Two hours until midnight. Mark doesn't get Peregrine's piece. But she says children thrive under harsh conditions and her parents letting her grow up in a sex and drug culture was a "blessing." Abdi decides to not do the tribute to his mom, and instead to do a series of drawings of things people would ask him to draw as a kid. Jaclyn goes back to the pom poms and pipe cleaners, but can't figure out what to do with them, even though she wants to listen to Simon. Ryan also agrees with Simon, so he wants to add another layer to his piece and make it more complex. He knows being too literal has been his problem the whole time. Abdi says they all underestimated how difficult this piece would be. With a half-hour left, they're all working. Miles has started making rubber band balls in primary colors to add color to his piece. Ryan says he has only started to realize recently that Miles is a douchebag. Dude, it took you this long? Ryan says Miles isn't doing the challenge and instead is making rubber band balls to make it look like he did the challenge. They're done for the day. Abdi, of course, has a lot to finish the next day.

Back at home, Ryan and Mark talk about Ryan's piece. He says he wouldn't be proud of it normally, but he thinks he can explain it in a way that will work. Mark tells him he loves him, but he looks drunk, stoned and ... Ryan finishes: "I look like I'm dead." He says he needs to sleep on it, because that's how he makes art: You make it, then you sleep, and wake up to see if it's wine or vinegar. Next morning, they're back at the studio with an hour to go. Nicole says it's going to be very personal, so facing the critics will be very tough. Mark says everyone is stressed, except Miles, which is no surprise, since he's made that piece several times. Ryan is meditating on his piece. He's decided to add torn-up construction paper, which he'll carefully dishevel, "like I do with my own hair." Jaclyn's pulling the piece together by thinking about how she used to climb trees as a kid to escape. She's going to hang the pipe cleaners and pom poms like they're hanging from the trees. Miles says Jaclyn's piece is so cold it makes him want to put on a hat, coat, and mittens. Abdi thinks his piece is good, and he hopes he doesn't let his mom down. Mark's done with his book, and Ryan likes it, but tells him not to talk about it too literally. Simon's there to tell them time's up.