Ep 6. While Kat's Away, Aubrey Will Play

Kat Von D owns a tattoo shop called High Voltage Tattoo in Los Angeles – hence, L.A. Ink – that’s full of talented tattoo artists constantly taking on new clients and creating stunning works of art. In season 4 episode 6 of L.A. Ink, titled While Kat's Away, Aubrey Will Play, viewers get a glimpse of what happens at the shop when Kat isn't around.

The episode opens with Kat rushing to catch a flight to New York City with her boyfriend Jesse. With their departure, the reins of High Voltage are left in the hands of Aubrey, one of the shop's skilled tattoo artists. Aubrey is excited for the opportunity to take charge in Kat's absence, but it's quickly revealed that running a tattoo shop is not as easy as it seems.

Aubrey is immediately faced with several challenges: a client whose tattoo is infected, a picky customer who is very particular about what artwork he wants, and another client who wants a full back and butt piece. The shop's receptionist, Kim, also adds to Aubrey's stress by complaining about her own personal issues and getting distracted by a potential client who is more interested in hitting on her than getting a tattoo.

While Aubrey is dealing with these issues, the rest of the team at High Voltage is busy with their own projects. Corey is working on a portrait of an angel with large wings for a client, and Rooftop is designing a bold black and grey biomechanical piece for a long-time client. Hannah, a guest tattoo artist, is also in the shop working on a portrait of her client's grandmother.

One of the more interesting parts of the episode is when Aubrey is tasked with designing a tattoo for her close friend, Hannah. Hannah wants a tattoo of a ham with angel wings, and Aubrey struggles to come up with a design that will make it look cool and not ridiculous. Throughout the episode, viewers watch as Aubrey sketches and re-sketches her design trying to make it work.

As the day wears on, Aubrey's stress levels continue to rise. When the shop's owner, Dan, arrives to check on things, Aubrey snaps at him, confessing that she's overwhelmed with all the problems she's trying to solve. Dan takes on some of the work, but not before offering Aubrey some advice about being a good leader and taking responsibility for the decisions she makes.

The episode ends on a high note, with all of the artists finishing their projects and their clients leaving the shop happy with their new ink. Aubrey is exhausted but satisfied with how everything turned out, and there's a sense that she's grown as an artist and a person through her experience running the shop in Kat's absence.

Overall, season 4 episode 6 of L.A. Ink is a fun, chaotic episode that offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on at High Voltage Tattoo when Kat isn't around. Watching Aubrey struggle to run the shop and deal with all the unexpected issues that arise is a reminder that even the most talented artists have their limits.