Ep 4. Twisted Trees

In the fourth episode of season 7 of Face Off, the contestants face their most challenging task yet - creating twisted and gnarly trees that come to life. The judges are looking for highly creative and original designs that will leave them in awe.

The episode starts off with the contestants receiving a special delivery from McKenzie Westmore - branches and roots of different trees for them to study and draw inspiration from. Using these real-life examples, the contestants must then create their own unique tree creatures.

At first, everyone seems to love the challenge and is brimming with ideas. The artists visit the Santa Monica Mountains to study their chosen trees in-person to garner more inspiration. They sketch, brainstorm, make models, and work on their designs.

As usual, there are some standouts and some struggling artists. Cig Neutron, who previously won two challenges in a row, takes a more humorous approach to his creation. He even admits that he's not the best sculptor and focuses instead on the character and personality of his tree creature. Laura Tyler, on the other hand, is struggling with her design and feels that she's not doing the subject justice.

Once the sketches are finalized, the artists head back to the lab and start sculpting their designs. It's a busy and challenging day - the contestants are running short on time, and the judges are expecting nothing but perfection. The pressure is palpable.

After spending all night working on their designs, the contestants arrive on set ready for the final reveal. The trees are all completely different in terms of scale, color, texture, and overall design. Each piece is accompanied by a backstory, which ties the design together and adds an extra layer of depth.

The judges - Ve Neill, Glenn Hetrick, and Neville Page - are blown away by the creativity and execution of the contestants. They praise the uniqueness of each design and appreciate the attention to detail that each artist has shown.

One of the standout designs is a "tree wolf" created by Scott Fensterer. His piece is a mash-up of a tree and a wolf, with intricate details on both the bark and fur and an impressive overall scale.

The judges also love Cig Neutron's approach to the challenge. His "treant" turns out to be a humorous and lively character, complete with an oversized nose and a cheeky grin.

Finally, the judges have to pick a winner and a loser for the challenge. As usual, it's a tough decision. Without giving anything away, it's safe to say that this episode of Face Off is filled with suspense, creativity, and artistry.

Fans of the show will love the unique and challenging task presented in this episode, and newcomers will be impressed by the skill and creativity shown by the contestants. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in the world of special effects and makeup artistry.