Ep 10. Cold Blooded

The Ink Master Season 5 episode 10, titled "Cold Blooded," invites the eight remaining tattoo artists to create tattoos inspired by the animal kingdom's cold-blooded creatures. The episode introduces the prison tattooing system, where the artists are created with a twist in the elimination tattoo challenge. The winner of the challenge gets to assign human canvases to the competition, deciding which artists get the most challenging and trickiest canvases.

Dave Navarro and the judges Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck explain that the artists will be creating tattoos of snakes, lizards, and frogs, among other cold-blooded reptiles. They emphasize the importance of technical and artistic skills, especially in this episode, where the elimination is going to be intense and challenging.

In the flash challenge, the artists have to draw the appropriate, anatomically accurate reproductive organs of a selected cold-blooded animal. They have to showcase their knowledge of the animal kingdom and be precise in their representation.

The elimination tattoo round also challenges the artists. They have to create tattoos with varying sizes and body placements, from arms and legs to entire torsos. Artists must display their technique and creativity in designing tattoos that capture the essence and natural characteristics of their cold-blooded animal.

The twist in this episode is that the winner of the flash challenge can assign human canvases and decide who gets the toughest tattoo assignment. While some artists get lucky with their canvas assignments, others struggle to showcase their skills as they work on some of the least favorable canvases.

Throughout the episode, the judges provide critical feedback, analyzing everything from the line work to shading to color use. They question artists' technique and abilities and challenge them to be better and more creative in their approach. Some of the tattoos that received the highest praises include serpent tattoos and a chameleon tattoo.

As the elimination round unfolds, tensions rise, and some artists struggle to keep up with the challenges thrown their way. They have to grapple with demanding canvases, complex designs, and a limited amount of time.

By the end of the episode, one artist will be eliminated, leaving only seven contestants to continue in their quest for the title of Ink Master. The challenges in "Cold Blooded" are some of the most demanding yet, testing each artist's creativity and technical ability in significant ways. Fans of the series can't wait to see which artist will fail to impress the judges and lose in the elimination round and who will continue to fight for the title of Ink Master.