MEET THE TATTOO ARTISTS

Kat Von D

The new girl on the block. Twenty-three-year-old Kat brings the meow to the Miami mix. She's filling in at Miami Ink while Darren Brass is on the mend. Kat performed her first tattoo at age 14 and has been pursuing her passion for the art ever since.

She began working at her first shop at the young age of 16! She has been working with Chris Garver for over a year now and believes this experience to be one of the most educational and fulfilling of her life.

Kat is attracted to realistic tattoos. Her personal style gravitates toward portraits and realism, mostly on a black and gray scale. Kat loves playing classical piano as well as heavy metal music, and she is known by her closest friends as the biggest party animal west of the Mississippi.

Miami Ink Tattoo Artist: Chris Garver

The intellectual. At 34, Chris is the big brother of the crew. He is the oldest and the first to become a tattoo master. Chris grew up in Pittsburgh and received his first tattoo at 6 years old - when he was accidentally stabbed in the finger with a pencil. At 15, he received his first professional tattoo. Chris got his start in tattooing when he sold his bass guitar at 17 to buy tattoo equipment.

Chris is widely considered to be among the best tattoo artists in the world. With a celebrity-studded list of private clients (and a wait list), he has set the bar for the rest of the guys. They all respect and revere him. Chris handles his status with humility, but has little patience for sloppy work. He is at once stoic and soulful.

When not tattooing, he might be found playing bass guitar, traveling the world or listening to live bands. He received his favorite tattoo three years ago from a monk when he was in Thailand - a Buddhist passage that can only be read by monks. Its meaning is "to protect."

Ami James

The tough guy. Ami has a sharp tongue and a hot temper. Born in Israel, Ami, 33 and single, has been in Miami since the age of 12. Some of his family still lives in Israel, so he rarely sees them-his friends have become his family. He feels that many of today's artists have no respect for the time-honored traditions of tattoo.

Ami got his first professional tattoo at age 15 - a dragon. Eighteen years later, he still has a passion for ink - his body is a canvas of tattoos. Ami began tattooing at 20 years old, starting out of his house, and soon became an apprentice, learning the art of his trade.

Ami loves cars, painting and free-style fighting.

Miami Ink Tattoo Artist: Chris Nuñez

The ladies' man. Chris, 32, is of Cuban descent and grew up in Miami. He entered into the realm of tattooing after beginning his career as a graffiti artist.

At 21, Chris packed his bags for a short trip to Brazil and ended up staying for five years. He then traveled throughout Europe for 2 years, which enabled him to work with all of his favorite tattoo artists -- expanding his artistic sense and his knowledge of tattooing.

Chris's father died when he was young, and both his parents' names became his first tattoo at age 16. Besides tattooing, he just likes to have a good time and enjoys being the life of the party.

Darren Brass

The lovable one. Within five minutes of meeting Darren, it becomes clear that he is a teddy bear of a guy. His sweet demeanor and disarming smile can make the most nervous first-time clients feel relaxed in his chair. Because he is so nice, he is the butt of many jokes, one-liners and overall hazing by Ami.

Darren is originally from Waterbury, Connecticut. He is half Irish, half Polish and a diabetic. He is constantly monitoring his health and lives every day to its fullest. Along with the other guys, he definitely knows how to party like a rock star - even at the age of 33. His 5'4" frame is covered in tattoos.

Darren is 33 and married with one "child" - his small dog. He received his first tattoo on his 18th birthday.

Miami Ink Tattoo Artist: Yojiro "Yoji" Harada

The apprentice. Yoji serves a dual role as the parlor's apprentice - a role that is a combination of pledge in the roughest fraternity and the opening and closing crew.

Yoji, a native of Tokyo, is covered in ink (some of which is done by our crew). In Yoji's native Tokyo, having full-sleeve tats is a sign of the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia). As a result, when he goes home he is feared and respected, but in Miami he is the lowest guy on the totem pole. He mops up, gets coffee and is hazed relentlessly, which is all just part of the process of earning your stripes as a master. But underneath it all, the guys love and protect their young apprentice.

Yoji is 32 and recently married, with a newborn. He lived in Japan until he was 24, and performed his first tattoo on himself. He is also the lead singer of a punk rock band.