Ink Masters

[misterJ]

Another season in the crapper. I thought the back pieces in the finale were good, but nothing spectacular. Next season they are having rival tattooers on. Imagine the drama ... and run like a deer. I have an idea - what if they made the show about tattoos?????

that idea is stupid! I hope 2 of the contestants date each other. How awesome would that be?!

Honestly I was massively underwhelmed with the final tattoos, and I loved the round of Boo's when Scott was announced winner.

[scubaron]

Another season in the crapper. I thought the back pieces in the finale were good, but nothing spectacular. Next season they are having rival tattooers on. Imagine the drama ... and run like a deer. I have an idea - what if they made the show about tattoos?????

I didn't like Matt's design. Thought the wing & feathers looked odd the way they arched over the top of head. I didn't like Scott's color choices or design focusing on the heart and hand. I liked Sausage best of the 3. Overall, all 3 did good tattoos, just not my personal preferences in design and colors.

I agree, less drama would be welcome. At least the final 4 this season were good.

[Hogrider]

I didn't like Matt's design. Thought the wing & feathers looked odd the way they arched over the top of head. I didn't like Scott's color choices or design focusing on the heart and hand. I liked Sausage best of the 3. Overall, all 3 did good tattoos, just not my personal preferences in design and colors.

I agree, less drama would be welcome. At least the final 4 this season were good.

I agree about the final four, but man did they have a bunch of mutts at the beginning! I think there might have been the most tattooers ever this season that were just awful. There were a bunch that were just mediocre too, but I guess better a mediocre tattoo than a dreadful one.

Proof once again that you get what you pay for.

[scubaron]

True. This season, more than others, had a lot of weaker artists. Even the judges got tired of it. I think in one episode Nunez said there was a big divide in ability between the top and bottom artists.

[Dennis]

He said they don't allow established tattooers to compete -- that they're disqualified.

I heard about Shane O'Neil, Jime Litwalk and Jessie Smith years before they were on the show. I doubt established guys are disqualified seeing how I always saw books/the work of these three in magazines prior to being on Inkmaster.

I'm in the boat with Nunez being overrated. I haven't seen a piece from him that elicited a reaction other than "meh".

[DJDeepFried]

It's bizarre how similar the pieces ended up being. Subject matter of the top two were identical. How'd that happen?

[scubaron]

It's bizarre how similar the pieces ended up being. Subject matter of the top two were identical. How'd that happen?

Yeah, that was really weird. Almost like one of them heard what the other was going to do and wanted to do something similar as a head to head challenge.

[Colored Guy]

I heard about Shane O'Neil, Jime Litwalk and Jessie Smith years before they were on the show. I doubt established guys are disqualified seeing how I always saw books/the work of these three in magazines prior to being on Inkmaster.

I'm in the boat with Nunez being overrated. I haven't seen a piece from him that elicited a reaction other than "meh".

I liked his work on the OG Miami Ink, can't recall if it was really outstanding though. It would be hard to stand up against the hype that the show did bring about.

Rob

[Robbie Kass]

i can't stand dave nevarro.. he reminds me of some version of a 90's emo ken doll... +just because you got a handful of shitty tattoos 20 years ago doesn't qualify him to judge them on their artistic or technical integrity.. so in short, i don't really follow the show;P

[Colored Guy]

i can't stand dave nevarro.. he reminds me of some version of a 90's emo ken doll... +just because you got a handful of shitty tattoos 20 years ago doesn't qualify him to judge them on their artistic or technical integrity.. so in short, i don't really follow the show;P

I was talking about the show with an artist and she said it looked like any time he had $50 in his pocket, he went out and got a tattoo.

The only reason he's on the show is that he brings a heavy douche-bag presence to the table. This is a key element to a "reality" show. If anyone has ever played "house" as a kid, there was always one girl who sent everyone home if things didn't go her way. He is that girl.

[PinkUnicorn]

I was talking about the show with an artist and she said it looked like any time he had $50 in his pocket, he went out and got a tattoo.

Dave Navarro on Tattoos and Why He Won’t Remove One Dedicated to Ex-Wife Carmen Electra

“You also run the risk of walking away with some s—-y tattoos,” Navarro continued.

[...]

No matter how bad the tattoos may turn out, Navarro says lasering them off is never an option

[...]

[smiling.politely]

Navarro has a lot of amazing tattoos, especially now. It's almost like exposure to and appreciation of good tattooing (i.e.- judges, not contestants) made a positive change in his tastes. Plus, we all know how amazing all tattoos celebrities and/or people in the late 80s/early 90s got. Like Oliver's left sleeve!

Not saying he's not a douche, but the "his tattoos are bad thing" is getting old, and isn't necessarily that accurate. Besides, as the folks on the show have said a million times by now, he's just a host. Chris, Oliver, and the guest judge (if they're a tattooer) make the call.

