‘Ink Master’ exclusive: MV on challenges, Egyptian theme and competition
How can you not be upset about MV going on on the last episode of “Ink Master”? He’s got a lot of talent, isn’t afraid to tattoo outside of the box and is such a humble guy… he’s easy to root for! So it’s a no-brainer that there are a lot of fans out there that were really bummed to see him go home way before he should have. We are definitely in the group of fans that wanted to see him stay and compete longer.
We were really excited for the chance to talk to MV about his experience on “Ink Master” and he was just as cool as we had hoped that he would be. He is smart, articulate and above all else humble which made MV the perfect person to root for this season. He spoke to us about the challenges of being in front of the camera, his elimination and his deep respect for all of the other artists.
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CarterMatt.com: What did you think of the theme this week and had you done an Egyptian tattoo before?
MV: I was less excited and more ready. The only category I was worried about was traditional, and I was lucky enough to get through that one. Other than that, I was more than prepared for anything. I just thought it would be another chance to have some fun.
Chris picked you to go head to head last week because he felt you were big competition for him. Who do you feel was your biggest competition and why?
The most competitive people on the show, as I viewed them, would have been Chris and Eric. Great artists. But to be honest, I was more worried about myself. I believed I became my own worst enemy.
Were you surprised to find yourself in the bottom and who did you think should’ve gone home this week?
I was definitely surprised to be sent home, let alone the bottom three. I knew that my design was going to receive some scrutiny because it wasn’t the basic statue that we’ve seen a thousand times; and my piece would have been even cooler if my canvas was able to sit better, but in no way did it warrant me being sent home. Even though my piece didn’t have line work (of course, it was realism), it had more detail than others.
Now that you are out of the competition, who are you rooting for to win?
I will be rooting for a fair competition. Even though I’ve only had a short time to get to know everyone, they are all really great people. I just want the best artists to win. Eric, Chris, Ceeze, Tyler, Craig,… all of them. God bless them.
What was the most challenging part of the competition for you?
The most challenging part was getting used to the cameras. I’m usually a fun and sarcastic guy and it takes a whole lot to shake me, but I couldn’t seem to find my comfort zone, which reflected in my art. But if I had another chance, I’d show the world some amazing things and the real side of me, and rise to the top.
If potential clients want to book you for a tattoo, what is the best way for them to get a hold of you?
Besides coming directly to my studio, Blue Panda Tattoo at 11675 Montwood Dr., El Paso, TX 79936, anyone can hit me up at any one of my social medias, email, and website. Just want to thank everyone for the love and support, as well as their criticisms. It’s through all this that I get better and am able to push myself to those higher levels. God bless.
Facebook: Tattoosbymat, Instagram: Vallestattoo, Twitter: tat2bymat, Email: [email protected]
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A special thanks to MV for chatting with us about his time on the show. We know he’s a busy guy and probably has clients lined up around the block to get a tattoo by him, so we appreciate any time we can get with him. We will miss watching him step up to the challenges and think outside the box to give us a new, refreshing take on tattoo themes we’ve seen many times over.
Were you also disappointed to see MV go home on this week’s episode of “Ink Master”? Leave us a comment below and tell us what you think.