks like wine.
- Yes.
- Oh, sure.
- That's really smart.
- Uh-huh.
- So what's your
- biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge
to surprise with
really nice pose,
and I have this
big wine barrel.
So it is a darker pose,
you know?
She's very much in shadow,
but I think that might be smart
because of how much the sun
is gonna change.
Well, we can't wait
to see the final result.
- Cannot wait to finish
- it in time.
Great. Get back to work.
- Thank you, Lana.
- Okay, thank you so much.
- Good luck.
- Good luck.
Thank you.
30 minutes left
to earn your spot
- in the final three,
- painters.
30 minutes?
Oh, my God.
This light situation
not help me hide her feet,
but I think, like, whole body
was disappearing pretty well.
I need you to hold it now
more than ever, okay,
'cause I'm doing
last minute details.
- Um, so what are you gonna
- do with this money?
- I'm mostly doing it
- for my family.
I working really hard
to support them.
This is not the time
to fail and go home.
- This is time
- to push yourself really hard
and impress the judges,
and it's really important
to be in the top three.
The money is a big deal.
- Time's up! Tools down.
Painters, welcome
to the Skin Wars semi-finals.
- Whoo.
- Thank you.
Well done.
You've beaten out
so many competitors,
and now it's down
to the final four.
- Yes.
- Congrats.
- Thank you.
- Thank you so much.
- How are you guys
- feeling after some time
out in Mother Nature?
A little sunburned.
- Sunburned, a little bit.
- Sunburned.
This was your last challenge
before the finale.
You had just three hours
to create a nature blend
body painting.
At the end of tonight,
there will be one winner,
and one of you will be
going home.
Now let's say hello
to our judges.
Craig Tracy.
- Hello, painters.
- Hello.
- Hi, Craig.
- Robin Slonina.
- Hi, everybody.
- Hi, Robin.
RuPaul Charles.
Nature is cruel!
And our special guest judge,
landscape blend specialist
and Skin Wars season one
champion, Natalie Fletcher.
- Yay.
- Whoo!
I remember being up there,
and my heart's, like,
beating for you guys.
It's really--it's intense.
Okay, painters.
It's time to take a look
at your landscape blends.
All right, Avi.
- It was really, really,
- challenging.
I did 99.9999, paintbrush.
I feel like this is
a different Avi.
You really got challenged
on this instead of just kind
of skating your way through it,
and the fact that you chose
to go paintbrush
instead of airbrush kind
of surprises the heck out of me.
But you've done things here
that are spectacular.
I really love the push
and pull of now you see her,
now you don't of this image,
and, you know, some of it,
- I think was more successful
- than others.
That one trunk on the tree,
it was a little bit off,
- and the colors
- weren't quite matching,
but overall, I think you
technically did a great job.
- And how many times have you done
- nature blends before?
First time.
- This was your first time?
- Yeah.
I just want to punch you
in the jaw.
It's really gorgeous.
Okay. Thank you, Avi.
Thank you very much.
Aryn, tell us about your work.
I had the Zen garden.
- So what I wanted to do
- with this one
is that I wanted to go
with a way more daring pose.
You've chose
really beautiful colors
in the background,
and you made the absolute most
of your model's pose,
and you took chances, which I
really appreciate in you.
I love this challenging yoga
tree pose that you did for this.
- It really suits
- your environment,
and that just adds another
layer of creativity
to what you have done here.
- For some reason,
- my eye is drawn
to the hip on the side.
What I would've maybe done
is scootched her over,
you know, just like two inches,
and made that hip--
the hill on the hip--
the rest of it just
go a lot further back.
Okay. Thank you, Aryn.
Yeah, thank you.
All right, Cheryl Ann.
I really wanted
the ocean background,
and I also wanted to incorporate
the land, the sea,
and the sky.
The head and the sky,
that was the most
challenging part for me.
I love the tree
on the torso.
I think that might be
my favorite part
of all of the paintings,
but that head kind of does
stick out like a sore thumb,
and in a blend like this,
you really don't want that.
- And I knew that the bald cap
- might be a little funky,
but I also
could paint it perfectly,
whereas I can't paint perfectly,
the hair.
So I thought I'll take the risk.
- There are certain things
- you just can't paint away.
- You can pose it away.
