N. Bellmore artist earns third on ‘Ink Master’

Erik Siuda said the idea behind his finale piece for the “Ink Master” competition was born of a collaboration between him and his “human canvas.”

By Brad Barket/Getty Images for Spike TV

Siuda, Cleen Rock One and Jason Clay Dunn, from left, were the three contestants who had the chance to win $100,000 at the season 5 “Ink Master” finale.

By Brad Barket/Getty Images for Spike TV

The finalists reacted onstage to host Dave Navarro and judges Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck’s comments about their tattoos at the live finale, held in the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on Dec. 16

By Brad Barket/Getty Images for Spike TV

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During one of the first commercial breaks in the live finale of season five of Spike TV’s “Ink Master,” two of the three finalists in the competition –– Cleen Rock One, of Las Vegas, and Erik Siuda, of North Bellmore –– nodded to each other as they sighed in unison.

The pair, along with fellow finalist Jason Clay Dunn, had just revealed the final tattoos they each crafted for the contest to the judges, former contestants on the show and friends, family members and fans in the audience at the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on Dec. 16.

The trio had each spent 35 hours creating the tattoos, their final projects for “Ink Master” - a contest that pits top tattoo artists from around the country against one another for a $100,000 grand prize, a feature article in the premiere tattoo publication, Inked, and the title of Ink Master.

When another commercial break started later in the show, the other artists swarmed around Siuda; the judges had just eliminated him from the contest. His peers offered hugs and handshakes while the audience clapped, all after “Miami Ink” star, renowned tattooer and “Ink Master” judge Chris Nunez gave the local artist an encouraging sendoff.

“You’re a great artist,” he told Siuda. “It’s been fun to watch you work, and I think you gave it the fight.”

Siuda placed third in the latest installment of “Ink Master,” which puts competitors through a series of tattoo challenges designed to test not only the artists’ technical skills, but also their on-the-spot creativity. Although he did not take home the grand prize, Siuda said appearing on the show was one of the greatest experiences of his life because it assured him that he’s on the right track in expanding his career.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Siuda moved to North Bellmore eight years ago. He was introduced to the tattoo industry about 10 years before that, when he became the apprentice of famed New York City tattoo artist Sean Vasquez. He has also sold more than 100 original paintings, illustrated four coloring books of tattoo designs for adults and created custom tattoo machines.