The Ink's Artists

Miami Ink's television success is due in part to the dedicated artists who work at the studio. Film crews follow them as they hit the town, go fishing, and relax at home with family. This access helps viewers feel connected with the artists and increases their likelihood of continuing to tune-in.

Currently featured artists include:

• Ami James : This 33-year-old artist hails from Israel where he was a member of the Israeli Army. Now co-owner of the studio, Ami began tattooing from his house when he was 20. His first tat of a dragon is now accompanied by forty additional designs.
• Chris Nuñez: Before becoming co-owner of Miami Ink, Chris worked in construction and was instrumental in refurbishing the storefront that the tattoo shop now occupies. Chris grew up in Miami but lived in Brazil for five years and traveled throughout Europe exploring different tattoo styles. Although he began expressing himself artistically through graffiti, Chris now uses tattoo ink as his medium.
• Chris Garver: A world-renowned tattoo artist, Chris grew up in Pittsburgh and began tattooing in his late teens. Now 34, Chris is frequently found at Miami Ink, but also owns True Tattoo in Hollywood, California. His popularity has allowed him to take his art to Europe and Asia.
• Darren Brass: Considered the quieter one of the group, Darren is from Waterbury, Connecticut, but moved to Miami to advance his inking career. Shortly after filming began on the show, Darren broke his elbow and had to take some time off from the business.
• Yoji Harada: As the apprentice, Yoji is still learning the ropes of tattooing and spends much of his time helping out around the shop and drawing. Yoji came to America from Japan in his 20s and is in a rock band when not at the studio.
• Kat Von D: Although only 23, Kat has been tattooing for nine years and has already developed a huge following. Specializing in portrait tattoos, she is sought out by customers who want memorial pieces to commemorate a lost loved one or who want realistic looking images of famous idols. Kat tours the country with her art and also works out of fellow Miami Inker Chris Garver’s shop, True Tattoo.

As fascinating as it is to watch this TLC show, think about how much fun it would be to star in an episode. TLC periodically opens casting calls for potential customers who want to be tattooed during the show’s filming. Applications from viewers over 18 can be filled out online. But make sure you have a good idea of what kind of tattoo you want before applying--the application asks for the specifics of your idea and even which artist you would like work with.

During winter 2006, TLC also hosted its first competition for a coveted chance to work at Miami Ink. Hopeful artists from around the country submitted samples of their work and life histories for a shot at performing their art on national television. The winner will be announced on an upcoming espisode.

In the world of reality television, Miami Ink provides a glimpse into a branch of the art world that many people never see. The personality and humor of the people behind the show have made it an instant success.

Initial Author: Hollyann1227

What Are Tattoo Inks?

The short answer to the question is: You can't be 100% certain! Manufacturers of inks and pigments are not required to reveal the contents. A professional who mixes his or her own inks from dry pigments will be most likely to know the composition of the inks. However, the information is proprietary (trade secrets), so you may or may not get answers to questions.

Most tattoo inks technically aren't inks. They are composed of pigments that are suspended in a carrier solution. Contrary to popular belief, pigments usually are not vegetable dyes. Today's pigments primarily are metal salts. However, some pigments are plastics and there are probably some vegetable dyes too. The pigment provides the color of the tattoo. The purpose of the carrier is to disinfect the pigment suspension, keep it evenly mixed, and provide for ease of application.

Tattoos and Toxicity

This article is concerned primarily with the composition of the pigment and carrier molecules. However, there are important health risks associated with tattooing, both from the inherent toxicity of some of the substances involved and unhygienic practices. Some of the risks are described in this article. To learn more about these risks, care of a new tattoo, and get other information, check out some of the sites listed to the right of each page of this article. Also, check out the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any pigment or carrier. The MSDS won't be able to identify all chemical reactions or risks associated with chemical interactions within the ink or the skin, but it will give some basic information about each component of the ink. Pigments and tattoo inks are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Pigment Chemistry

The oldest pigments came from using ground up minerals and carbon black. Today's pigments include the original mineral pigments, modern industrial organic pigments, a few vegetable-based pigments, and some plastic-based pigments. Allergic reactions, scarring, phototoxic reactions (i.e., reaction from exposure to light, especially sunlight), and other adverse effects are possible with many pigments. The plastic-based pigments are very intensely colored, but many people have reported reactions to them. There are also pigments that glow in the dark or in response to black (ultraviolet) light. These pigments are notoriously risky - some may be safe, but others are radioactive or otherwise toxic.

Here's a table listing the colors of common pigments use in tattoo inks. It isn't exhaustive - pretty much anything that can be used as a pigment has been at some time. Also, many inks mix one or more pigment:

