Celebrity Ink
Katherine Flores - Lady Ink Master
Known to her fans as Tatu Baby, Katherine Flores has been etching her amazing artwork on skin since her teenage years. Since then, the self-taught artist has gradually become one of South Florida's most sought-after ink slingers. Her most recent triumph was being casted for the second season of the tattoo competition television series, "Ink Master." Even though, Flores passed on the invitation to be part of the show's first season due to a business decision - which enabled her to open up her own personal studio - she feels, "It all worked out even better." With the notable growth of the show's viewership since its first season, we couldn't agree more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
URBAN INK: Can you talk to us about how you got on "Ink Master"?
Katherine Flores: I heard that they were having a casting, so I went online. I actually had heard from them on their first season. I was just getting my own studio, and I was going through a couple of things, so I wasn't ready. I saw the first season and how everything had gone, so when I saw the casting call for the second season, I immediately sent them my information and they responded.
After watching season one, what was your impression of the show?
I thought it was pretty interesting once I saw all of the challenges and everything that everyone went through. I thought it was definitely something that I knew I could do and that I could go pretty far in it, and I can get a chance to win the 100,000-dollars.
What were some expectations you had before coming on the show?
I expected to do pretty well, to meet a couple of great artists, and that it was going to be really challenging.
What was it like competing against the many talented artists?
It was challenging. Definitely there was pressure on us. You know, you're on TV and everything, so you want to perform the best that you can. You want to give it all that you can. So, it was pretty tough, but it was a very good learning experience.
What was it like having your work showcased on national television?
It's pretty exciting because now everybody that's watching the TV show gets to see your work, so it's pretty cool. I've worked really hard to get to where I'm at right now, and I get to share [my work] with the whole world right now. Everybody can just tune into Spike TV and watch the show.
Is it nerve-wrecking having your work critiqued on TV?
Being on the show, yes, it's very nerve-wrecking because obviously as an artist you work the best that you can and here come the judges and they're there to critique your work and rip it apart because they want to find who's really the "ink master." There are a lot of things that you're not used to people critiquing or tearing apart your artwork, and then you come on the show and all that's out the window. They tell you what they like, what they don't like, and they're saying it on national TV. So, you get pretty nervous.
Some of the artists protested some of the critiques from the judges. Do you think the judges were on-point for the most part?
I would say, here and there - like there were a lot of things that I thought they were on-point with and there were a couple of things where I thought they weren't. When it comes to art, a lot of things are subjective as well to the person's taste and the judges' taste and what they're looking for.
Do you think six hours is a fair amount of time for the pieces you were asked to tattoo?
Six hours is a good amount of time to do a tattoo, but if you're in a competition and you want to show your absolute best, you want more time. Obviously the more time, the better, bigger and more detailed your tattoo is going to be.
Some people feel that reality television cheapens the tattoo culture. What are your thoughts on this notion?
It all depends on how everything's done. One thing that there is about "Ink Master" is that there are some good artists on the show. Once you bring more drama into reality TV, it becomes more about the drama instead of the art. The good thing there is about "Ink Master" is that so far there have been some good artists on the show and it shows the audience a certain caliber of artists in the tattoo world. I don't necessarily think that it cheapens the art world. It all depends on who's on the show and what they're trying to show more of - which in this case they're just showing the artist competing by showing their best work.
I can see your point about other shows infusing more drama instead of art. Would you be willing to sign up for one of those shows if the opportunity was to present itself?
I think as a tattoo artist there are a lot of things involved in your life, your lifestyle and in your work. I would probably do any other reality TV show. Yes, it does show the drama side, but at the same time, I'm a strong artist myself so I'm always going to constantly show the best that I can artistically. No matter what drama is going on around me or in the show, once I have that tattoo machine in my hand, Im going to do the best tattoo that I can.
What are some things that the viewers should look out for during this season of "Ink Master"?
The viewers should be ready to see all of the challenges that we pretty much go through, and what each artist's strength and weakness is. It's interesting to see what they're weak in and what they're strong in and how far they go. For everyone who follows and supports me, they're going to be surprised at how I do as well.
What are some new projects that you are getting into that our readers should look out for?
Next year I'm going on a big tattoo convention tour. I'm going to as many conventions as I can in the United States, so they can definitely follow me and see if I'm coming to a city near them and book an appointment.
Where can our readers go online to book appointments with you?
They can follow me on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/tatubabytattoos). They can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@tatubaby).
Before we wrap, can you talk a little bit about your new shop?
