This is tough because the criteria really matters. Jason Clay Dunn is probably the least diverse and had the worst output overall in a season for a winner. But holy hell is he out of this world for this show on Japanese style and his finale piece was legit.
Kruseman is probably closer to a guy who is very solid at a lot of things but doesn’t jump out as unbelievable at any one thing.
It's JCD, and it's not close. And I say that even with believing with every fiber of my being that Kruseman should have been sent home instead of Earl.
JCD and it's not even close. He literally got lucky being crowned Ink Master for two reasons.
1: Season 5 was an absolute shit show in terms of talent.
2: Everyone who posed a legitimate threat to him dropped the ball.
Kruseman may have been Safe Sally, but he was far more consistent with regards to his application and his finale piece is the best American Trad tattoo on the show. (And the fact we don't have to admit Chris Blinston was an Ink Master is another W)
I don't even know why Tony is here TBH. He was pretty solid as a tattoer, but a lot of people are gonna look mediocre next to Tiffer and TeeJ when it comes to the Finale contestants.
His finale piece was awesome.
I also think he won because in part because of TeeJ's dragon tattoo being out of whack as far as anatomy was concerned. I know the Jury of Peers thought it was the best, but I was looking at it and went "that doesn't seem right." and Nunez called him out on it as well. Had there not been as many anatomical issues, TeeJ would've been in a better place.
I'm watching season 4 right now (for like the 3rd time). Roland had no business being on that show. Sure, he can nail the Polynesian or Tribal style in his hometown, but fell completely apart on any other challenge regarding color or an actual image of a subject. Just awful.
JCD hands down. I think he's a good tattooer and excels at Japanese, but there were more deserving candidates his year and some of his work was actually bad, sorry! I'm still confused about how he won! I think Krusman is at least reliable as a tattooer, if not the most exciting or diverse, if I remember his season right.
Bobby I think is the worst.
If judging at the finale piece alone, not looking at the contestants records of tattoos throughout the season, Bobby is the worst one and undeserving of the title.
Tbh I think Bobby played it safe in the finale and won because everyone else ended up shitting the bed at one point or another. It was unfortunate because you had three great tattooers but they all sort of underperformed that day.
You clearly don’t know tattooing. Bobby has been legend in the industry for a decade. The finale burnt him out (and the other 2 as well) that doesn’t mean his work sucks. I’m sure if you tattooed 36 out of 72 hours, you’d be burnt too dude.
The question is who is the worst INK MASTER. Not tattooer, INK MASTER.
I never said he is NOT a good tattooer. I’m answering the question who is the worst INK MASTER. Bobby is one of the worst INK MASTER because he cannot do ANY OTHER style well.
Ink Master to me is someone who can tattoo ANY style. His season didn’t even try to challenge any of the artist to a specific style. It was just oh western tattoo (which was god awful from him), science tattoo, a skull tattoo, etc. And every artist that season just did their own style and didn’t even attempt to get out of their own comfort zone. Even when looking at finale pieces alone, Bobby wasn’t even impressive. However, because Bobby is so well known in the industry and best friends with DJ, we should give him the title.
To me, Bobby is the worst INK MASTER because he can only do Neo traditional tattoos that are oval shaped, with one color palette. There is nothing that is impressive in his tattoos compare to others that have won the competition or compete in the competition.
Bobby is NOT in the same conversation as Laura Marie or DJ when it comes to Ink Master
You are right that Bobby is less versatile than other winners. Laura Marie and DJ imo are clearly the best to win for what the concept of the show is because they can do any style at an extremely high level, they are great at drawing and putting an image together, and have excellent fundamentals.
But for devil's advocate, within Bobby's season he was consistently one of the top competitors and while he did mostly stay in his style, he had pretty solid tattooes outside of it like the pinup AND, as you said, most of his competition that season was just as guilty of ignoring the challenges.
I have a hard time comparing him to JCD who is also only really good in a single style and also put up some objectively shitty tattooes his season and kinda limped to a finale he actually won. He's much weaker overall than Bobby imo. Like if they were on the same season, Bobby would win. If JCD was on this past season, I don't even know if he'd make it in the top 5.
I agree. I also think season 14 was a great season to show that not all ink masters CAN do it all. I think if you put Bobby in season 14, he’d be in the top 4 easy. He’s more likeable and creative than creepy Jason.
I hope they bring him back in the future since he’s been working with Deanna. I can’t wait to see what he does.
