Read at your own risk: This article contains spoilers for Ink Master Season 12.
Ink Master Season 12 has become so much more challenging as the artists are now facing head-to-head battles with their competitors. Ashley lost the chance last installment to prove herself as the master of the season. But her other co-artists continued the course during the latest episode of the reality competition television show.
On July 23 when the Sabotage episode aired, the artists were tasked to do a "head-to-head" challenge applying the skill of the week, Technical Application. Some of the artists were given the chance to choose their opponents, while the chosen opponents had the opportunity to choose the subject of their artwork.
Creepy Jason chose Alexis, while Alexis selected the French Bulldog portrait. Ash faced Cam with Cam's chosen "dotwork" mandala with a realistic rose to which he largely showed that he could win the Ink Master Season 12.
As for Pon who chose Holly as his partner for the challenge, they battle over the Neo-traditional female busts as she holds a flaming anatomical heart. Fon came face-to-face with Janelle, with Janelle picking the Boston Terrier with Americal traditional roses portrait.
Dani and Tito selected Laura and Jake for each of them. The two latter artists chose the realistic wolf heads and full-body aliens with the milky way galaxy on their hands.
The head-to-head challenges were won by Alexis, Cam, Holly, Fon, Dani, and Jake. Accordingly, Janelle, Creepy Jason, Pon, Ash, Tito, and Laura were placed for the elimination round.
For the elimination challenge, the losing artists of the initial challenge were tasked to do a tattoo that is chosen by winning artists. Much to Nunez's liking as per Inked Magazine, they decided to give the traditional Japanese hannya masks for the losing competitors to tattoo.
Each of the artists tattooed the traditional hannya mask on their subjects. But not all of them were able to impress the judges. In the end, Tito and Ash were placed at the bottom two.
Peck and Nunez pointed out the inconsistencies in Tito's output. They also told him that they have a huge issue with his chosen design as it did not exhibit the integral aspects of a traditional hannya mask.
As for Ash, she was told by the judges that she fell short with the main skill of the week. But while her shortcomings for the challenge are very much apparent, they decided that she could stay to continue the Ink Master competition. As a result, Tito was sent home.
Ink Master Season 12 will return next week for a yet-disclosed challenge. The episode titled, Pins & No Needles, is set to air on July 30, on Paramount Network.
