As reported earlier, female tattoo artist Kat Von D will star in her own reality series, LA INK.  The new show, a spin-off of TLC’s Miami Ink, was created after Kat Von D moved back to Los Angeles following months of fighting with co-star and shop owner Ami James.

Recently, the cable network released more information regarding the upcoming Miami Ink spin-off.  Joining Kat Von D in her own LA-based tattoo shop are renowned tattoo artists Kim Saigh, Hannah Aitchinson and Corey Miller, Von D’s mentor.  The shop will be managed by Von D's good friend, Pixie.

Kim Saigh, an avid yoga practitioner, has been known to incorporate many of the teachings of the discipline into her art.  She started out in Cleveland and moved to Chicago a few years later.  Now in her 16th year in the industry, Saigh travels between LA and Chicago with her black Persian cat, Geezer.

Hannah Aitchinson, whose specialty is bold and colorful illustrative works, has been working in the tattoo industry for more than nine years.  She is a single mother, during her apprenticeship, worked two and three jobs in order to support her daughter.  Her other interests include painting, boxing, traveling and knitting.

Tattooing for 25 years, the legendary Corey Miller has traveled extensively in order to share his talent in body art.  Like Von D, Miller is known for his black and gray portraits.  He also uses the image of dragons, combining traditional and classic styles with his own.  He does not use any stencil when tattooing.  Among his celebrity clientele are the NY Yankees’ Jason Giambi, Metallica’s James Hetfield and Jesse James.  He is married with three children.

Shop manager Pixie has had her body adorned with bright, colorful and “happy” images, including tattoos of cupcakes and Care Bears.  She is a former winner of Fear Factor and a Pescatarian.  A lover of animals, Pixie resides in Los Angeles with her two dogs, Cup Cake and Chopper, and her cat, Monkey. Pixie previously worked as a body piercer in Minnesota.  At present, she divides her time between working at the tattoo shop and freelancing as a make-up artist.

Aside from having a female-dominated staff, what makes Von D’s tattoo shop distinct is that the artists are allowed to live by their own rules.  Coming from the “rebel” lifestyle, Kat Von D and her fellow artists can set their own schedules, choose their clients, sleep late and have a busy night life.

Viewers first bore witness to Von D’s unique style when she joined the cast of Miami Ink during its first season.  Her specialty- fine-line, black and gray life-like portraits- was featured in the series, earning her a loyal fan base.  She boasts of an impressive clientele, which includes stars like Mira Sorvino, My Chemical Romance, Guns N Roses and The Mars Volta.

LA INK will premiere on August 7 at 10pm on TLC.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TLC
(Image Courtesy of The Discovery Channel)