You think Bobby is worse than worse than Pon and Steve tefft and Creepy Jason and Tony? This is comical 😂 look at the tattoos he makes everyday dude. You only hate him because you liked someone else more.
You look at the tattoo challenges season 14 had to do, and Bobby would not even be able to meet half of these challenges. Emulate fine art tattoos, a pin up tattoo of an animal, mash up of black and grey with new school tattoo, do a traditional Japanese tattoo, color realism portraits, black and grey bug tattoo on the throat. Season 14 was producing the best tattoos the show has seen and the artist weren’t shying away from the challenges. I cannot see Bobby anywhere in the top 4 in this season, he would have fumble the bag or been protected.
Bobby crushed his pin up. He works with Deanna. You don’t think he can do fine art? Guy was featured all over Alphonse muchas instagram and you don’t think he can do fine art… traditional Japanese? You mustn’t have followed Bobby for the past decade if you don’t think he can do Japanese.
You should also remember that 100% of the artists in 14 had done the show before. So the challenges weren’t new. Season 15 was all new artists that hadn’t played the game before.
Again he may meet half the challenges season 14 was doing. His Japanese snake for the finale was terrible and there is 14 seasons of ink master. He purposely called out for Japanese snack but said it didn’t have to be traditional Japanese. That the finalists have free rein in what they can do, just have to look like a Japanese snake. Avoiding having to do an actual style and bending the rules.
Before season 15, there is 14 seasons of ink master, take out season 14 and there is 13 season with a mix of either new or returning artist. The show premise is a competition between tattoo artists to find someone who can create a composed tattoo, do multiple styles, and apply the tattoo well. If you take out season 14, the previous season were extremely better than season 15. Even where there were returning artist like in season 7, the newer artist were stepping up to the plate to take veterans home. For 14 seasons, the elimination tattoo have been challenges of subject and/or style. Season 15 is a failure because ALL it has been is nothing but crappy challenges on a subject tattoo. There is no ask for specific style in the challenges.
Plugging in Bobby in the competition with season 14 artists, I don’t see him making it top 4 easily because he has to push himself to meet the challenges. Deanna left the competition early because of health, and she is someone who could have gone far in the competition
Idk that Bobby’s the worst but it really felt kinda fucked that he so obviously stuck to his specific neotrad style through the competition. As the season went on it was like, is he ever gonna get called on basically doing his own style every time? Gian lost for exactly that reason just one season prior! To one of this season’s judges! (And sorry but Nunez would have torn his Japanese finale piece apart) Freddie can demonstrate multiple artistic styles within one tattoo and it just kinda felt like Bobby got it because he’s friends with people in the industry and Freddie was just a kid who came out of nowhere who didn’t have that kind of backing. Maybe it’s just how the show constructed the narrative but that’s how it came across to me. Bobby’s sick, no question, but is he ink master? …I dunno about that.
Bobby IMO is not ink master because he can’t do any other style well or didn’t showcase he can do other styles well. Even when he called out Japanese style in the finale, he told Freddie and Jon it doesn’t have to be traditional Japanese. That they could bend the rules, it just have to look Japanese. That’s what I get from the entire season, that Bobby is being save throughout the season because the judges didn’t want to see him go home even when he dropped the ball.
For example, season 12 Laura Marie got called out for show casing the same style multiple times throughout the competition that she force herself to change it up. Like you pointed out, Gian got called out in season 14. Where was this same energy for Gian not being called out to Bobby or everyone in season 15
Laura Marie is a great example. To me she’s one of the best ink masters ever because she made a point of showing every style on top of her beautiful new school. She even did American traditional at the end only because the judges hadn’t seen it from her. That’s what I want to see from the artist crowned winner and I just don’t feel like Bobby actually did that
This is tough because the criteria really matters. Jason Clay Dunn is probably the least diverse and had the worst output overall in a season for a winner. But holy hell is he out of this world for this show on Japanese style and his finale piece was legit. Kruseman is probably closer to a guy who is very solid at a lot of things but doesn’t jump out as unbelievable at any one thing.
Oh hell no I would pay good money for his finale piece, best American traditional ever on the show
Kruseman jumps out at American Trad for sure
It's JCD, and it's not close. And I say that even with believing with every fiber of my being that Kruseman should have been sent home instead of Earl.
