Best Ink Recap: For the Love of Ink

Gasmii we are finally at the end of the road with this show and I can’t say that I will miss it that much although it did provide us with lots of snarky fodder. Last week, Charlie failed to impress with her King of Pop tattoo and was sent home. Thank god because I was really starting to believe that possession was real and that Jessica had someone channeled herself into her body. That left us with Jon, London and Alexis as our final three.

Alexis heads into the finals as still doubting herself (get over it already…) but is a force to be reckoned with, London had strong start but hit a rough patch and is now bouncing back while Jon is a self proclaimed ladies man with back to back wins. Kim and Joe walk in and announce that there will be no more flash challenges and just one final ink challenge left. This makes all the artist happy but it makes me sad because Sabina isn’t around. I liked watching her blank eye stare and speak on commands. The artist are treated to a meeting with Tattoo Magazine editor, Christina Diaz, which Joe tells them is something people like him only dreamed of back in the day. He says this is a huge opportunity for them and to take advantage of it because it can help raise their level of fame in the industry and these newbs need it.

The artists meet with Christina and is it me or did she give Alexis a little side eye? Is it because her hair is supposed to look like Alexis’ but it got faded out? Christina explains to them that the level of exposure in the magazine is phenominal and asks the artists if they read Tattoo Magazine. Knowing better than to say no, they all say yes and Alexis says she has read it since high school which was like last year or something. Christina starts with Jon’s portfolio which by the way, I thought portfolios consisted of pages in a bound book for a better impression? These bitches are all handing her pieces of paper. She notes Jon’s signature which is his initials on each piece and then she wonders why Alexis’ pages are all stuck together. She lectures her that presentation is important that she should take more time to make a better impression. They all should do a better job and get a fucking binder the next time they are meeting with a professional. London’s work is varied with lots of different styles, Alexis’ is more dark (duh) and Jon’s is forgettable but decent. Christina finishes by telling them that people love eye catching designs and they could potentially see their work in the magazine and take it to get tattooed.

The artists then meet with Kim and Joe and learn that the final challenge is to do 3 tattoos based on their own concept of love and they have 8 hours to complete the first two and 6 for their signature piece. The skins for this challenge are all previous skins they have tattooed in past challenges including Jon’s Nugget Owning Skrillex Lesbian Liz, Alexis’ Punk Cat Owner Adria and London’s Fu Dog Brian. Since the artist have free range to do whatever designs they want, the skins are dismissed and the artists get working on their sketches with Joe walking around to mentor. I should note that London is sitting at a table by himself while Jon and Alexis are sitting together. I hate that smug bitch London too you guys! London is doing a growing flower heart piece but Joe is worried that people won’t understand the concept because it may be too abstract. London interviews that he battles between being too abstract and too traditional and realistic. Joe checks in on Alexis who is doing a heart in a lantern in painted like colors which is a huge departure for her but she hopes it helps her win. Jon wants to go more literal so he’s opting for a rose and an anatomical heart.