Ep 1. Opening Shots

Ink Master is an American reality competition TV show centered around tattooing. Season 11, episode 1 'Opening Shots' is a fantastic kickoff to the show's latest season. The season opener features 18 tattoo artists from all over the United States.

The episode begins with the contestants arriving at the Ink Master house, which is situated in the heart of New York. The artists are introduced to one another, and they have the opportunity to choose their canvas for the first tattoo challenge. The first task is to create a tattoo that highlights their individual styles and showcases their unique artistic abilities.

Before the artists start to work on the tattoo challenge, they are first tested on their technical skills with an essential 'flash challenge.' The contestants are tasked with designing and tattooing a one-inch image onto a grapefruit, one of the most challenging canvases. This challenge is designed to assess the tattoo maker's ability to work with fine details, shading and apply color to various mediums. The first flash challenge sets the bar high, testing the artists under time pressure to demonstrate their talent and mastery of technique.

After the nail-biting flash challenge, the artists find out that the first tattoo challenge would involve making a portrait tattoo of themselves that represents their unique style of tattooing. Contestants are given only six hours to put their artistic skills to the test once again, delivering a portrait of themselves that showcases their individuality. The catch is that each contestant had to tattoo their own portrait, which added a layer of pressure to the challenge.

The panel of judges for the show consists of Dave Navarro, renowned musician, and ink enthusiast, renowned tattoo artists, Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck. The judges' role is to assess the artists' final artwork and provide constructive criticism to the contestants while also making tough decisions about who remains in the competition.

The judges' feedback in this episode proves to be a crucial element, particularly as we see contestant Oba emerge as a frontrunner for the season. While he is an incredible artist, the judges remind him to consider his canvas; the person on whom he is creating the tattoo. The critiques from the judges' table are a powerful element in shaping the artists' perspective of the competition.

Another noteworthy aspect of the episode is the growing tension between contestants, which sets the stage for an entertaining season. There are instances where contestants come to blows over disagreements and artistic differences. If anything, the first episode proves that the contest has a group of incredibly talented, driven individuals in it, but with strong personalities and egos that could lead to drama in the coming episodes.

The episode is quick-paced, compelling, and filled with intense competition, crisp tattooing, unforeseen surprises, and even unexpected twists. Overall, season 11, episode 1 of Ink Master 'Opening Shots', sets the tone for a season of edgy, high-stakes, and creative challenges, where tattoo artists showcase what they believe is their unique style.