Tattoo artist with local ties to make appearance on 'Ink Master'

This combination photo shows examples of Jason Elliott's tattoo work. The artist will appear on Spike TV's "Ink Master." (Submitted photos)
This combination photo shows examples of Jason Elliott's tattoo work. The artist will appear on Spike TV's "Ink Master." (Submitted photos)

If you know Jason Elliott's tattoo work here in Texarkana, you've seen a skillful artist with an appreciation for the emotional connection to a tattoo.

Elliott, who now calls College Station, Texas, home where he runs a tattoo shop called Novellus Studio, worked for several years here at Texarkana Ink. He was always drawn to the emotional side of tattoo artistry, and he developed what he calls a geo-trash style of realistic, loose images that convey a feeling.

Now, Elliott is taking his career to the next level by appearing on the Spike TV show "Ink Master." The weekly show starts its 10th season at 9 p.m. local time Tuesday.

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Furo

"Ink Master" is a reality tattoo show that pits several tattoo artists against each other in a competition. They face certain challenges through the show with eliminations as it goes along. The challenges get tougher, said Elliott, and a tattoo artist wants to prove his or her versatility.

"You basically try to make it as far as you can on the show," said Elliott, who just returned home from shooting the show in New York City and New Jersey.

"I like challenges and this would definitely be the next step up in this career," Elliott said about his decision to go for it on "Ink Master."

It was a friend, he says, who recommended him for the show, and he just happened to check an old email one night to find correspondence from "Ink Master" that asked if he'd like to appear on the show. It was that random, he says. So, he said yes, knowing that being on "Ink Master" will both get his name out there and help him grow as an artist.

Elliott appreciates his time in Texarkana, where he happened to move to after living in Florida. He tattooed here about three or four years.

"It made a big impact on the artist that I am now," he says of the people who trusted him to do the work and the clientele he built here. When he first got here, Texarkana really needed custom tattoo artists, he believes, and he brought something unique to town.

It was his love for art, specifically European art, that brought him to tattoo work. And making art relaxed him. At first, he never had it in mind to become a tattoo artist, but people who took a look at his artwork told him he'd be good at it. He wasn't so sure at first, but the seed of an idea was planted.

He admits he was turned off by the old school mentality of tattoo culture and assembly line tattoo work, but he's seen the culture change. "They're bringing artistry into the field," Elliott said of this evolution. The loose, free style of European art is what inspires him.

As a tattoo artist, Elliott started to see more people who desired a painting, artwork and something that represented their emotional trials they went through in the tattoos they wanted. This connection between a tattoo and the feeling that resonates in it are what appeal to him.

"That's what I've always liked about art, is the emotion it brings forth," said Elliott, who's tattooed for roughly six years. He first apprenticed in 2010 and even took time off from tattoo work. And when it comes to "Ink Master," he's watched all nine seasons.

He still returns to Texarkana to visit and do guest spots at Gilded Anchor Tattoo Co. His fiancée is from Texarkana, too, and he was here in town just a couple weeks ago. He still has connections and friends here.

"My first and only apprentice (Kara Klenk) came from Texarkana," he said. He decided to apprentice her after seeing her artist's portfolio and realizing she'd have a style that catered to women who want tattoos.

"I was like, 'Man, this girl's really got something going on here,'" said Elliott, who opened the private studio in College Station because as someone who travels for the work, it was a good, central location.

Check out the new season of "Ink Master" to see where Elliott's tattoo artistry goes in the competition.

You can find Elliott's tattoo art on Instagram as @jasontattooer. You can also find his studio website at novellusstudio.com.

ONLINE: spike.com/shows/ink-master.

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