Ink Master (season 8)
| Ink Master (season 8) | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Spike |
| Original release |
August 23 – December 6, 2016 |
| Additional information | |
| Host(s) | Dave Navarro |
| Judges |
Oliver Peck Chris Núñez |
| No. of contestants | 18 |
The eighth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master (subtitled as Ink Master: Peck vs. Nuñez) premiered on August 23, 2016 on Spike. A sneak peek premiered during the live season 7 finale.
Unlike the previous seasons, this season features Oliver Peck and Chris Núñez going head-to-head for the first time in Ink Master history where thirty artists battle for a spot on either Peck's team or Núñez's team with both teams consisting a total of 9 artists each. Major changes were also included for season 8. Not only does the winner receive the usual prizes which includes $100,000, a feature in Inked magazine and the title of Ink Master, but will also receive a guest spot at their team captain's shop.
The first seven episodes will feature each team battling their own members in an elimination-style competition for a spot in the top five. Then, both teams battle each other until its down to one artist on Team Peck and one artist on Team Núñez.
Judges, guest judges, and special appearances
The judging panel consists of three primary judges. During the final decision, the judges will vote for one of the bottom artists and the artist with two or three votes will be eliminated from the competition. Same rules apply to when choosing the winner of Ink Master.
Judges
The judges for season eight are host Dave Navarro, and team captains Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck.
Guest judge
Guest judges for this season were Von Miller (Episode 10), Robert Atkinson (Episode 11), Tim Hendricks (Episode 14) and Chris Garver (Episode 15).
Special appearances
- Donovan Smith NFL player (Ep. 7 Canvas)
Judging and ranking
The judge listing types are:
- Judging Panel
- The judging panel is the table of three primary judges.
- Jury of Peers
- The team that is safe from elimination will put one artist from the opposing team up for elimination. They will then explain to the judges why that artist was chosen. Beginning with episode 10, all the artists will critique each other's work.
Contestants
| Team Peck | Team Núñez |
|---|---|
| Ryan Ashley Malarkey | Eric Gonzalez |
| Mike McAskill | Nikki Simpson |
| Gian Karle Cruz | Jason "Sketchy Lawyer" Lawyer |
| Gia Rose | Kelly Doty |
| Nate Beavers | Kevin La Roy |
| Geary Morrill | Tito “Tuff Tito” Velez |
| Dave Robinowitz | John Collins |
| Matt Murray | Sirvone Smith |
| Anwon "Boneface" Johnson | Carolyn Elaine |
Progress
Flash Challenge Progress
| Episode Number | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Most Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Challenge Winner |
Team Peck | Dave | None | Kevin | Gian Karle | Nikki | Ryan Ashley Gia |
None | Team Peck | Nikki | Kevin Nate |
None | None | Gian Karle Nate Ryan Ashley 3 wins |
Elimination Challenge progress
| Artist Name | Years Experience | Residence | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gian Karle Cruz | 7 | Puerto Rico & Boston, Massachusetts | IMM | WIN | IN | IMM | HIGH | IMM | WIN | IN | HIGH | HIGH | IN- | WIN | WIN | ||||
| Kelly Doty | 8 | Salem, Massachusetts | WIN | IMM | HIGH | HIGH | IMM | WIN | IMM | IN | LOW | HIGH | HIGH+ | F/O | WIN | ||||
| Ryan Ashley Malarkey | 4 | Kingston, Pennsylvania | IMM | LOW | HIGH | IMM | WIN | IMM | HIGH | WIN | WIN | IN | LOW+ | WIN | WIN | ||||
| Nate Beavers | 24 | Houston, Texas | IMM | IN | F/O | IMM | IN | IMM | LOW | LOW | IN | LOW | WIN+ | WIN | OUT | ||||
| Nikki Simpson | 5 | Los Angeles, California | HIGH | IMM | HIGH | WIN | IMM | LOW | IMM | IN | HIGH | WIN | LOW- | OUT | |||||
| Kevin La Roy | 10 | Dallas, Texas | LOW | IMM | IN | LOW | IMM | LOW | IMM | IN | LOW | LOW | OUT- | ||||||
| Anwon "Boneface" Johnson | 17 | Pensacola, Florida | IMM | HIGH | IN | IMM | LOW | IMM | LOW | IN | IN | OUT | |||||||
| Jason "Sketchy Lawyer" Lawyer | 9 | Senoia, Georgia | HIGH | IMM | HIGH | IN | IMM | IN | IMM | LOW | IN | QUIT | |||||||
| Eric Gonzalez | 18 | Lynwood, California | IN | IMM | HIGH | IN | IMM | HIGH | IMM | HIGH | OUT | ||||||||
| Mike McAskill | 8 | Riverside, California | IMM | IN | HIGH | IMM | IN | IMM | LOW | OUT | |||||||||
| Gia Rose | 13 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | IMM | LOW | IN | IMM | LOW | IMM | OUT | ||||||||||
| Tito "Tuff Tito" Velez | 22 | Belleair, Florida | LOW | IMM | IN | LOW | IMM | OUT | |||||||||||
| Matt Murray | 4 | Beverly, Massachusetts | IMM | IN | IN | IMM | OUT | ||||||||||||
| Sirvone Smith | 6 | Fredericksburg, Virginia | LOW | IMM | F/O | OUT | |||||||||||||
| Dave Robinowitz | 11 | Boynton Beach, Florida | IMM | IN | OUT | ||||||||||||||
| John Collins | 14 | Atlanta, Georgia | IN | IMM | OUT | ||||||||||||||
| Geary Morrill | 17 | Richmond, Virginia | IMM | OUT | |||||||||||||||
| Carolyn Elaine | 6 | Chicago, Illinois | OUT | ||||||||||||||||
- <span style="background-color:white "legend"; color:; border:1px solid darkgray; text-align:center;"> Legend
- The contestant is on Team Peck.
