Strip Search 1.26: An Hour Outside In The Cold

After the Eighth Elimination challenge and its somewhat unsurprising upset, especially after seeing the submitted strips by Abby and Tavis, we’re down to The Final Four!

At what looks like an ungodly hour in the early a.m., Graham takes the artists back to downtown Seattle for a scavenger hunt. At an ungodly hour. Sorry, Maki, I, too, wish it were a doughnut eating contest at this ungodly hour.

Regardless, the hunt’s to be done in teams of two, and on one hour, they have to find as many places as possible on the list, and each place found must be drawn, but each team must alternate between the two of them in drawing the found locales. “Hella lame” drawings can also be disqualified.

The show has decided the team pairings and it’s Abby + Katie and Lexxy +  Maki.  And, as Graham tells them, there’s something kind of valuable on the line in this challenge.

Abby and Katie smartly plot out each landmark, where it seems Lexxy and Maki are just sort of going forth.  However, while both teams hit their fair share of pitfalls, I feel the worst for Lexxy and Maki as Lexxy just goes all sorts of Commando Lost (that’d be a great fps game, folks).

The best part is watching the travel tracking. And meeting Graham back at the donut shop, where he’s eating said donuts. Winning by two points is Abby and Katie who,  from just having planned things better,  get to have dinner with Jerry, Mike, and Robert. Nice! Not sure at the value of that prize, but getting to discuss business, comics, and all things generic with those three is pretty invaluable in business terms.

Next week’s elimination challenge of Contract Boot Camp? No thanks. Glad I’ll just be watching.

My current top three are now just my top two:

Katie, Tavis, and Maki- though I think Abby could bag it all. Apparently I don’t think Lexxy will win it, despite my feelings that Mike and Jerry are a bit skewed towards her. Interesting.

New episodes air Tuesday and Friday on Penny Arcade and youtube.

Current Standings:

Abby Howard, 20, Montreal, Quebec.
She’s the youngest and has the least experience. But she draws dinosaurs! However, will any of those things even matter?
(Kept: Elimination #6)
(Social Game #7 / Full set of Jungle Speed games, and the final Redraw Ticket)
(Kept: Elimination #8)
(Social Game #9 / Dinner with Jerry, Mike, and Robert)

Alex Hobbs, 22, Tempe, AZ.
This swear-word dropping free-spirit is highly likeable, but will his work be up to par? Set to graduate post-Strip Search, it’ll be interesting to see where this will take him. Eliminated 1st Challenge

Amy Falcone, 24, Noank, CT
Gamer to the innards, Amy is serious and competitive to a fault. Will that fault be her undoing? Whatever the result, quitting her job to do Strip Search shows her passion.
(Challenge #1 Winner)
(Social Game #3 / Drawing Blind Winner – Intuos5 Tablet)

(Eliminated 5th Challenge)

Erika Moen, 29, Portland, OR
Proven work in social and sexual commentary brings her to the contest with a following that marks her as one to have eyes on.
(Social Game #3 / Drawing Blind Winner – Intuos5 Tablet)
(Challenge #4 Winner)
(Eliminated 6th Challenge)

Katie Rice,31, Burbank, CA
A soft-spoken artist with a following of her own.  Some of those fans are also fellow contestants. Will she use the star power to stun?
(Kept: Elimination #1)
(Kept: Elimination #2)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)
(Social Game #5 / Sculpt-Off Winner – Redraw Ticket)
(Social Game #7 / Table-Tennis-Off – unknown prize!)
(Challenge #7 Winner)
(Challenge #8  Winner)
(Social Game #9 / Dinner with Jerry, Mike, and Robert)

Lexxy – Alexandra Douglas, 27, Carmel, IN
Also seen in Penny Arcade: The Series, she’s dealt with Gabe and Tycho’s reality egos. If that helps or harms remains to be seen.
(Social Game #2 / Seattle Trivia Winner – Wacom Cintiq HD Tablet)
(Eliminated 3rd Challenge – BARELY)
(Returned to compete after the double elimination #4)
(Social Game #6 / SS Grand Prix Winner – Penny Arcade “First Party” Wardrobe)
(Kept: Elimination #7)

Mac – Mackenzie Schubert, 26, Portland, OR
Quiet, doe-eyes Mac has a very defined artistic style all his own. It’ll be interesting to watch how his gentle soul deals with the mood swings a competitive show can bring.
(Eliminated 4th Challenge)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)

Maki Naro, 31, Brooklyn, NY
While I sincerely hope this guy watches Psych, his cool logic and talent may very well be what brings him to the final set of competitors.
(Social Game #1 / Fax Machine Winner – Redraw Ticket)
(Social Game #4 / Street Art Winner – Artist Alley booth at NYCC ’13)
(Kept: Elimination #5)

Monica Ray, 22, Northbrook, IL
While seemingly quiet at the beginning, Monica’s super-power of Always Doing Something And Befriending All seems a gift. Remains to be seen if that gift implodes or explodes.
(Challenge #5 Winner)
(Eliminated 7th Challenge)

Nick Trujillo, 30, Walnut Creek, CA
Something of a philosopher and jack of all trades, Nick’s ability to be alright with people and make good art is something to watch. But will his relative newness to the industry be a detriment?
(Challenge #2 Winner)
(Challenge #3 Winner)
(Eliminated 4th Challenge)

Tavis Maiden, 31, Mesa, AZ
Bringing the attitude only a parent can, Tavis wants this more than any five-year-old screaming for the last piece of cake. He may get it, too.
(Kept: Elimination #3)
(Challenge #6 Winner – Black Ink Pro Kit and Airbrush Kit from Copic)
(Eliminated 8th Challenge)

Ty Halley, 25, Portsmouth, OH
Clipped, dry witted Ty has no brain-to-mouth–filter. And, he’s using his time on Strip Search as material for his own daily life strip. That will be interesting. 
(Eliminated 2nd Challenge)

All  bios and links to the personal websites of each artist can be found here.

 

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