EDIT: I mean, how could Dave live with this backpiece? http://instagram.com/p/pzdSkWSMxJ/

[misterJ]

Navarro has a lot of amazing tattoos, especially now. It's almost like exposure to and appreciation of good tattooing (i.e.- judges, not contestants) made a positive change in his tastes. Plus, we all know how amazing all tattoos celebrities and/or people in the late 80s/early 90s got. Like Oliver's left sleeve!

Not saying he's not a douche, but the "his tattoos are bad thing" is getting old, and isn't necessarily that accurate. Besides, as the folks on the show have said a million times by now, he's just a host. Chris, Oliver, and the guest judge (if they're a tattooer) make the call.

EDIT: I mean, how could Dave live with this backpiece? Instagram

The funny thing to me is that it appears Dave is filling in a warped tour body suit... He kinda was tattooed only where you could see.

[Graeme]

The funny thing to me is that it appears Dave is filling in a warped tour body suit... He kinda was tattooed only where you could see.

I don't give two shits about Dave Navarro or this show, but since when does getting tattooed on your arms and chest constitute a "Warped Tour body suit"? Tattooed people say the darndest things sometimes...

[misterJ]

Using it in the loosest sense of the term. The guy has been tattooed for 40 years and has only the spots that can show. I find that funny, and that he's such a die hard but now just getting his back done?

Maybe I'm an idiot and way to harsh on him cause of his woah I'm a tattooed rock god persona

[tatB]

saw a commercial on A&E for a new show called "Epic Ink" the sound bite that made me pay attention was "we don't settle for easy traditional tattoos."

[Hospitelli]

Watching Ink Masters use to be a guilty pleasure of mine but I've completely stopped watching it now. None of the shows that are on air benefit the community in any way what so ever. When you start bringing in movie stars, and athletes (with shit tattoos) for critiques and give them more air time then a legitimate artist that has done it for a majority of their lives they you become a joke. I can only imagine what next season has in store. Maybe they will have Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber on as guest judges!

[PinkUnicorn]

When you start bringing in movie stars, and athletes (with shit tattoos) for critiques and give them more air time then a legitimate artist that has done it for a majority of their lives they you become a joke.

But I wonder if the guests actually come up with the critiques themselves. My suspicion is that they're written by other people (e.g. the primary judges).

[Colored Guy]

I may tune in Ink Masters now and then for the elimination (elimination... nice word for taking a carp..) tattoo. I can do 20 minutes of that. All of the otehrs shows, they're pretty bad or worse. Definitely not doing anything positive for the art.

[MrsGougeTheEyes]

I just watched this past season. What a complete waste of time. HOWEVER, I do love watching the l live finale shows because they are so poorly done and the truth of how bad Navarro is at his job is revealed.

Also, this show is so incredibly boring that the editing becomes a character.

[abees]

Never seen this show before, not sure if it's ever been shown over here in the U.K. But I saw of a new channel showing Conan O'Brien's show at 11pm weekdays, and happened to see that Ink Masters is being shown from the beginning this Saturday (August 9th) at 11pm on 'Tru TV' - Freeview channel 68, Sky channel 565. I won't be watching, but i thought I'd mention anyway.

[marley mission]

probably a different view on this show than most

i power watched all the seasons this summer

and will def tune in for season 5

i'm not sure i see the harm in it

i think its entertaining

love peck, nunez...eh

i think navarro does well in his role

he doesnt try to be an expert

he reps the client persepctive

after watching almost all of scott sylvia's interviews (amazing stuff)

i do get the other side of the coin on this stuff like this

but anyway - i enjoy the show as well as the LA, miami, ny ink series

[KVipers]

My girlfriend and I watched this show from the beginning and I'll be honest in saying we follow along every week (just because). I will say that it was kind of our introduction into what makes a good tattoo and things to look for. I enjoy listening to Chris and Oliver talk about the technical side of tattooing.

That being said, it's a disgrace that is has reached full blown reality status now. It's not about tattooing at all anymore and moreso about the drama in the house. It would be nice to have a show that focuses on the craft and nothing else. I feel that the target market are people with tattoos, so why not cater to that a little more than stamping the generic reality forumla onto it?

Makes me wonder how long Nunez and Peck will stick around for, and who, if anybody, would replace them..

Side note - wish they'd release another Tattoo Age soon!

[marley mission]

i think the format is good but yeah unfortunately they cast for drama - it seemed each season had at least a half dozen folks who shouldnt be tattooing - let alone in a competition - but - thats reality tv i guess and imo some really nice tattoos get put out each week - there's not a lot on tv that touches the tattoo realm - or am i missing something

[marley mission]

ok i know this show is a touchy subject round teese parts but...

i got my dvr ready to go

hope some other fans will be down to discuss the good bad and ugly of season 5....or not ;)