- The contestant is on Team Núñez.
- INKMASTER The contestant won the competition and was named Ink Master.
- RUNNER UP The contestant was the runner-up on Ink Master.
- 3RD PLACE The contestant was 3rd place on Ink Master.
- WIN The contestant won best tattoo of the day.
- F/O The contestant won the face-off.
- IMM The team was immune from the elimination tattoo.
- (IN)+ The contestant won the Head to Head Challenge.
- (IN)- The contestant lost the Head to Head Challenge.
- HIGH The contestant was given an honorable mention in the judges recall.
- HIGH The contestant was considered to be among the top.
- LOW The contestant was among the bottom group in the judges recall.
- LOW The contestant was voted worst by the jury of peers.
- LOW The contestant was considered to be in the bottom.
- OUT The contestant was eliminated from the competition.
- OUT The contestant was voted worst by the jury of peers and eliminated from the competition.
- OUT The contestant won the flash challenge and was eliminated from the competition.
- OUT The contestant won the flash challenge but was voted worst by the jury of peers and was eliminated from the competition.
- QUIT The contestant quit the competition.
Episodes
Episode 1: Weeding Out the Weak
First aired August 23, 2016
- Tattoo marathon - day 1: 30 artists face a grueling two-day convention style elimination where they have to tattoo the style each captain is known for. However, not every artist will finish both marathons as one artist will be eliminated if they don't impress either Peck or Núñez. The first day has the artists tackling American traditional, a specialty Peck is known for.
- Tattoo marathon - day 2: The 26 artists, who survived the first day, have five hours to tattoo Núñez's specialty which was a Japanese Geisha. In addition they must use a live model as their reference.
- Team picks - part 1: The remaining 22 artists arrived at the loft where it became a heads or tails game between the two captains but Núñez ended up with the first pick after he picked tails. One by one, he and Peck go back and forth with their pick until it went down to only four spots remaining on both teams.
- Tattoo marathon - day 3: The last 12 artists have one more chance to impress Peck or Núñez while tattooing their own style and subject of their choice for six hours. Four artists will be eliminated if not chosen by either team.
- Team picks - part 2: Oliver received the first pick this time despite not receiving it first.
Episode 2: The Games Begin
First aired August 30, 2016
- Skill of the week: Composition
- Flash challenge: The teams have seven hours to work with three different canvases to create one interlocking back piece at the same time with Team Núñez working with three firefighters and Team Peck working with three police officers. An immunity will be rewarded to the team who wins this challenge.
- Winner: Team Peck
- Elimination tattoo: Team Núñez must use composition when they are tasked to tattoo a Medusa for six hours.
- Tattoo critique:
- Best tattoo of the day: Kelly Doty
- Jury of peers: Tito "Tuff Tito" Velez
- Bottom three: Tito "Tuff Tito" Velez, Carolyn Elaine and Kevin La Roy
- Eliminated: Carolyn Elaine
Episode 3: Ruffled Feathers
First aired September 6, 2016
- Skill of the week: Precision
- Flash challenge: The tables have turned this week when Dave announced that Team Peck will be put up for elimination. Each member of Team Núñez must consult with a member of Team Peck to help them create a "personal beach" sand sculpture while using Corona products. In addition, due to her win in the previous elimination tattoo, Kelly chose two artists to sculpt two beaches for her.
- Winner: Dave Robinowitz
- Elimination tattoo: Team Peck had six hours to tattoo a peacock.
