By Ray Pack, Jr.
VALDOSTA, Ga. – On Tuesday night friends and family of local tattoo artist Tito Zambrano gathered at Dick’s Wing’s for a special Watch Party of an episode of Grudge Match, a spin-off of Paramount Network’s pop culture hit Ink Master.
Zambrano from Hollywood Twisted Needle Tattoo Studio was chosen to be one of the nine people on the show’s 12th season, during which he had an ongoing rivalry with fellow cast-mate Big Jaz. The Grudge Match episode pitting them against each other.
As the clock struck 10 p.m., 35 friends and family stopped by Dick’s Wings Tuesday to cheer and celebrate as the Ink Master Grudge Match episode came on. The contest took place with two tattoos per contestant with the winner of the first tattoo being able to dictate the design of the next one. The first tattoo was a snake where Tito, with his smooth lines, depth, and precision won the tattoo challenge. He decided he wanted a second tattoo to be a redemption tattoo along with being his signature style – a Japanese-themed tattoo.
“Japanese is my favorite,” Tito said. “I like color, black and gray, really anything that relates to tattooing in my style.”
As the second tattoo came, everyone in Dick’s Wings knew Tito was going rock this challenge and prove he was better than Big Jaz. The judges of the contest, Cleen Rock One, DJ Tambe, and Ryan Ashley Malarkey, gave Tito another win to beat Big Jaz with flying colors. This was a moment for his family and friends who showed their support and gratitude over the years of his tattooing.
“Tito started with me fresh and clueless about tattoos, but three years into the industry he was better than people who have tattooed for ten years,” Kevin Tison, owner of Hollywood Twisted Needle Tattoo Studio remarked.
Tito has become a premier tattoo artist in the city of Valdosta over the years. His colleagues have sen his growth but also harp on his humbleness even though he has broadened his horizons to bigger things in his life.
“He has consistently worked hard to develop his own style, depth, versatility, and technique over the years while still being humble,” said Tony Tong, manager of Hollywood Tattoo said.
Tattooing is the cornerstone of Tito’s lifestyle, but it was not his first love. “I fell in love with tattooing after my first love of art ruled my world,” Tito said.
“Tito goes from one style to the next, never missing a beat, while perfecting that style before moving onto the next style,” Tison said. “He is a master of many things when it comes to tattooing with the ability to take criticism with ease while learning from it.”
