2 El Pasoans go head-to-head on tattoo TV show starting tonight
At least one other contestant will be familiar to the 18 contestants on Season 6 of Ink Master.
This season’s theme is Master Vs. Apprentice. The show debuts at 8 p.m. MT today on Spike TV.
“Each weekInk Masterputs artists through a series of tattoo challenges that are not only designed to test the artists’ technical skills, but also their on-the-spot creativity, where they must create and execute an original tattoo by command on a ‘Human Canvas.’ Each episode focuses on a different and distinct style of tattooing including American traditional, Japanese, trash polka, anatomical and Victorian, among others. The masterpieces these artists create will last a lifetime, but so will their mistakes,” according to a Spike TV news release.
This year’s pool of contestants features two El Pasoans – the master, MV and his apprentice, Brian Stephens. Learn more about MV and Stephens below and watch MV and Stephens in this video.
The contestants face a tough panel after every challenge. The panel is made up of series host Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction) and world renowned tattoo artists Chris Nunez (Miami Ink) and Oliver Peck (Elm Street Tattoo). Guest stars this year include Avan Jogia (Tut), Khaseem Greene (Chicago Bears), Tony Jefferson (Arizona Cardinals), Keith Pough (Cleveland Browns), Allen Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars), Darius Slay (Detroit Lions) and Kamerion Wimbley (Tennessee Titans).
Meet the El Paso Master and Apprentice
MV, Tattoo artist (the master)
El Paso, TX
Owner/Artist, Blue Panda Tattoo
Website:www.facebook.com/tattoosbymat
Twitter: @tat2bymat
6 years’ experience
Mentor to Brian Stephens
MV comes in full steam to this competition, expecting to be the last one standing among lesser artists. He’s got a string of tattoo convention awards to back up his reputation. He specializes in Black and Grey and realism and has been feature in tattoo publications in the past. This season, MV finds a rival in Brian Stephens, his former apprentice who thinks he’s amassed the skills necessary to beat his mentor.
PHOTOS: See a gallery of MV’s work
Brian Stephens, Tattoo Artist (the apprentice)
El Paso, TX
Artist, Dapper Ink Tattoo
Website:http://instagram.com/tat2bybry
Twitter: @tat2bybry
3 years’ experience
Apprentice of MV
Brian Stephens has been tattooing for a total of three years with a focus on traditional and realism. Despite his relatively short experience compared to others’ in the competition, Brian has already collected his share of awards in traditional and color categories. His main competitor this season is MV, the El Paso shop owner who formerly apprenticed him. Brian is setting out to prove to his rival that he isn’t the new kid on the block any more and hopes winning the coveted title of ‘Ink Master’ will give him the same respect as more experienced artists.
