Ep 5. New School, Old Artist

In Ink Master season 7 episode 5, titled "New School, Old Artist", the remaining tattoo artists are faced with the challenge of merging old school tattoo techniques with new school designs. With tattoos being one of the oldest forms of art, the contestants must prove they can not only adapt to new styles but also pay homage to tattooing's past.

As the contestants prepare for the challenge, tensions rise between some of the artists. Dave Navarro, the show's host and a respected tattoo artist himself, reminds them that they are not just competing against each other but also themselves. He stresses the importance of staying focused and not letting personal conflicts affect their work.

The guest judge for the episode is Josh Woods, a veteran tattoo artist with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He is known for his traditional style and has won numerous awards for his work.

During the flash challenge, the artists are asked to create a traditional American eagle tattoo using a technique called hand-poking. This technique involves using a needle and ink to create the tattoo design by hand, rather than using an electric tattoo machine. The artist who creates the best design and technique wins immunity for the week's elimination tattoo.

The artists struggle with the hand-poke technique, as many of them are used to using electric tattoo machines. Some artists excel while others struggle to adapt, leading to a variety of results.

For the elimination challenge, the artists are tasked with creating tattoos that combine old school techniques and new school designs. This challenge allows the artists to showcase their creativity and ability to merge different styles seamlessly. They are given free reign to create their own designs, with the only requirement being that they incorporate old school techniques such as heavy outlines and limited color palettes.

The judges critique each tattoo, examining the artists' use of old school techniques and how well they were incorporated into the new school designs. Some artists impress the judges with their unique blend of styles, while others fail to meet the challenge's requirements.

In the end, one artist is sent home while the others move on to the next challenge. The episode showcases the difficulties of merging styles and paying homage to tattooing's rich history while also bringing new ideas to the table. It also highlights the importance of adaptation and being able to work with different techniques and styles.