Jason and Anthony Tex couldn’t pass up the chance to compete on a reality show that highlights tattoo artists when producers at Ink Master they invited them to participate.

James is 50 years old and has been in the industry for 26 years.

“Before I left, I watched a few seasons just to get a sense of what the show was about, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I could do better than that,'” Jason said.

“But then you get on the show and you realize it’s reality (TV) and you’re not going to succeed at that (challenge) every time, you’re going to try, but if you’ve already watched the show, you realize nobody’s perfect and anything can happen. “

Anthony is 32 years old and says his father taught him everything he knows about tattooing. The two have similar illustration styles, and young Tex says they’re the first father-son duo to guest star on the show.

“I think they had siblings, family members, that sort of thing — but nothing like that,” he said. “So I think having me and my dad on Ink Master was such a good opportunity for our photography, for our name, for Canada, it’s pretty cool.”

Weird start

The two say the beginning of the competition was strange, with all the lights, cameras and microphones following them and listening to their every move.

“The first two tattoos were kind of weird because it’s a quiet room and you need sound,” Anthony said. “But the first two tattoos after that, you didn’t even think about it, you’re just kind of one with the camera.”

“I was lucky to have Anthony at least by my side,” James said. “(He provided) a little bit of a support system and then after a few weeks we got to know everyone on the show and they were super nice and amazing, talented young people because I was the oldest.”

The two cannot divulge any details of the show, or reveal how far they made it in the competition. Ink Master airs on Paramount+ and features 16 tattoo artists competing for $250,000 in cash.

“You’re kind of seen in a different light,” James said. “All your insecurities and mistakes are on TV because you have nowhere to hide.”

“It’s definitely on the resume,” Anthony said. “If you don’t make it too far (in the competition) or you might make it to the top or make it all the way, no matter what, it’s going to improve your career at some point.”

A family business

Production on the show took place in the late spring of 2024, and Karen Tex, Jason’s wife and Anthony’s mother, had her hands full running the Deadly Tattoos shop in southwest Calgary because she wasn’t allowed to tell anyone that her boys were filming a reality north – American. television show. But now that the show is airing, she watches it with them.

“I’m so proud,” she said. “I’m probably their biggest fan, it’s been amazing watching them on the show and seeing all the challenges and obstacles they go through, so yeah, it’s been really cool.”

Karen says bookings are up now that Calgarians are tuning in Ink Master and they want to be tattooed by celebrities.

“I would say the emails are up and you know people are excited to have local artists in the show,” she said. “Representing Calgary and we’re a local business here as well, so that’s pretty exciting.”

Karen hopes her 25-year-old daughter Ali will also be a guest on the show one day when she has a few more years of tattoo experience under her belt.

Learn more about the tattoo shop Here.