Bristol Tattoo Artist to Make Series Premier Tonight on Spike TV’s “Ink Master”

“Look at her” said the comment about Jackie “The Ink Bitch’ Jennings who will be on Spike TVs “Ink Masters”  starting tonight at 10  p.m.

And I did.

And then listened to one of 10,000 applicants who applied to be a part of a competition where $100,000 is up for grabs for the artisan who can master shapes, sizes color and technique  the best for judges on the cable hit series focusing on the skills of tattoo artists from across the county. There are 16 contestants in all.

“Its an art form  to me” she said, sounding exhausted late last night.

Inborn within Jennings  are the intrinsic skills possesed  to fashion the designs she’s gained a following for over the years

Jennings climb up the skin arts ladder started some 10 years ago,  she said,  and now she gets to show off her talents on Spike TV’s intense reality show.

As she tells it her beginnings came about under a unique circumstances.

“I had some friends in the business I used to watch work. This one time, a dude I knew was working  on someone and I could see he wasn’t quite working it right.  So I told him.  He kept  marking people up, making money and that’s when I decided it was time for me to put my knowledge to work,”  she said.

Currently living in “South Philly” Jennings travels to Bristol where she has worked at Tru Blu Tattoo on Wood St. in the borough for the last nine years.

“I like the area a lot. I’m hoping to take my five  minutes of fame and open up a place  in the area sometime real soon,  she said.

Jennings said,  her experience on “Ink Masters” was an exhausting all day affair.

“I’m not used to getting up  6 a.m. like that. With the pressure and all, I just felt tired all of the time but it was great once we got going. The staff on the show, were great. I’ve always loved Dave Navarro  as a member of Jane’s Addiction so it was real cool to meet him in person, Jennings said.

About the competition Jennings said “when they first asked us to execute a design in old-style single-needle work,  they knew a lot of young artists were not going to be able to use it. I could see this was going to be tough.”

Sworn to secrecy about the reality show out come,  Jennings said all I can tell you is  it was shot in New York City and we all get to come back for the last episode.

As the conversation went on, Jennings caught a second wind, excited about the “opportunities” to come as a result of the national exposure she’s going to receive and how in her eyes, that’s going to benefit artists throughout the area.

The area I work in isn’t exactly accepting of the shops. But the truth of the matter is we all make money. Despite the stigma associated with us and all that biker bull, the fact of the matter is everyday we have new artists who have degrees in design and art coming into the fold.  Over the long-term I hope that will change perceptions, cause were not going anywhere, Jennings said.

Asked Jennings about her the nickname “Ink Bitch” wondered about its nature, origins and if it offends her. She laughed loudly, saying not really I think its funny actually.

As she tells it, the tag came from an old  friend who was sitting around with Jennings at a social get together.

“He just kind of came out with it. It really wasn’t in response to anything specific and somehow it stuck”

Jennings did take the time to offer some input on one issue close to her heart. Art education.

“The first thing that’s cut are art programs from what I see. Kids deserve to be taught art. It is something that has value in terms of money but also educationally. People might be shocked by my saying that, after seeing pictures of me, but truth is my image isn’t all me. And I care about what happens to the kids, she said.

Jennings and friends are holding  a premiere party from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m that she says is open to the public tonight at Geraghty’s Pub, 148 W. Broad St., Burlington.

“Come on down, she said, and celebrate with us!”

Yea that’s an Ink Master for ya. Stigma and all.