Flipper’s brings home 12 awards at Ink Masters Texas Tattoo Expo
Published 2:46 pm Friday, May 17, 2019
Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader Flipper works on a tattoo in his shop on Thursday evening. This is the client’s second two-hour session for the ‘sleeve’ tattoo.
Flipper’s Skin Flix receives 12 awards for tattoo work at the 4th Annual Beaumont, Texas Tattoo Expo hosted by Ink Masters Tattoo Show in April.
Alissa Bishop, apprentice at Flipper’s Skin Flix, works on a tattoo during the Tattoo Expo.
Flipper placed third with this watercolor design.
One of the many tattoos done during the 4th Annual Beaumont, Texas Tattoo Expo hosted by Ink Masters Tattoo Show.
Dawn Burleigh, Editor
By Dawn Burleigh
The Orange Leader
BRIDGE CITY — Over 100 tattoo artists spent three days competing in Beaumont at the 4th Annual Beaumont, Texas Tattoo Expo hosted by Ink Masters Tattoo Show at the MGM Elegante Hotel.
Flipper, owner of Flipper’s Skin Flix a professional tattoo and body piercing studio located at 1060 Texas Ave. in Bridge City, walked away with 12 awards.
He was not at the expo alone, as Alissa, his apprentice, also attended and worked on tattooing while at the event.
Alissa Bishop, an apprentice at Flipper’s Skin Flix, works on a tattoo during the Tattoo Expo.
It was Bishop’s first time to attend.
“It was pretty awesome and there were so many awards,” Bishop said.
One must apprentice with a tattoo artist for a year before they can become an official tattoo artist. Bishop, who can and does do tattoos now, is nearing the end of her apprenticeship.
“Currently, she is the only female tattoo artist in Orange County,” Flipper said.
Flipper has been an artist most of his life and studied commercial art with the hopes of designing album covers. With the introduction of software programs such as Photoshop, finding an opening was more than difficult.
He turned to construction for a way to make a living when friends started asking him for tattoos.
With a switch of mediums from paper and ink to skin and ink, he became a tattoo artist known for his clean, sterile shop.
Flipper’s Skin Flix receives 12 awards for tattoo work at the 4th Annual Beaumont, Texas Tattoo Expo hosted by Ink Masters Tattoo Show in April.
At the Tattoo Expo, Flipper was awarded:
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in Best Cover Up
- Best of Day Friday
- 1st place Chest/Back
- 3rd place Asian
- 3rd place Watercolor
- 2nd and 3rd place Medium Color
- 3rd place Large Color
- 3rd place Arm/Leg Sleeve
- 2nd place Large Black and Gray
- Flipper said he tries to attend as many of these type competitions as he can.
“I try to do others when I can,” Flipper said. “Between the shop and being a pastor, the events have to be pretty close.”
While the expo was the first for Alissa to work, she too plans to attend more in the future.