- Tattoo critique:
- Winner: Gian Karle Cruz
- Jury of peers: Geary Morrill
- Bottom three: Geary Morrill, Ryan Ashley Malarkey and Gia Rose
- Eliminated: Geary Morrill
Episode 4: Put Your Armor On
First aired September 13, 2016
- Skill of the week: Texture
- Elimination tattoo: A double elimination jeopardizes both teams where one member from each team will be eliminated. The teams must work in pairs of two to tattoo shoulder armor on both canvases' shoulders at the same time for six hours with Team Núñez tattooing metal armor and Team Peck tattooing leather armor. They will then be judged together. In addition, each captain decided on the pairs of their respective members.
- Tattoo critique: Team Peck was judged first followed by Team Núñez. The worst tattoo of the day were Dave and Nate on Team Peck, and John and Sirvone on Team Núñez. Each team will give a style and subject to the bottom pair from the opposing.
- Face off tattoo: Team Núñez tasks Dave and Nate to tattoo a black and grey animal that shows realism while John and Sirvone were also tasked by Team Peck to tattoo the same style and subject as Dave and Nate. Both pairs had six hours to tattoo against their respective teammate.
- Eliminated: Dave Robinowitz and John Collins
Episode 5: Sparks Fly
First aired September 20, 2016
- Skill of the week: Legibility
- Flash challenge: Team Núñez had five hours to use electricity, consisting a 12 volt battery and electric wire, to create a style that was given to them by Team Peck. Team Peck tasked them to create an underwater marine life design.
- Winner: Kevin La Roy
- Elimination tattoo: Team Núñez had six hours to create a watercolor tattoo that shows legibility.
- Tattoo critique:
- Best tattoo of the day: Nikki Simpson
- Jury of peers: Sirvone Smith
- Bottom three: Sirvone Smith, Tito "Tuff Tito" Velez and Kevin La Roy
- Eliminated: Sirvone Smith
Episode 6: Sticky Situation
First aired September 27, 2016
- Skill of the week: Contrast
- Flash challenge: Team Peck had five hours to create a high-contrast image on a plexiglass canvas, using only brown packaging tape. Team Núñez assigned them to create a face.
- Winner: Gian Karle Cruz
- Elimination tattoo: Dave puts Team Peck to the test when they had six hours to tattoo an outter space tatoo that shows contrast.
- Tattoo critique:
- Best tattoo of the day: Ryan Ashley Malarkey
- Jury of peers: Gia Rose
- Bottom three: Gia Rose, Anwon "Boneface" Johnson and Matt Murray
- Eliminated: Matt Murray
Episode 7: New School, Old Scars
First aired October 4, 2016
Skill of the week: Artistry
Flash challenge: Each member of Team Núñez worked with a former smoker that was assigned to them by Team Peck to cover up their scars.
- Winner: Nikki Simpson
- Elimination tattoo: Team Núñez fights for a spot in the top five when they have six hours to turn a famous landmark into a new school tattoo. Donovan Smith was one of the canvases in this elimination tattoo.
- Tattoo critique:
- Best tattoo of the day: Kelly Doty
- Jury of peers: Tito "Tuff Tito" Velez
- Bottom three: Tito "Tuff Tito" Velez, Kevin La Roy and Nikki Simpson
- Eliminated: Tito "Tuff Tito" Velez
Episode 8: Bent Out of Shape
First aired October 11, 2016
- Skill of the week: Ingenuity
- Flash Challenge: Using grinders and welders, Team Peck manipulated metal rods into a dynamic sculpture out of lines. In addition, Team Núñez assigned the pairs from the opposing team.
- Winner: Ryan Ashley Malarkey and Gia Rose
- Elimination tattoo: Team Peck had one last chance to earn a spot in the top 5 when they had six hours to turn a canvases' significant other into a pinup.
- Tattoo critique:
- Best tattoo of the day: Gian Karle Cruz
- Jury of peers: Mike McAskill
- Bottom four: Mike McAskill, Nate Beavers, Anwon "Boneface" Johnson and Gia Rose
- Eliminated: Gia Rose
Episode 9: Head Games
First aired October 18, 2016
- Skill of the week: Adaptability
- Elimination tattoo-day 1: Both teams faced their biggest task of doing of 12-hr tattoo on the forehead with each day consisting six hours. The first day has them tattooing the left lobe while the second day has them tattooing the right lobe.
- Elimination tattoo-day 2: One artist will pick a skull that has a number on the bottom that determined the order of which artist goes first. Each artist will pick the opposing artist's canvas they want to tattoo. Kevin got a new canvas after his canvas, who was previously tattooed by Kelly, withdrew from the elimination tattoo.
- Tattoo critique: Each pair were judged head to head on which forehead they tattooed.
