Ep 2. One Man's Trash

The reality competition series Ink Master returned to Spike TV for its seventh season in March 2016, featuring 16 tattoo artists from around the United States vying for a grand prize of $100,000 and a feature in Inked Magazine. Each week, the artists compete in challenges judged by tattoo experts Dave Navarro, Oliver Peck, and Chris Nunez, with one artist being eliminated until only one is left standing as the Ink Master.

In the second episode of the season, titled "One Man's Trash," the contestants are presented with a unique canvas for their challenge: piles of garbage bags filled with discarded items. The artists are tasked with creating tattoos inspired by the objects they find within the bags, ranging from old shoes and broken toys to rusty tools and other debris. Each artist must choose their own bag and must use at least three items from it in their tattoo design.

As the artists dig through the piles of trash, they quickly realize that some bags have more inspiring items than others, and they must adapt their designs accordingly. Some artists struggle to incorporate the objects into their tattoos, while others find creative ways to use the materials to their advantage.

In addition to the trash challenge, the artists also face a surprise twist: the return of a former Ink Master contestant who will join them in the competition. The artist, who is not revealed until the episode airs, adds another layer of competition and tension to an already challenging week.

After the challenge, the judges critique the tattoos and ultimately choose one artist as the winner and another as the weakest, putting them up for elimination. The artists must then face a head-to-head battle in which they must tattoo a live human canvas with a design chosen by their opponent. The stakes are high, as the artist who loses the battle is sent home.

The episode also features behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the contestants, offering insight into their creative processes, personal motivations, and competitive strategies. As the Ink Master competition heats up, the artists must navigate the challenges of each week and impress the judges with their talent, skill, and ability to adapt to unexpected twists and turns.