Westchester Tattoo Artist Competes on TV

Yorktown native Ralph Giordano is among the 12 best tattoo artists from around the country who were chosen to be on the second season of "Best Ink." On the 10-episode series, the artists will compete for $100,000 and a cover story in Tattoo magazine.

"I decided to audition, because I knew that this show could really be a jump start for my career," Giordano told Patch. "I have become very popular locally in the tattoo world and have the best clients an artist could ever ask for."

Giordano, 27, said he hoped this would be his chance to make his name known throughout country and beyond.

"I knew no matter how I did on the show, the exposure would be amazing," he said.

Best Ink premieres on Oxygen on Wednesday, April 3 at 10 p.m.

Giordano, who works at Addicted to Ink in White Plains, answered an open casting call in Manhattan where he showed up with his portfolio and immediately got a call back that same day. He was called to go to California for the final interview process. Then came what he calls "the worst part" – waiting.

"Then I got the call that would change my life," said Giordano of being chosen among 100,000 artists from across the country who auditioned for the show.

On the show, each artist will produce masterpieces on skin. Challenges include a "Blood Puddin Challenge," in which the artists must design a darker style of tattoo that turns the classic pin-up on its head, according to a description.

The artists take on cutting edge tattooing styles including animated tattoos, and a "You Can’t See Me Challenge" that tasks the artists to design a tattoo in which portions of the piece cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Giordano is the only New Yorker in the top 12 and according to his bio on the show:

"Despite his rough exterior, Ralph Giordano is a self-proclaimed 'mama’s boy' with a sweet disposition. While growing up in a funeral home in the Bronx, Giordano realized the family business was not his desired career path. With the support of his parents, he went to the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, where he first learned about the possibility of a career as a tattoo artist. Giordano has been working in the tattoo industry for four years and is highly dedicated to his art. Although he is mild-tempered, Giordano becomes fiercely competitive when needed. The only thing he loves more than a competition is an audience to watch him win it."

"Best Ink"'s first episode is expected to be exciting. The artists' first "Flash Challenge" involved them hanging off a building six stories up and painting a billboard with spray paint. 

"That's all I can really say, but I can tell you there is a lot of drama and a lot of amazing artwork," Giordano told Patch.

Best Ink, season 2, premieres on Oxygen Media on Wednesday, April 3 at 10 p.m. 

Patch caught up with the artist and spoke with him about his career and the show. For the more in-depth interview, check back with Patch Monday morning.