- Best tattoo of the day: Ryan Ashley Marlarkey
- Bottom three: Mike McAskill, Nate Beavers and Jason "Sketchy Lawyer" Lawyer
- Eliminated: Mike McAskill
Episode 10: Like Sand Through the Hour Glass
First aired October 25, 2016
- Skill of the week: Detail
- Flash challenge: The teams had six hours to create powerful designs on a Dodge Charger with thousands of sharpies.
- Winner: Team Peck
- Elimination tattoo: Team Peck and Team Núñez had six hours to show detail when they are tasked to tattoo an hourglass.
- Tattoo critique:
- Best tattoo of the day: Ryan Ashley Malarkey
- Jury of peers: Eric Gonzalez
- Bottom three: Eric Gonzalez, Kevin La Roy and Kelly Doty
- Eliminated: Eric Gonzalez
Episode 11: Duck and Cover Up
First aired November 1, 2016
- Skill of the week Technical Application
- Flash challenge: The teams must show flawless technical application by tattooing the palm of the hand.
- Winner: Nikki Simpson
- Withdrawal: Before Dave announced the guest judge for the elimination tattoo, Sketchy Lawyer, still feeling the burn from being criticized in the flash challenge, walked out. Dave and Núñez tried to convince him to stay but it didn't go well for them.
- Elimination tattoo: The artists had six hours to cover up a canvas's tramp stamp
- Tattoo critique:
- Best tattoo of the day: Nikki Simpson
- Jury of peers: Anwon "Boneface" Johnson
- Bottom: Anwon "Boneface" Johnson, Kevin La Roy and Nate Beavers
- Eliminated: Anwon "Boneface" Johnson
Episode 12: Road to the Finale
First aired November 8, 2016
Dave interviews the final six artists featuring never before seen footage of this season.
Episode 13: Heavy Lifting
First aired November 15, 2016
- Skill of the week: Accuracy
- Flash challenge: Each pair had six hours to create a larger image out of colored bricks without misplacing one.
- Winner: Nate Beavers and Kevin La Roy
- Elimination tattoo: Each pair faced off in a head to head battle when they tattooed the same toddler portrait tattoos.
- Tattoo critique: Kelly, Nate and Ryan won their head to head battle.
- Best tattoo of the day: Nate Beavers
- Jury of peers: Kevin La Roy and Nikki Simpson
- Bottom three: Kevin La Roy, Nikki Simpson and Ryan Ashley Malarkey
- Eliminated: Kevin La Roy
Episode 14: Bio-Mechanical Failure
First aired November 22, 2016
- Skill of the week: Consistency
- Elimination tattoo: The teams tattooed their canvas at the same time for six hours by turning them into a cyborg. In addition, the artist must pick up where their teammate left after each hour passes by. Team Peck received the canvas pick first after Nate picked up the skull that has the x mark on the bottom.
- Tattoo critique: Because Team Núñez didn't incorporate the subject into their tattoo after Kelly and Nikki didn't listen to Núñez's advice, this made picking the winner easier for the judges.
- Best tattoo of the day: Team Peck
- Face off tattoo: Núñez is torn that he had to watch the last two members of his team fight for a spot in the top four as Team Peck tasks Nikki and Kelly to tattoo a Gypsy woman for four hours.
- Eliminated: Nikki Simpson
Episode 15: No One is Safe
First aired November 29, 2016
Tattoo marathon: round 1: The final four artists must survive a 15-hour tattoo marathon with each day consisting a total of five hours. They must tattoo a style each team did not do when they acted as the jury of peers but were previously critiqued by the judges. The artist who wins best tattoo of the day from each day will earn a spot in the live finale while the other artists continue tattooing. The first five hours featured Team Peck tattooing a Medusa and Kelly tattooing a peacock.
- Best tattoo of the day: Kelly Doty
Tattoo marathon: round 2: Team Peck tattooed a watercolor design.
- Best tattoo of the day: Ryan Ashley Malarkey
Tattoo marathon: round 3: For the final hour, Nate and Gian tattooed a New School landmark.
- Best tattoo of the day: Gian Karle Kruz
- Eliminated: Nate Beavers
Episode 16: Peck vs. Nuñez
First aired December 6, 2016
Finale tattoo: Ryan, Kelly and Gian had 24 hours to tattoo a chest piece in the style each team was given to them by the opposing team. Team Peck assigned Kelly with an American Traditional that showcases a ship, anchors and mermaids. Kelly challenges Ryan to design two huge new school dueling hot rods with big outlines, despite their alliance throughout the competition, while Gian was given a watercolor coral reef.
Live tattoo: The final three had seven hours to tattoo a style each artist was assigned to by the viewers. The audience will also get to tune into their progress online.