[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Ink Master Season 15 Finale]
With unpredictable twists at each flip and next-level challenges, Season 15 of Ink Grasp examined its artists like maybe by no means earlier than. The finale on Paramount+ got here all the way down to Freddie Albrighton, Bobby Johnson, and Jon Mesa.
They have been tasked with creating three consecutive leg tattoos over 12-hour classes. One final wrench was thrown by host/decide Joel Madden. The three wouldn’t solely need to earn the votes of himself, DJ Tambe, Ryan Ashley, and Nikko Hurtado. Additionally they needed to impress a jury panel of Ink Grasp winners: Anthony Michaels (Season 7), Joey Hamilton (Season 3), Josh Payne (Season 10), Bubba Irwin (Season 9), and OG Shane O’Neill (Season 1).
Thanks largely to his total work and Japanese snake, Johnson was named the most recent Ink Grasp. Right here the San Diego tattoo titan opens up about his journey by way of the competitors.
(L to R) DJ Tambe, Joel Madden, Nikko Hurtado, Bobby Johnson, Ryan Ashley, Nikko Hurtado (Angel Lynne/Paramount+)
Congrats on successful Ink Grasp. How does it really feel to have that title now?
Bobby Johnson: It’s the whole lot. It’s tremendous cool as a result of there’s quite a lot of crossover with Ink Grasp and quite a lot of the stuff I like. Even simply competing is an enormous deal. Assembly everybody there. To win and go all the best way with the individuals I did was tremendous particular to me.
How do you look again at that tremendous intense closing problem?
I used to be actually excited. I don’t know if I really thought I’d win. I went into the finale and had quite a lot of enjoyable, however after I came upon it will be three designs, it felt like three alternatives to crush three consecutive tattoos. I simply go together with each single piece the best way I’d draw it. Generally onerous work and a bit little bit of luck get you a good distance…I’m my very own worst critic. It’s my greatest weak point and energy. My self-doubt and critiquing myself have led me to continuously need to get higher and higher. I simply went in and did me. As me, I probably might be. My greatest objective was simply to be me.
Angel Lynne/Paramount+
What was your response if you noticed all these previous Ink Grasp champs popping out and having a task in selecting the winner?
It was surreal. I believe each tattooer is aware of Ink Grasp in some capability. Names that aren’t solely massive from Ink Grasp, however within the trade normally. When these guys got here out, quite a lot of them had each these statuses. It additionally introduced added strain. You get used to the 4 judges, however now you’ve gotten one other panel worrying about what their opinion is, which was refreshing. It was a degree enjoying subject for everybody.
There have been so many twists this season. Amongst them, having to be on a crew coached by the three judges. Then the groups have been switched up. What was it like studying from DJ and Ryan?
I’m fairly okay on my own, however I do like being part of a crew too as a result of it makes you’re feeling like you’re part of one thing. I can lead but in addition take course. I favored being on a crew and dealing with my opponents or judges and getting their insights.What’s loopy is you’re on a crew for some time and comfy and assume that is going to be the setup. Regarding the crew switching up, I don’t assume anybody noticed that coming. I used to be thrown for a loop. DJ as my first coach was actually cool as a result of he taught me his perspective. Switching to Ryan’s crew was fairly fascinating to get her perception too. They each have been within the competitors or concerned earlier than so their insights have been completely different. It was cool I received two completely different insights with having my very own. It was like I received to use all three.
How do you assume your alliance performed out with Jon and Sydney [Dyer]?
It goes a lot additional than what you see on the air and competitors. You get near individuals. Proper off the bat Sydney and Jon and I have been actually shut. Earlier than we came upon what was taking place, we wished to be on the identical crew. We knew we wished to have an alliance with no matter crew we landed on. Behind the scenes, Jon and I have been actually shut. We lower one another’s hair as soon as every week.