Compostion of Tattoo Pigments
Color	Materials	Comment
Black	Iron Oxide (Fe3O4) Iron Oxide (FeO) Carbon Logwood	Natural black pigment is made from magnetite crystals, powdered jet, wustite, bone black,and amorphous carbon from combustion (soot). Black pigment is commonly made into India ink. Logwood is a heartwood extract from Haematoxylon campechisnum, found in Central America and the West Indies.
Brown	Ochre	Ochre is composed of iron (ferric) oxides mixed with clay. Raw ochre is yellowish. When dehydrated through heating, ochre changes to a reddish color.
Red	Cinnabar (HgS) Cadmium Red (CdSe) Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) Napthol-AS pigment	Iron oxide is also known as common rust. Cinnabar and cadmium pigments are highly toxic. Napthol reds are synthesized from Naptha. Fewer reactions have been reported with naphthol red than the other pigments, but all reds carry risks of allergic or other reactions.
Orange	disazodiarylide and/or disazopyrazolone cadmium seleno-sulfide	The organics are formed from the condensation of 2 monoazo pigment molecules. They are large molecules with good thermal stability and colorfastness.
Flesh	Ochres (iron oxides mixed with clay)
Yellow	Cadmium Yellow (CdS, CdZnS) Ochres Curcuma Yellow Chrome Yellow (PbCrO4, often mixed with PbS) disazodiarylide	Curcuma is derived from plants of the ginger family; aka tumeric or curcurmin. Reactions are commonly associated with yellow pigments, in part because more pigment is needed to achieve a bright color.
Green	Chromium Oxide (Cr2O3), called Casalis Green or Anadomis Green Malachite [Cu2(CO3)(OH)2] Ferrocyanides and Ferricyanides Lead chromate Monoazo pigment Cu/Al phthalocyanine Cu phthalocyanine	The greens often include admixtures, such as potassium ferrocyanide (yellow or red) and ferric ferrocyanide (Prussian Blue)
Blue	Azure Blue Cobalt Blue Cu-phthalocyanine	Blue pigments from minerals include copper (II) carbonate (azurite), sodium aluminum silicate (lapis lazuli), calcium copper silicate (Egyptian Blue), other cobalt aluminum oxides and chromium oxides. The safest blues and greens are copper salts, such as copper pthalocyanine. Copper pthalocyanine pigments have FDA approval for use in infant furniture and toys and contact lenses. The copper-based pigments are considerably safer or more stable than cobalt or ultramarine pigments.
Violet	Manganese Violet (manganese ammonium pyrophosphate) Various aluminum salts Quinacridone Dioxazine/carbazole	Some of the purples, especially the bright magentas, are photoreactive and lose their color after prolonged exposure to light. Dioxazine and carbazole result in the most stable purple pigments.
White	Lead White (Lead Carbonate) Titanium dioxide (TiO2) Barium Sulfate (BaSO4) Zinc Oxide	Some white pigments are derived from anatase or rutile. White pigment may be used alone or to dilute the intensity of other pigments. Titanium oxides are one of the least reactive white pigments.

With ever-increasing popularity among celebrities and athletes, tattoos have become part of the fabric of social norms and popular culture. But there are striking differences between cute little flowers and cookie-cutter Celtic bands compared to the more intricate, stylized and meaningful artwork that is also done in the tattoo industry. The MIAMI INK series brings four old friends together to run a tattoo parlor and showcase their artwork, allowing viewers to see that difference firsthand.

TLC takes viewers inside the colorful, painful, intriguing world of tattoo artistry in MIAMI INK. In the series, these friends and competitive rivals - a motley crew of cutting-edge, humorous and well-regarded young guys and best friends - run a custom tattoo parlor where they live, work and play together. The resident artists - Ami James, Chris Nunez, Chris Garver and Darren Brass - all have world-class talent and dynamic personalities - living and working together to promote the art of tattoo. (Kat Von D appeared as a full time artist for two seasons on the show until she left to create her own show, L.A. Ink.) MIAMI INK shows them in and out of their workspace and follows their late-night shenanigans, brotherly hazing and camaraderie. Apprentice-turned-full-time tattoo artist Yoji Harada is there to soak up all of the artists' knowledge and experience while embarking upon his own experience as a newfound tattoo artist.

In addition to spotlighting the artists at work, each tattoo in MIAMI INK has a story to tell, a reason for being and a special relationship to its owner. The artists' clients range from 18-year-old newbies and suburban housewives to famous actors and buttoned-up professionals. The tale of each tattoo recipient and corresponding tattoo is emotionally engaging, with many people getting tattoos to signify some pivotal moment or event in their lives. Viewers gain insight into each MIAMI INK customer, their choice of artwork and the impetus behind it. MIAMI INK began filming its fourth season in April 2008.

MIAMI INK

The shop which is actually called LoveHate Tattoo (Formerly 305 Ink - The show is called Miami Ink - LoveHate Lounge is also the Bar that Ami James and Chris Nunez own) is co-owned by tattoo artists Ami James and Chris Núñez, and also features artists Chris Garver, Darren Brass, and Yoji Harada. Californian artists James "Sword-Crosser" Hamilton, Luke Wessman, Mikey Slater and JMorgwn Pennypacker and 2 floor managers Guy Sahar and Lee "On One Knee" Rodriguez joined the shop during the first season while Brass had an injured arm. Kat Von D became a full time crew member for two seasons, after which she was fired and then returned to Los Angeles and landed her own Miami Ink spin-off entitled LA Ink which premiered in August 2007. Another spin-off, London Ink began on Discovery Real Time in the UK in September 2007.^[1]

The original shop has now become full retail for the clothing line DeVille^[2], with a newer and bigger shop for tattoos opened just a few doors along.

Each episode features a number of "customers" along with their backstories and motivations for choosing their tattoos. There is also some focus on the personal lives of the artists. Most of the episodes are narrated by James, with Nuñez occasionally filling in. The main musical theme for the show is "Funky Kingston" by Toots and the Maytals. The show has on occasion featured the personalities from other TLC shows such as American Chopper.