What I have right now is just a small studio. I work with a partner. He works on his side and I work on mine. It's not necessarily a big shop or anything, but I like to work very privately. I work by appointment only. The studio is already pretty much up and running. It's in Kendall in Miami, Florida.
Portrait photos by Dangerously Dolly
Article by Emmanuel Urena
Katherine Flores: I heard that they were having a casting, so I went online. I actually had heard from them on their first season. I was just getting my own studio, and I was going through a couple of things, so I wasn't ready. I saw the first season and how everything had gone, so when I saw the casting call for the second season, I immediately sent them my information and they responded.
After watching season one, what was your impression of the show?
I thought it was pretty interesting once I saw all of the challenges and everything that everyone went through. I thought it was definitely something that I knew I could do and that I could go pretty far in it, and I can get a chance to win the 100,000-dollars.
What were some expectations you had before coming on the show?
I expected to do pretty well, to meet a couple of great artists, and that it was going to be really challenging.
What was it like competing against the many talented artists?
It was challenging. Definitely there was pressure on us. You know, you're on TV and everything, so you want to perform the best that you can. You want to give it all that you can. So, it was pretty tough, but it was a very good learning experience.
What was it like having your work showcased on national television?
It's pretty exciting because now everybody that's watching the TV show gets to see your work, so it's pretty cool. I've worked really hard to get to where I'm at right now, and I get to share [my work] with the whole world right now. Everybody can just tune into Spike TV and watch the show.
Is it nerve-wrecking having your work critiqued on TV?
Being on the show, yes, it's very nerve-wrecking because obviously as an artist you work the best that you can and here come the judges and they're there to critique your work and rip it apart because they want to find who's really the "ink master." There are a lot of things that you're not used to people critiquing or tearing apart your artwork, and then you come on the show and all that's out the window. They tell you what they like, what they don't like, and they're saying it on national TV. So, you get pretty nervous.
Some of the artists protested some of the critiques from the judges. Do you think the judges were on-point for the most part?
I would say, here and there - like there were a lot of things that I thought they were on-point with and there were a couple of things where I thought they weren't. When it comes to art, a lot of things are subjective as well to the person's taste and the judges' taste and what they're looking for.
Do you think six hours is a fair amount of time for the pieces you were asked to tattoo?
Six hours is a good amount of time to do a tattoo, but if you're in a competition and you want to show your absolute best, you want more time. Obviously the more time, the better, bigger and more detailed your tattoo is going to be.
Some people feel that reality television cheapens the tattoo culture. What are your thoughts on this notion?
It all depends on how everything's done. One thing that there is about "Ink Master" is that there are some good artists on the show. Once you bring more drama into reality TV, it becomes more about the drama instead of the art. The good thing there is about "Ink Master" is that so far there have been some good artists on the show and it shows the audience a certain caliber of artists in the tattoo world. I don't necessarily think that it cheapens the art world. It all depends on who's on the show and what they're trying to show more of - which in this case they're just showing the artist competing by showing their best work.
I can see your point about other shows infusing more drama instead of art. Would you be willing to sign up for one of those shows if the opportunity was to present itself?
I think as a tattoo artist there are a lot of things involved in your life, your lifestyle and in your work. I would probably do any other reality TV show. Yes, it does show the drama side, but at the same time, I'm a strong artist myself so I'm always going to constantly show the best that I can artistically. No matter what drama is going on around me or in the show, once I have that tattoo machine in my hand, Im going to do the best tattoo that I can.
What are some things that the viewers should look out for during this season of "Ink Master"?
The viewers should be ready to see all of the challenges that we pretty much go through, and what each artist's strength and weakness is. It's interesting to see what they're weak in and what they're strong in and how far they go. For everyone who follows and supports me, they're going to be surprised at how I do as well.
What are some new projects that you are getting into that our readers should look out for?
Next year I'm going on a big tattoo convention tour. I'm going to as many conventions as I can in the United States, so they can definitely follow me and see if I'm coming to a city near them and book an appointment.
Where can our readers go online to book appointments with you?
They can follow me on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/tatubabytattoos). They can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@tatubaby).
Before we wrap, can you talk a little bit about your new shop?
What I have right now is just a small studio. I work with a partner. He works on his side and I work on mine. It's not necessarily a big shop or anything, but I like to work very privately. I work by appointment only. The studio is already pretty much up and running. It's in Kendall in Miami, Florida.
Portrait photos by Dangerously Dolly
Article by Emmanuel Urena
RSS Feed