Ep 5. Sparks Fly

Ink Master season 8 episode 5, "Sparks Fly," features the remaining tattoo artists facing off in a new challenge to prove their skills and abilities. The episode begins with the contestants arriving at the Ink Master studio, where they are met by judges Dave Navarro, Oliver Peck, and Chris Nuñez. The judges explain that the challenge for this episode will involve tattooing animal portraits, but with a twist: the artists must incorporate fire and flames into the design.

The artists are excited and nervous about the challenge, knowing that incorporating fire into the design will be difficult and require a high-level of skill. They must first sketch their designs and present them to the judges, who will then select the top three designs. These three artists will then have the opportunity to pick their canvas from a selection of willing customers.

The chosen canvases arrive at the studio and meet with each artist to discuss the design and placement of their tattoo. Once the artists and canvases have agreed on the final design, it’s time to begin the tattooing process.

As the contestants work on their tattoos, the judges visit the workstations to observe and offer feedback. Some of the artists run into difficulties as the flames in their designs prove to be a challenge to execute, and the time limit adds to the pressure.

With only six hours to complete the tattoos, the artists must work quickly and efficiently to produce high-quality work. As the clock ticks down, some of the designs come to life beautifully, while others struggle to capture the judges' attention.

Once the time limit is up, the artists present their tattoos to the judges, who critique each design individually. The judges praise some artists for their technical skills and creative designs, while others receive harsh criticism for their poorly executed tattoos. As always, the judges have the final say, and one artist is eliminated from the competition.

Throughout the episode, the contestants discuss their motivations and artistic styles, revealing the complexities of the tattoo industry and the personalities behind the art. The competition continues to be intense, and the remaining artists are pushing themselves harder than ever to stay in the game.

Overall, Ink Master season 8 episode 5 is an exciting, action-packed episode that showcases the skills, creativity, and determination of the remaining tattoo artists. With animal portraits and fire motifs, this episode presents a unique challenge that highlights the artists' abilities to think outside the box and produce high-quality work under pressure.