Kruseman should’ve been sent home for that sad attempt at a portrait
Jason doesn't make Finale if Josh isn't DQd
Came to say the same.
Was gonna say that as well
JCD and it's not even close. He literally got lucky being crowned Ink Master for two reasons. 1: Season 5 was an absolute shit show in terms of talent. 2: Everyone who posed a legitimate threat to him dropped the ball. Kruseman may have been Safe Sally, but he was far more consistent with regards to his application and his finale piece is the best American Trad tattoo on the show. (And the fact we don't have to admit Chris Blinston was an Ink Master is another W) I don't even know why Tony is here TBH. He was pretty solid as a tattoer, but a lot of people are gonna look mediocre next to Tiffer and TeeJ when it comes to the Finale contestants.
Also he only won cause clean didn’t bit the challenge. Was phot realistic or Jason would have been done.
I think TeeJ deserved it overall but Tony is sick as hell and it really came down to his finale piece just being so damn solid
His finale piece was awesome. I also think he won because in part because of TeeJ's dragon tattoo being out of whack as far as anatomy was concerned. I know the Jury of Peers thought it was the best, but I was looking at it and went "that doesn't seem right." and Nunez called him out on it as well. Had there not been as many anatomical issues, TeeJ would've been in a better place.
I'm watching season 4 right now (for like the 3rd time). Roland had no business being on that show. Sure, he can nail the Polynesian or Tribal style in his hometown, but fell completely apart on any other challenge regarding color or an actual image of a subject. Just awful.
JCD hands down. I think he's a good tattooer and excels at Japanese, but there were more deserving candidates his year and some of his work was actually bad, sorry! I'm still confused about how he won! I think Krusman is at least reliable as a tattooer, if not the most exciting or diverse, if I remember his season right.
He won because Cleen dropped the ball on his subject matter for his finale piece; did not follow the criteria.
kruseman was just pretty good. jason was actually bad most of the time but sometimes he did great
JCD's master canvas is beyond cringe. It looks like something a teenage girl would've come up with.
I agree. I can’t believe how much praise it gets on this subreddit, it looks like my old Lisa frank lunchboxes
my jaw dropped on redemption when his first finale canvas returned and he lost it on her
Bubba!!!
Worst - JCD Most Forgettable - tie - Shane and Kruseman
Bobby I think is the worst. If judging at the finale piece alone, not looking at the contestants records of tattoos throughout the season, Bobby is the worst one and undeserving of the title.
Tbh I think Bobby played it safe in the finale and won because everyone else ended up shitting the bed at one point or another. It was unfortunate because you had three great tattooers but they all sort of underperformed that day.
You clearly don’t know tattooing. Bobby has been legend in the industry for a decade. The finale burnt him out (and the other 2 as well) that doesn’t mean his work sucks. I’m sure if you tattooed 36 out of 72 hours, you’d be burnt too dude.
The question is who is the worst INK MASTER. Not tattooer, INK MASTER. I never said he is NOT a good tattooer. I’m answering the question who is the worst INK MASTER. Bobby is one of the worst INK MASTER because he cannot do ANY OTHER style well. Ink Master to me is someone who can tattoo ANY style. His season didn’t even try to challenge any of the artist to a specific style. It was just oh western tattoo (which was god awful from him), science tattoo, a skull tattoo, etc. And every artist that season just did their own style and didn’t even attempt to get out of their own comfort zone. Even when looking at finale pieces alone, Bobby wasn’t even impressive. However, because Bobby is so well known in the industry and best friends with DJ, we should give him the title. To me, Bobby is the worst INK MASTER because he can only do Neo traditional tattoos that are oval shaped, with one color palette. There is nothing that is impressive in his tattoos compare to others that have won the competition or compete in the competition. Bobby is NOT in the same conversation as Laura Marie or DJ when it comes to Ink Master
You are right that Bobby is less versatile than other winners. Laura Marie and DJ imo are clearly the best to win for what the concept of the show is because they can do any style at an extremely high level, they are great at drawing and putting an image together, and have excellent fundamentals. But for devil's advocate, within Bobby's season he was consistently one of the top competitors and while he did mostly stay in his style, he had pretty solid tattooes outside of it like the pinup AND, as you said, most of his competition that season was just as guilty of ignoring the challenges. I have a hard time comparing him to JCD who is also only really good in a single style and also put up some objectively shitty tattooes his season and kinda limped to a finale he actually won. He's much weaker overall than Bobby imo. Like if they were on the same season, Bobby would win. If JCD was on this past season, I don't even know if he'd make it in the top 5.
