Ink Master fans know Christian Buckingham well. The talented tattoo artist appeared on multiple seasons of the hit reality competition show. One of Christian’s most memorable moments was competing alongside his mentor “Sausage” on Season 10. But where is Christian today and does he still work for Sausage? Let’s explore.
Christian’s Ink Master Journey
Christian first joined Ink Master during Season 7 in 2015. Though quiet and reserved at first he soon revealed bold traditional tattooing skills. Christian excelled at old school flash and pin-ups. He ultimately placed 3rd overall that season.
The exposure catapulted Christian’s career. He began traveling as a guest artist and building his reputation. This caught the attention of veteran tattooer Chris Nunez, who invited Christian to return for the milestone 10th season of Ink Master.
Teaming Up With “Sausage”
For Season 10, Ink Master introduced tag-team partners. Christian was paired up with his mentor Sausage, owner of Electric Tattoo in Asbury Park, NJ. Sausage had given Christian his start in tattooing nearly a decade prior. Their existing rapport gave them an early advantage.
Christian and Sausage dominated many Flash challenges with Christian’s clean traditional style. Though they struggled occasionally with other styles, the pair made it to the finale together. They ultimately placed 2nd, losing to DJ Tambe and Josh Payne.
Where is Christian Now?
After two strong showings on Ink Master, Christian continued to see his profile rise. He began splitting his time between Electric Tattoo and traveling as a guest artist to conventions and tattoo expos around the world.
Christian also started his own brand, releasing merchandise like art prints, clothing, and tattoo equipment bearing his signature traditional designs. He launched a Patreon community offering behind-the-scenes content for dedicated fans
Today, Christian is still with Electric Tattoo in New Jersey. The shop proudly features his bio on their website along with the other artists. When not at Electric, Christian can be found doing guest spots at top tattoo shops everywhere from Los Angeles to London.
What About Sausage?
Like his protégé Christian, Sausage continues tattooing and operating Electric Tattoo. However, he has stepped back from competitions and traveling. Sausage focuses on their Asbury Park shop and tattooing locally.
The older generation of tattooers like Sausage are passing the torch to those they’ve mentored, like Christian. This allows them to focus on tattooing and their shops while the younger artists handle the self-promotion and convention aspects tattooing today.
Still Partners After Ink Master
So while Christian has certainly become busier thanks to Ink Master, he still remains loyal to Sausage and Electric Tattoo. The two have maintained their partnership beyond the show. Christian frequently shoutouts Sausage and Electric on social media.
It’s clear Christian appreciates all that Sausage has done for his growth as an artist. And Sausage seems happy to take the backseat, letting his protégé get the glory these days. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership that has worked for over a decade now.
What’s Next for Christian?
At just 31 years old, Christian likely has a long and fruitful tattoo career ahead of him still. Judging by his Instagram, he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. If anything, Christian is embarking on bigger projects all the time.
Between his continued role at Electric Tattoo and his blossoming personal brand, Christian is in an enviable position in the tattoo industry. And it’s all been built from the foundation provided early on by Sausage. So while the dynamics may have shifted, the mentor/mentee bond remains strong. Don’t expect Christian to part ways from Sausage and Electric anytime soon!
HOW TO TELL A BAD SAUSAGE | DICKEYS GUIDE TO GOOD SAUSAGE | TIPS TO FINDING GOOD SAUSAGE
FAQ
Where does Christian from Ink Master work?
What happened to sausage from Ink Master?
What happened to Sarah Jakubasz?
Why did Ashley Bennett quit Ink Master?
Is sausage a Good Ink Master Artist?
While he is a longtime Ink Master favorite and such people often get brought back, it’s obvious that Vaughn’s career as a tattoo artist and manager will keep him busy enough. Sausage is a much-beloved Ink Master artist. There’s a fair bit of social media chatter saying he should have won over Scott Marshall in season four, in fact.
What happened to sausage on ‘Merry ink’?
Sausage was also brought back for “Merry Ink,” and was a coach in season 12. Meanwhile, Sausage has been making Ink Master alliances off-screen. He and season three winner Joey Hamilton have four shops spread over Las Vegas and the Lake Tahoe and Salt Lake regions.
Did sausage get a tattoo?
Sausage did get some redemption in an epic face-off against his rival Matti Hixson during the live season seven finale. They weren’t fighting for $100,000 — just pride. The loser had to get a tattoo from the winner, and Sausage won. Thus, Hixson will have to spend the rest of his life with a tattoo from his rival.
Is sausage a game?
It’s a game! you do what you gotta do to win. When the votes came in from the audience, it was pretty clear that Sausage had won and with that, Matti now has to walk around with a tattoo of Sausage’s for the rest of his life.