- You can pose it away, exactly.
I would've hid the head
completely in the tree.
Okay. Thank you, Cheryl Ann.
Thank you so much.
Okay, Lana. You're next.
My station was a vineyard.
I want to make really
feminine pose.
I loved how feminine
the pose was.
I thought it was very beautiful.
You walk up to it,
and it does have a feel to it.
It is a beautiful connection
that you're creating
between your model
and the actual vine itself.
I think it was clever
to hide your model a little bit
from the shifting sun,
but you didn't quite
escape the shadows.
I do wish there was a little
bit more shadow on her leg
that would match with that back
barrel a little bit more.
And everyone else had
something that you didn't have,
and that's, you know,
taller grass or flowers
to kind of hide the feet
because feet can be kind
of obvious in paintings
just like we were talking about
how the head is the same way.
Feet are just so hard
to--to blend in because
there's just an obvious shadow.
Thank you, Lana.
Thank you.
Painters, you all overcame
nature's elements
to create some beautiful blends.
Please head back to the lounge,
and we'll call you back shortly.
Well, okay, guys.
What do you think?
- I think they all did
- a great job,
and I think they all had, like,
an equal amount of challenges as
well with lighting and shadows,
and so I feel like it was
a fair game across the board.
Aryn put it all together.
She had the pose, the color.
She challenged herself,
and ultimately came out with
a really solid finished piece.
On the negative side, I never
lost the face in this piece.
I could always see that face.
- I thought the colors
- were a little off,
and I wish
that the pose in the face
was just a little
bit more peaceful.
I actually go back
to your earlier point
which is I wish
that she had brought the hip
behind the pagoda a little bit
- so that you could do that push
- and pull.
Absolutely.
- That would've
- been really brilliant.
All right, how about Avi?
Overall, there was just
something so harmonious
about his piece.
I mean, I could just look
at that picture all day.
The leg that was up and had
that very prominent tree trunk
on it, that tree trunk
wasn't lined up exactly,
and, you know, those colors,
they weren't dark enough.
They were too bright.
- That was, like,
- his Achilles heel,
- was that particular
- tree trunk for me.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay, how about Cheryl Ann?
There were other choices
that Cheryl Ann could've made
that would've just
nailed this painting.
I'm being distracted
by the head.
Well, and if you're gonna see
the outline of the head,
it would be then, at least, nice
to have it be a feminine head
because it kind of had
a strange alien look
that really was distracting.
But I think, really,
she did a better job
at color matching than anyone.
So once again, we have
a beautiful painting
from Cheryl Ann,
but she creatively made
a few bad choices.
Let's talk
about Lana's painting.
You know, I loved how just
beautiful and romantic
Lana's model looked
in that environment.
I do wonder if maybe she was
playing it a little bit safe.
And it's not to say
that she's a bad painter.
Technically,
it's a beautiful painting,
- but then she also got
- into a little bit
of trouble with that barrel
and the light source.
- It bothered me
- that you could see
Cheryl Ann's head on her model,
but it really bothered me
that you could see Lana's feet
on her model
because that's kind
of two big signifiers
of the human form, you know?
The top and the bottom.
And she was hiding so much
in the rest of the body,
- you would think
- she could've just brought
that hiding technique
down to the bottom as well.
So, judges,
have you made your decision?
- I feel like the work
- is all so strong,
it's just splitting hairs.
I think we know
what we have to do.
Yes.
It's all come to this.
Like, this whole reason
that we worked so hard
is for this moment.
- At this point, I want to puke
- all over the place.
Welcome back, painters.
Hi.
You each captured
the California landscape
brilliantly with your paintings,
isn't that right, judges?
Absolutely, this was
stunning work,
and we're all so proud of you.
Thank you.
I am a native Californian,
and you made me fall in love
with my home state
all over again.
You're all amazing painters,
and I can truly see
why you four are the top four.
Thank you.
This was the closest decision
the judges have had
to make all season.
Even though you all had
incredible nature blends,
tonight there can be
only one winner,
and one of you is going home.
Even though you all had
incredible nature blends,
tonight there can be
only one winner,
and one of you is going home.
Avi.
Aryn.
Congratulations.
You were our top two.
You will be competing
in the finale for $100,000.
Your landscapes
were so impressive
and beautifully painted.