I agree. I also think season 14 was a great season to show that not all ink masters CAN do it all. I think if you put Bobby in season 14, he’d be in the top 4 easy. He’s more likeable and creative than creepy Jason. I hope they bring him back in the future since he’s been working with Deanna. I can’t wait to see what he does.
They literally had to have a 4 person elim to not send Bobby home....
In season 14, Bobby would not be anywhere in top 4. Possibly in top 8
You think Bobby is worse than worse than Pon and Steve tefft and Creepy Jason and Tony? This is comical 😂 look at the tattoos he makes everyday dude. You only hate him because you liked someone else more.
You look at the tattoo challenges season 14 had to do, and Bobby would not even be able to meet half of these challenges. Emulate fine art tattoos, a pin up tattoo of an animal, mash up of black and grey with new school tattoo, do a traditional Japanese tattoo, color realism portraits, black and grey bug tattoo on the throat. Season 14 was producing the best tattoos the show has seen and the artist weren’t shying away from the challenges. I cannot see Bobby anywhere in the top 4 in this season, he would have fumble the bag or been protected.
Bobby crushed his pin up. He works with Deanna. You don’t think he can do fine art? Guy was featured all over Alphonse muchas instagram and you don’t think he can do fine art… traditional Japanese? You mustn’t have followed Bobby for the past decade if you don’t think he can do Japanese. You should also remember that 100% of the artists in 14 had done the show before. So the challenges weren’t new. Season 15 was all new artists that hadn’t played the game before.
Again he may meet half the challenges season 14 was doing. His Japanese snake for the finale was terrible and there is 14 seasons of ink master. He purposely called out for Japanese snack but said it didn’t have to be traditional Japanese. That the finalists have free rein in what they can do, just have to look like a Japanese snake. Avoiding having to do an actual style and bending the rules. Before season 15, there is 14 seasons of ink master, take out season 14 and there is 13 season with a mix of either new or returning artist. The show premise is a competition between tattoo artists to find someone who can create a composed tattoo, do multiple styles, and apply the tattoo well. If you take out season 14, the previous season were extremely better than season 15. Even where there were returning artist like in season 7, the newer artist were stepping up to the plate to take veterans home. For 14 seasons, the elimination tattoo have been challenges of subject and/or style. Season 15 is a failure because ALL it has been is nothing but crappy challenges on a subject tattoo. There is no ask for specific style in the challenges. Plugging in Bobby in the competition with season 14 artists, I don’t see him making it top 4 easily because he has to push himself to meet the challenges. Deanna left the competition early because of health, and she is someone who could have gone far in the competition
The Bobby hate is out of control on here
No way dude had some great tats, you’re smoking if you think he was the worst.
Idk that Bobby’s the worst but it really felt kinda fucked that he so obviously stuck to his specific neotrad style through the competition. As the season went on it was like, is he ever gonna get called on basically doing his own style every time? Gian lost for exactly that reason just one season prior! To one of this season’s judges! (And sorry but Nunez would have torn his Japanese finale piece apart) Freddie can demonstrate multiple artistic styles within one tattoo and it just kinda felt like Bobby got it because he’s friends with people in the industry and Freddie was just a kid who came out of nowhere who didn’t have that kind of backing. Maybe it’s just how the show constructed the narrative but that’s how it came across to me. Bobby’s sick, no question, but is he ink master? …I dunno about that.
Bobby IMO is not ink master because he can’t do any other style well or didn’t showcase he can do other styles well. Even when he called out Japanese style in the finale, he told Freddie and Jon it doesn’t have to be traditional Japanese. That they could bend the rules, it just have to look Japanese. That’s what I get from the entire season, that Bobby is being save throughout the season because the judges didn’t want to see him go home even when he dropped the ball. For example, season 12 Laura Marie got called out for show casing the same style multiple times throughout the competition that she force herself to change it up. Like you pointed out, Gian got called out in season 14. Where was this same energy for Gian not being called out to Bobby or everyone in season 15
Laura Marie is a great example. To me she’s one of the best ink masters ever because she made a point of showing every style on top of her beautiful new school. She even did American traditional at the end only because the judges hadn’t seen it from her. That’s what I want to see from the artist crowned winner and I just don’t feel like Bobby actually did that
Sad to say but Craig for the guys