Season 1

8 Episodes2012

The first season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master debuted on Spike on January 17 and concluded on March 6, 2012 with a total of 8 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner received a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked Magazine and the title of Ink Master.

Photos

Episodes (8)

Ep 1

Fresh Meat

★7.0

2012-01-17•42m

Ten of the best tattoo artists on the planet tattoo Human Canvases in a series of extreme challenges. The first Artist is eliminated on the path to determining who will earn a $100,000 prize and the title of Ink Master.

Ep 2

Botched Head Tattoo

★7.3

2012-01-24•42m

A head tattoo becomes a medical emergency and tempers explode when Heather challenges the judges. Ton Jones serves as Guest Judge and a second artist is eliminated from the competition, losing the chance to win $100K.

Ep 3

Pasties and a Cameltoe

★6.5

2012-01-31•42m

Naked women heat up the competition and another head tattoo sparks a fight between Al and Bili. A third artist is eliminated from the competition and the chance to win $100K

Ep 4

Ink Disaster Piece

★5.0

2012-02-07•42m

Photo Realism tattoos turn disastrous when Bili has difficulty with muscle structure and Heather’s art goes up in flames. A fourth artist is eliminated from the competition.

Ep 5

Game On

★5.0

2012-02-14•42m

Competition turns cut-throat when Josh calls out Shane for only doing black & grey. Shane fights to prove his color skills and impress the judges. A fifth artist is eliminated from the competition.

Ep 6

Permanent Mistakes

★5.0

2012-02-21•42m

Tattoos are forever and so are the mistakes! The artists are plagued with massive mistakes while tattooing pinups on their canvasses. A sixth artist is eliminated from the competition and the chance to win $100K.

Ep 7

Picture Imperfect

★6.5

2012-02-28•42m

Some of the remaining artists botch their portrait tattoos by screwing up important features, leaving their human canvasses with bad art. 4 artists remain but only 1 will take home $100K and the title of Ink Master.

Ep 8

Ink Master Revealed

★7.0

2012-03-06•42m

In the season finale, human canvasses blindly agree to let the remaining artists tattoo anything they want on their skin. A grueling 18 hours of tattooing with a shocking twist! Who will take home $100K & the title of Ink Master?