It could've gone either way.
Avi, you're a technical master.
Aryn, you're a creative force.
But tonight, it came
down to who made their model
disappear more
into their nature blend.
Tonight's winner is...
Avi.
- Congratulations.
- Good job!
To win for the fourth time,
and to be the person
that win the most challenges
just make me feel
confident and good.
I have a big chance
to get the whole thing.
Well, congratulations
to both of you.
Thank you so much.
- You've made it
- to the final three,
and both of you are gonna be
competing for $100,000.
- So close.
- We can touch it.
You may head back
to the lounge.
I'm in the finale!
- I can't believe it.
- I'm so excited.
- I can't wait to get started.
- Whoo, champagne.
It just feels, like,
so rejuvenating to know that,
like, even this late in the game
that I'm still, um,
considered a top painter,
that I still have, like,
the ability to potentially win.
Lana, Cheryl Ann,
you are the bottom two.
The last thing
I want is to be eliminated.
Just to be at the final four
and not make it
to the top three
is crushing.
One of you is going home
tonight.
Please step forward.
You guys are both such
exceptional painters,
but unfortunately,
one of you lost by a head,
and the other lost by a foot.
Now, Lana, you had some
issues with shadow and blending.
Cheryl Ann, you should've hidden
your model's head.
All in all,
it was a missed opportunity.
You are truly exceptional
painters,
and both of you deserve a spot
in the final three.
The judges wanted to give
each of you
another opportunity
to decide who stays.
So we are going
to hold a paint-off.
Wow.
Truly, it is a second chance.
You both did a good job
on your paintings,
but we feel like
you could do better.
Bring it, paint your asses off.
I'm getting nervous 'cause
I want to be on the top three.
- This is, like,
- a really big deal.
This is a battle royale.
I want to see you two blondes
go head-to-head and toe-to-toe.
The battle of the blondes.
Lana. Cheryl Ann.
You are the bottom two.
The judges wanted to give
each of you
another opportunity
to decide who stays.
So we are going
to hold a paint-off.
Wow.
You will have 1 1/2 hours
to create a cityscape blend
based on a Los Angeles backdrop.
You can pick different
poses and placement,
but you will use
the same picture.
You will be judged
on technique, creativity,
and execution of the challenge.
- The painter
- with the better piece
will become our third finalist.
The other will be
the last painter
sent home before the finale.
This is a battle royale.
I want to see you two blondes
go head-to-head and toe-to-toe.
This painting
means the difference
between being in the final three
or going home.
I have worked so hard
to be here.
I have sacrificed so much.
Everything is at stake for me.
For the last spot
in the finals,
your time starts...
now.
And they're off.
Lana and I have 90 minutes
to do another camouflage
painting into a photograph
of downtown L.A.
- Can I have you put
- your hair in a bun?
Do you have a hair tie?
Lana and I are both fighters.
Throughout this competition,
it's just kind of been
me and Lana going head-to-head.
I think I will swap with Lana.
Lana, you get to take
30 minutes away from
one of your competitors.
- Who's it gonna be?
- Cheryl Ann.
I think you were more intent
on trying to get back at me.
I chose strong painter,
but not the fastest one.
So here I am again with Lana.
It all comes down to this.
It's a battle of the blondes.
Like, one leg up.
I knew right away this is--
will be battle,
'cause we need to show who
is the best at this point.
Could you do, like,
a super--super star pose for me?
Kind of like...
- or maybe even like this,
- holding... you know.
Like this?
- You know,
- we have a same background,
and I know Cheryl Ann have
- really good blends
- and abilities.
So what's separating us
at this moment
is how creative you po--
your pose.
What if you, like,
put your hands up?
This is so much going on here.
What I should do now?
And I was start
thinking about pose,
and at this point, Cheryl Ann
already was painting her model.
So this highway's
gonna come down.
You can keep
your feet relaxed.
I had this idea to pose my model
sitting with her legs
propped up to really make
my painting blend in seamlessly,
making this camouflage
fairly easy.
I'm trying to make it, like,
that's all gonna be dark greens.
- This is, like,
- the edge of that.
Painters, one hour.
You're at the one hour mark.
You're totally
my good luck charm.
- I'd definitely try
- and match up
all the buildings, like,
on all the edges.
