Ep 7. New School, Old Scars

Ink Master is a reality TV show that follows the journey of tattoo artists as they compete against each other to win the title of Ink Master and a cash prize of $100,000. Episode 7 of season 8, titled "New School, Old Scars," features seven remaining contestants who are challenged with creating a new school tattoo by covering up old scars on their canvases.

The episode begins with the contestants meeting the judges - renowned tattoo artists Dave Navarro, Oliver Peck, and Chris Nunez - to receive their challenge. Each artist must choose a canvas with old scars and create a new school tattoo that covers and incorporates the scars in a creative way. The judges emphasize the importance of not only covering the scars but also making the tattoo aesthetically pleasing.

The artists get to work on their designs, and tensions start to rise as they feel the pressure to create a winning tattoo. Some artists struggle with incorporating the scars into their designs, while others have to deal with difficult canvases who resist their ideas. One artist even has to deal with a canvas who has a severe needle phobia, making the tattooing process a challenge.

As the day progresses, the judges visit each contestant to see how their tattoos are coming along. They provide feedback and critique the designs, giving advice to help the artists improve. Some contestants take the feedback well, while others become defensive and struggle to make the suggested changes.

The tattooing continues the next day, and the artists must finish their tattoos before the deadline. They work tirelessly to perfect their designs and ensure that the scars are well-covered. In the end, all the artists unveil their tattoos to the judges and the canvases, hoping to impress them with their skills.

The judges scrutinize each tattoo, looking for flaws and judging them on their creativity, technical execution, and overall appearance. Some tattoos impress the judges, while others fail to meet their expectations. As always, one artist is eliminated at the end of the episode, and the remaining six move on to the next round.

Overall, "New School, Old Scars" is an intense and emotional episode that showcases the talent and expertise of the tattoo artists. It highlights the struggles and challenges they face in their quest to become Ink Master, and the pressure they feel to create a winning tattoo. The episode also raises awareness about scar cover-up tattoos, showing how tattoo art can be used to help people overcome trauma and feel more confident about their bodies.