Who is The Ink Doc?
I’m James Kerner M.D., Ph.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Southern New Mexico with 25 years of experience. I’m also the most inked dermatologist around, having clocked around 450 hours of inking from nine artists in six countries. This website has useful medical info on all things tattoo: how to prep your skin, what inks are safest, optimal wound care, product recommendations, a tattoo tourism blog, Tat of the Week, podcast interviews and more. Plus it‘s all free.
I have a body suit now and not much more room for ink—but I love tattoo tourism so much I want to keep going! So I came up with an idea for a tattoo tourism docuseries featuring contest-winners giving me the privilege of taking them on all-expenses-paid trips around the world to get inked.
if you’re thinking this is too good to be true, it isn’t. It‘s for real and there are no catches. Here is some info about me, the show’s director/producer, and below you’ll find info and links for the artists involved in our first production next June. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the contest and/or the trip.
https://www.epiphanydermatology.com/providers/james-kerner-md-phd/
Meet the Artists (click on photo to be linked to their websites)
EAK
“it’s clear to see from the clarity of his line work, color and shading that Eak is a master of his craft.” Eak was born and grew up in Samut Prakarn and originally was an art teacher.
He started as a guest tattoo artist throughout Thailand, spending time in Panghan and Samui, before finding a home at ALL DAY. He has been tattooing for 11 years, Eak specializes in traditional, neo-traditional,
VISUT
For nearly two decades, Visut Arjan Neng has been giving Sak Yant tattoos to his disciples. He has gracefully extended his sacred art to disciples worldwide, affirming the sanctity and virtues of his craft. Disciples travel to Bangkok to receive Sak Yant tattoos and blessings from Arjan Neng.
Although not a monk, Arjan Neng is widely recognized as an outstanding master in Bangkok, passionately
GWARR
Gwarr’s skills at using technology and graphics ”to create amazing pieces is clear for all to see.”
Born and raised in Bangkok, Gwarr has always had a fascination with graphics and animation, driven by her passion for different art mediums.
Her jouney led her to study 3D graphics and animation; her skills at using technology and graphics to create amazing pieces are impressive. With over 13 ye
Rules, Rules, Rules
Eligibility
1. 21 and over only
2. must have good English skills
3. must have at least one tattoo already
4. entrants with skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema etc.) are totally welcome and encouraged to enter!
5. coverups are welcome; at least one winner will get a coverup
6. Entrants must read and sign a release of liability and agreement for use of likeness and video in our upcoming travel show
7. Winners must have a passport valid thru the end of 2025
8. Entrants with specific inking ideas need to keep in mind there will be no more than three, full days of inking—please keep projects realistic for that time frame
What You Must Submit
1. Please put your name and date of birth in the subject line
2. Please attach signed release
3. Please provide a cell phone number (this will not be given out to anyone and won’t be used for any other purpose)
4. In the body of the email please include: name and address, photos of current tats, what/where you want your new tat, which artist you are applying for (one artist per entrant), whether you wish a coverup (note that the artist Visut does not do coverups), allergies, history of any inking complications (not at all an exclusion from contest!), and, MOST IMPORTANT…
5. PLEASE ATTACH A BRIEF VIDEO SELFIE of up to one minute where you introduce yourself (name and city/country), which Artist you are choosing, and why you should be chosen for this trip. Clips from the videos may be used on the show, so make them both interesting and fun to increase your chances of being selected!
Finalists & Winners
Entries will be closed after we have identified 30 finalists or on January 15, 2025, whichever comes first. The finalists (ten per artist) will be announced in late January; artists will each choose one winner and one alternate in February. InkDoc staff will notify finalists and winners by recorded video chat.
The Trip
Winners will receive airfare, hotel accommodations, tattooing, local transportation and meal per diem at no charge; arrangements will be made by the Ink Doc team and any changes or upgrades will not be covered. Each trip will be approximately one week in length; dates for the Bangkok trip are approximately June 19-27. Winners will be housed with private room or same-sex doubles in a shared (and very nice) Airbnb. There will be up to three full days of inking, some shared excursions and meals, and free time to explore the area on your own. Family and friends of winners are welcome but none of their expenses will be covered. Keep in mind this is a FILMED EVENT and so the group needs to be together for all planned events. Each show will have three artists each inking one winner only, and at typically more than one location/studio in the destination. No swapping of artists will be permitted without the express permission of Ink Doc Productions and the relevant artists.
Most locations will be out of the country. Please do not worry about hygiene though—we choose only clean and safe studios that follow equal or better hygiene standards compared with those in the U.S. Remember, I’m a dermatologist and will make sure this is your safest tat experience to date!
Winners will be interviewed by the Ink Doc before, during and after inking. Be prepared for an AMAZING experience, as tattoo tourism is totally fire!
Release of Liability & Rights to Use Likeness
Please download, sign and submit the enclosed release.
The Show
Video entries, filming and photography of all entrants and winners from this and future Ink Doc contest trips will be used in an up-coming documentary series, ‘Ink Doc: Worldwide Coverup.’ The show will be something of a blend of Anthony Bourdain‘s Parts Unknown’ and ’Dr. Pimple Popper.’ My goal is both to share my enthusiasm about tattoo tourism and increase awareness of best-practices in getting inked. Winners will of course have privacy but there will also be a good bit of filming for the series, so keep this in mind if you are shy in front of a camera.