Natalie,
you've been through this.
What do you think's going
through their minds right now?
- There was a lot of emotion
- going through my head,
which is why I went so
emotional with my paintings.
I'm just getting
nervous about Lana.
I feel like I'm killing it.
She is blending perfectly.
- She is going
- into that background.
I have enough time for details,
and Lana,
she doesn't have a lot covered.
I have this one in the bag.
45 minutes.
You're at the halfway point.
It's definitely the battle
of the blondes right now.
Cheryl Ann is almost done,
and Lana's still
just painting away.
I was concentrating
on applying so fast 'cause,
like, it was so much to do,
all these houses
and trees and branches
and freeway
with all these lines.
I need to concentrate.
This is my chance.
15 minutes, painters.
15 minutes.
She put the paint
on there fast, didn't she?
Uh-huh.
Three, two, one.
Time's up. Tools down.
- Whoo!
All right,
well, I don't how the judges
are gonna decide,
but they have a lot
to talk about.
So please head back
to the painter's lounge,
and we'll call you out shortly.
- Thank you.
- Thank you so much.
What do you guys think?
To be honest, I'm frustrated
with Cheryl Ann's choice.
I feel like she put her model
down in the corner.
She used 1/3rd
of the whole space
that she was given to use.
I feel like Lana's composition
was more creative.
I'm looking at who made
their body disappear more.
I feel that the top of Lana's
model doesn't disappear,
but Cheryl Ann's model,
for the majority,
except for the leg, disappears.
But she balled her up and put
her in the darkest corner.
And made her disappear
in doing it.
I hear what Craig is saying,
I really do.
She did blend her model
into the picture.
Okay, judges.
Have you made a decision?
Yes.
You both created
an amazing cityscape
in 1 1/2 hours,
but only one of you will get
to move on to the finals.
It's time to find out
who will be our third finalist.
- I want to be here more
- than anything,
and I want to win this more than
anything, because I need this.
I don't want to go home.
You both created
an amazing cityscape
in 1 1/2 hours,
but only one of you will get
to move on to the finals.
It's time to find out
who will be our third finalist.
I thought both of you girls
did such a good job.
Lana, I loved the movement
of yours,
and, Cheryl Ann,
your model definitely blended.
Thank you.
It was really exhilarating
to watch the two of you
just go at it.
It seems kind of cruel to put
you under that kind of pressure,
- but listen,
- the stakes are very high.
We're talking about $100,000.
Lana, I loved how you were so
ambitious in your design.
You really chose a challenging
thing for yourself to paint,
a challenging
pose for your model to hold.
This was just amazing
for us to watch.
Cheryl Ann, technically,
you made your model disappear.
- You should be very proud.
- Thank you.
It's time to announce
the judges' decision.
And our third finalist is...
Lana.
Yes!
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Thank you so much, guys.
I did my best,
I did, like--I really
like, I put everything
in this painting.
Congratulations, Lana.
You will compete for $100,000.
Please head back
to the painter's lounge.
- If I can just speak
- from someone
who's been on both sides,
- you're super-talented,
- you know that,
and you're new to the game.
So just imagine where you're
gonna be a year from now,
two years from now,
five years from now.
You may not have made it
to the final three,
but you have stood out,
- and you have made
- a name for yourself.
This is not the last time
we're gonna hear Cheryl Ann.
Thank you so much.
It just means so much
to hear your compliments.
It's time to go wash off
your canvas.
- Hi.
- You did so good.
- Oh, my God.
- Hug.
The hardest thing any artist
can ever do
is put their artwork out there.
- I love you guys, I do.
- We love you.
In the end, I'm only always
humbled to have been here
and to have had my chance
to fight fairly and cleanly,
and I've kept my chin up
this entire competition.
Even if I don't have $100,000,
I have my integrity
as a painter,
as a person.
I did nothing but shine.
Next time on Skin Wars...
Congratulations.
You are the final three.
This whole finale
is gonna be the thing
that changes your life.
Each of you will have two
assistants to help you out,
and you may recognize them.
Seriously?
- This is one of the
- most challenging skills
in body painting.
My goal is to blow
the judges' mind.
- One minute!
- I want this so bad.
Minds have been blown.
The winner of the $100,000
grand prize is...