Reprinted with permission from www.redesignrevolution.com

This is it, only three artists remain  on Best Ink 2 (which airs on Oxygen on Wednesdays, 10/9C) —Jerod, DJ, and Teresa. The artists arrive at the Best Ink studio to face their two final Ink Challenges. For the first Ink Challenge, the judges are looking for their signature pieces. For DJ, it’s his abstract tattoo. Teresa gets her blood puddin tattoo. Jerod gets to re-ink his animated tattoo. The signature piece should tell how the artists and the skins have risen above adversity. And, the artists have free reign to do whatever they want with one hour to consult and five hours to ink.

Teresa is thinking about wolves, how one of them dies and another wolf takes over. They are leaders of their own packs. DJ is talking about a hand reaching for the light out of darkness. Jerrod wants to put a tattoo on a statue since his skin’s faith has helped her in life, and tattooing has helped Jerod.

After five hours of nonstop pain, the artists gets a short break before working on their second tattoo. But first, one artist must be eliminated.

DJ’s tattoo // Credit: Oxygen Media

DJ’s tattoo is a hand holding an orb, and it is an amazing drawing, but lacking in concept.

Teresa’s tattoo // Credit: Oxygen Media

Teresa somehow managed to make a feminine-looking wolf.

Jerod’s tattoo // Credit: Oxygen Media

Jerod did a greyscale religious statute that falls just short of realism.

Unfortunately, Jerod’s tattoo is just not enough, and he is eliminated from the competition. (You can read his exit interview here.)

For the final Ink Challenge, the artists will be inking celebrity skins. DJ is inking Travie McCoy, and they’ve been friends for years. He wants a portrait of his little French bulldog, Stitch. Teresa, on the other hand, is inking a Backstreet Boy—A.J. McLean, who wants a tattoo to represent his new baby. Teresa decides to ink a photo of the baby’s hand gripping A.J.’s fingers.

The artists return to the studio and have an hour to prepare for the tattoo. DJ’s challenge is making room on an already inked up body, while Teresa’s challenge is making baby hands interesting. Both tattoos look…cute. And I’m not sure that cute is a good thing. With one hour left, the artists add a last little pop of color as their celebrity skins try to power through the pain.

DJ’s final tattoo // Credit: Oxygen Media

Hmm. DJ kind of blew it. I’m giving the win to Teresa. But, I don’t get a vote. So let’s see what the judges have to say. DJ’s tattoo looks like a devil dog (Lucifer, not Hostess). The judges like the drawing, but feel that the eyes lacked a little something extra and maybe should have been cartoonier. Teresa’s tattoo is beautifully rendered but poorly placed. And, she managed to get a touch of leopard print in the background that is kind of nifty.

The judges deliberate and call the artists back in to crown a winner. And the winner is, Teresa! Yay! Aw, but DJ is super sad, and having to stand there while Teresa feels that rush of joy is awkward. Well, good for both of them. This was fun.

You can read DJ’s exit interview here, as well as Teresa’s winning chat here.