Collectively on a regular basis, whether or not it was on the best way to the studio, on the studio, in between. A humorous little perception about alliances is it was the three of us in an alliance and Freddy. All of us frolicked after taking pictures every single day. That was tremendous particular to me. Then going to the finale with Jon, it’s a disgrace Sydney didn’t make it. However I believe having Jon there actually helped me to get to the finale. Sydney as nicely. Simply emotionally having these guys actually helps. The alliance goes a lot deeper than if you happen to get a cranium decide, assist me out.
You point out Freddy [Albrighton] is stunning. I believed you’d say Bryan [Black] as a good friend, given what we’ve seen on the present.
I believe away from the alliance Bryan is my greatest good friend from the present. Bryan is such individual. I don’t assume there’s a single drop of dangerous vitality about him. He didn’t want an alliance as a result of he was an ideal individual, who stored to himself. Everybody would throw him the tattoo bone. Everybody is aware of we have been shut. We speak usually.
(L to R) Jozzy Camacho, Jon Mesa, Bobby Johnson, Freddie Albrighton (Angel Lynne/Paramount+)
You had a formidable begin however have been taken down just a few notches through the Western tattoo problem with visitor decide Jefferson White. How sobering was it to land at that backside?
It’s common on the web to say I all the time do the identical tattoo, which I didn’t perceive. [The human canvas] requested for a black and grey gunslinger, real looking. After we went again to my store he was open to me doing no matter I wished. I believed, “No let’s do the ask.” I wished to point out I used to be there to beat the challenges. I did the tattoo and realized it was much more of an enterprise than I believed. I didn’t do tremendous good and was on the backside and really rattled and emotional. Not solely that however Charlene [Ngo] went house. She is an superior individual.
What lots of people don’t know is I cried two instances after that occurred. Not solely behind the scenes however to Charlene. I used to be upset, and he or she was calming me down although she received eradicated. It was a bit little bit of survivor’s guilt seeing an ideal tattoo artist go house. I used to be in a tailspin and wished to get again to tattooing the best way I tattooed…I made a few dangerous selections. That was onerous for me. I needed to discover a strategy to overcome that.
Throughout that interval you had a heated second with Jozzy [Camacho] the place you questioned why she stored being vital of you in entrance of the judges. What was happening in that second?
Jozzy and I knew one another earlier than the present. We have been shut in a manner, however she was snug saying faults about my tattoo. It was onerous to listen to from a good friend I believe. That prompted friction between us, which sucks as a result of she is definitely a extremely nice individual. I speak to her very often. It’s bizarre to look at that friction again. That is how the competitors is designed and what it’s about. They put you within the strain cooker. Prepare dinner or don’t. That was a byproduct of that.
You’re $250,000 richer. How do you intend to make use of the cash?
I didn’t ever assume I’d win, even up up to now after the finale airs. I by no means thought concerning the cash. If something, I wished to win the title. That’s the cool factor. I do know that is boring, and other people need me to say I need to get a ship powered by champagne. Loopy stuff, however I’m plugged into Ink Grasp. We shot the finale up till 6 a.m. I gained and was fairly emotional and the whole lot was surreal.
I used to be on the resort with Jon and Freedy. We had a drink and talked and went again to my resort room I used to be nonetheless not realizing what occurred. I used to be pondering, “I’m wondering what taxes are on $250,000.” It’s going proper into financial savings. I’ve youngsters, I need to ensure they’re nicely taken care of. I’ll make some investments. I simply need to ensure I do one thing with that cash that’s vital to them. I simply don’t need it to be a kind of situations the place I had an ideal alternative and outcome and blew it. I need to keep away from that.
Would you do Ink Grasp once more?
I’d do something they requested. It was a lot enjoyable. Such a blast. If I had any regrets all season it’s that I didn’t let my full persona unfastened…I did have a lot enjoyable and would do it in a heartbeat. Something they ask. For a day, a season. I’d be there in a heartbeat. It was superior.
Ink Grasp, Season 15, streaming on Paramount+
