Navarro Wept; or How I Didn't make Ink Master season 3

Well the verdict is in. I didn't make it for season 3 of Ink Master. As if you couldn't tell by the title of this blog right ?

I'm not bummed out in the least bit. In fact I'm pretty relieved. Now some might jump to say that's just some sort of bravado to cushion the blow of not getting picked. They couldn't be more inaccurate.

Filming would have left me out of work for a while. Up to 8 whole weeks. Right in the heart of tax return season. For any of you lay folk not hip to the jive of the tax return season, fat pocket ballers, let me tell you; this time of year is Christmas for the blue collar tattoo artist. I'm literally working 6-7 days a week to support the influx.

Besides additional income, I would also be missing my girlfriend's art show coming up at the Russian Lady in Hartford, CT on April 4th ( hint hint folks ). I'd miss out on the Brimfield Antique fair, which I attend regularly 2 to 3 times a year. Easter with my family. On and on and on. It wasn't some luxurious life I'd be galavanting away to live, it was hard work, living with strangers, at the off chance I MIGHT make some money in the long run.

But above all else the one thing I'm missing out on, that I will not regret ever getting to witness, is the shit talking and mouth running of the Internet's ageless sages of wisdom, regarding the sanctity of tattooing and how it doesn't belong on TV !

That's sad isn't it. Knowing that I might be persona non grata in some tattoo circles. Mainly the holier than thou art American traditional crowd. Now I'm not downing all of them or the style. I wear mostly traditional tattoos myself, I do some myself, and I regularly make art work in a bastardized traditional style. Some of my closest compadres in the tattoo community, mainly the boys at Liberty Tattoo in Berlin,CT, are traditional tattooers ( yes that was another plug ). But many, based on blogs Ive read or comments I've seen lead me to believe the consensus is tattoos and TV are not good bed fellows. Instead of analyzing the motive and actions of the artist on TV the just condemn the whole crowd.

I can see the logic. I myself had an online run in with Ink Master Season 2 alum Kay Kutta. The former felon and prison taught tough guy very clearly cross contaminates . He touches his ink bottles with blood soiled gloves and places them down on his sterile field. Now this is fine and dandy if you wish to throw out full bottles of ink for every customer, but lets face it he didn't do that. I called him out via Instagram. He was less then thrilled. He let me know I was a " cock sucking groupie " that " hate is a blood borne pathogen " and that I should send him my girlfriend so he can fuck her. What a classy fella.

So with characters like that I can sympathize with a boycott. But plenty of other artists on the show have proven themselves to be hard working and full of talent. Personal favorites are Shane O'Neil whom I've admired for many years. James Vaughn, who even when confronted with applying a tattoo with two of the same foot took it in stride. And of course Jesse Smith, who stayed true to his own aesthetic and personality the whole route.

I'm not one to want TV exposure to gain fame. I did it more as a sound business move. I felt if I kept my mouth shut, stood up for what I believed in when challenged, and did good clean tattoos it would open up the market for me exponentially.

I work in a small town. Actual pieces that require me to be creative and fulfill my potential are few and far between. I end up doing a lot of cliche trendy images and smaller pieces due to low budgets or just lack of client creativity. I'm very thankful for the ample work flow I do have, I live like a king and I know it. But the chance to express myself more artistically and make good money at the same time is more ideal. I can only do so much reproductive work before I just feel like someone's tattoo slave. More a machine than an artist. The ones I feel an actual sense of pride and accomplishment for are few and far between.

Ill try again next season, and for any other show I can. I've done 4 episodes ( filmed 4. 2 have aired another will soon. One lies dead on the cutting room floor ) with Science Channels " Oddities " and it's done nothing but open doors for me. I've met tons of new collectors, scored tons of new pieces for my own hobby, made a few real friends, and had a great time.

TV has yet to show itself as the destructive force the masses tout it to be. So as long as it's a viable option for self promotion it will always be an opportunistic knock I answer.