Ep 10. Like Sand Through the Hour Glass

Like Sand Through the Hour Glass is the tenth episode of Ink Master season 8. In this exciting episode, the remaining tattoo artists are tested on their ability to replicate a precise and intricate Japanese-style tattoo.

The episode begins with the artists meeting host Dave Navarro and judges Oliver Peck and Chris Núñez in the Ink Master studio. They are given the challenge of creating a Japanese-style tattoo that must be a precise replica of a drawing done by famous Japanese tattoo artist Horiyoshi III. The drawing is a complex image of a dragon and a koi fish, which the artists must recreate to the best of their abilities.

After looking at the drawing, the artists are allowed to take their time to study it and plan their designs before they begin tattooing. Once they are ready, they have six hours to work on their tattoos, which is a lot of time given the complexity of the design. However, as the artists get started, they realize that the intricacy of the details is more challenging than they anticipated.

Throughout the challenge, the judges visit each artist to check on their progress and offer feedback. Most of the artists seem to be struggling, and they are all trying to figure out how to incorporate every little detail of the drawing while making it stand out as their own unique design. Contestant Kelly Doty is particularly concerned because she feels that she might be overthinking, which is causing her to slow down and lose momentum.

As the clock ticks down, the artists start to come to terms with the reality that they are running out of time. The judges enter the studio to call time, and the artists must now step back and let their finished tattoo speak for itself. The judges take a final look at each tattoo, analyzing it for its accuracy, creativity, and overall execution.

After much deliberation, the judges name Ryan Ashley Malarkey as the winner of the challenge. Her tattoo is deemed the most precise and accurate replica of the Horiyoshi III drawing, and the judges praise her for her ability to execute the details so flawlessly. The other artists applaud as Ryan celebrates her win, knowing that the competition is starting to get fierce as they get closer to the end of the season.

The judges then turn their attention to the bottom three artists: Kelly Doty, Nate Beavers, and Nikki Simpson. They all struggled with the details and accuracy of their tattoos, and it is clear that they did not quite capture the essence of the Japanese-style tattoo. However, after some debate and consideration, the judges ultimately decide to send Kelly Doty home.

As Dave, Oliver, and Chris bid Kelly farewell, they remind the remaining artists that they are getting closer and closer to the finale. The competition is more fierce than ever, and there is no room for error from here on out.

Like Sand Through the Hour Glass is an intense and exciting episode of Ink Master that showcases the artists' abilities to capture the intricacy and precision of a Japanese-style tattoo. With only a few episodes left in the season, the competition is starting to heat up, and the remaining artists are eager to prove themselves as the next Ink Master champion.