Spotlight: Local Tattoo Artist is Reality TV Show Star
On Tuesday, February 9, Lockport-based tattoo artist Nick D’Angelo will make his third appearance on the Spike TV program Ink Master, a competitive tattooing reality TV show. D’Angelo’s first appearance happened in 2012, on season two of the show. Unfortunately for him, he was kicked off early on, but he’s nonetheless become one of the most beloved contestants on the show. Now the 26-year-old artist runs his own shop, Ink & Style on Chestnut Street in Lockport, where he specializes in photo realistic tattoos, watercolor-style tattoos, and portraits. But to compete at any level on Ink Master, one must be practiced in just about every style of tattooing, something D’Angelo has worked tirelessly to achieve.
Earlier this year, he appeared on the show’s spin off, Ink Master Redemption, where he had the opportunity to tattoo one of the show’s hosts, rock star Dave Navarro. On Tuesday’s episode, which airs at 10pm, D’Angelo competes again, this time against four fellow former contestants—Mystical Mike, Ashley Bennett, and Julia Carlson—in a special, one-off, $10,000-grand-prize competition dubbed Ink Master: Cupid’s Ink. This week we talked to D’Angelo about what it’s like to tattoo a rock star on television and how his life has changed since becoming a reality TV star.
It’s been three or four years since you were first on Ink Master. I was 22 at the time. That’s crazy. I just did another special with them that aired a couple of weeks ago. I got to tattoo Dave Navarro. On that one I got to compete for redemption, since I lost before, and now I get to compete for $10,000. It’s been pretty awesome.
What was it like tattooing Dave Navarro? It was awesome, man. It was great. I got to be one of the first artists to tattoo Dave in the shop and I was one of the first artists he ever asked to actually tattoo him. It was a killer opportunity! I was shaking like a little girl, though. When you tattoo one of the judges, it’s definitely nerve-wracking!
What was the tattoo? He just got a little traditional dagger on his arm. He doesn’t really have a lot of space so it was really just like two inches of hair.
Is it pretty nerve-wracking to be on that show in general? This time around it was a lot easier. It was just like going to work. That definitely helps with everything.
What was your reaction when you heard they wanted you to come back for a redemption? Ever since I got kicked off, I’ve been working my balls off just in case I got the chance again, to make sure that I brought it home and won. There are definitely sleepless nights and anxiety about trying to get better.
The one coming up on February 9 is a Valentine’s Day special. It’s all new human canvasses. Me and three other artists from previous seasons compete for $10,000.
What did you have going through your mind when you were given the theme of the show? I didn’t know there was going to be a theme until I walked into the studio, and then I realized everything was covered in hearts and shit, and I was like, “Ah, here we go.” It’s going to be tattooing a boyfriend and girlfriend, names on people who have only been dating for two months. I knew it was coming. It was really dumb and funny but there were still good tattoos involved and good competition.
What do you think led to you being kicked off the show the first time around? I was 22—I was the youngest person ever on the show and I just lacked experience. I was good enough to make it there but I wasn’t really good enough to carry it home back then.
How do you feel now that you’ve been invited back a couple of times? I feel good. I feel confident that they’ve invited me back. I feel like now my work can really hold its own with anybody, so that’s a good thing.
What’s it like when they want you to do something that’s outside of your comfort zone? You know, I’ve been preparing ever since I was on the show the first time. I’ve been preparing to be good at everything. My specialty is realism because it’s the most challenging to me. It’s my favorite. You really get to push yourself, and it’s very impressive when you do it right. If I have a design I always know how it’s going to come out, even if they want new school or traditional or anything. It’s whether it’s going to satisfy the judges in a given situation, really.
How have your life and career changed since the first episode? Since the first appearance, my career has changed just because my name is out there. A lot of people see my work and it gives me a bigger clientele, so I get to do a lot more of the stuff that I love. It’s made my job and my career a lot easier.
What does it feel like sitting down to watch the show with your family and friends as it’s airing live? That part is weird. That’s when you’re like, “Okay, I’m watching myself on TV.” Then you see how they actually edit it—that’s what blows my mind most some times, the way they edit things to make it come off a certain way. But that’s just TV.
NICK D’ANGELO
Ink & Style: Tattoo, Piercing, Hair Salon
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