At Anime Ink Con 2024, it wasn’t just the veterans stealing the show—the Beginner Category was a total spotlight for artists with three years or less of experience, and let me tell you, they came to slay. Any size, any style was fair game, but the challenge was clear: create something epic, right there at the convention. And guess what? They delivered.
In this post, we’re diving into the top 3 tattoos that blew everyone away and proved that these up-and-coming artists are already forces to be reckoned with. And hey, if you're still hungry for more tattoos, don’t forget to check out our blog for the Best of the Day category!
The judges for this category were the talented trio: Anastasia, Mark McCullough, and Ivan Pelegrin Medina.
Beginner Category – Friday, October 4: Top 3 Tattoos
1st Place: Melany Johnson
Melany snagged the top spot with an absolutely jaw-dropping chrome tattoo of Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece. The color blending and shadows were so on point, it looked like you could practically see the chrome shining. Seriously, everyone at the convention went "Awww" the moment they saw it—adorable and badass all in one!
2nd Place: Alexis Lapidus
Alexis claimed second place with a stunning black-and-grey tattoo of Cain from Dear Door. If you’re not familiar, Dear Door is a yaoi webtoon manhwa by Pluto, and if yaoi’s your vibe, it’s definitely worth checking out. This tattoo showed Cain in his demon form, looking as elegant and mysterious as ever.
3rd Place: Tati
Tati took third place, and while we don’t know which specific piece won her the spot, you can check out her kawaii Sanji tattoo from the con—it’s a good representation of her talent. Let’s just say, if you’re into color portraits, you’ll love what she brings to the table!
Beginner Category – Saturday, October 5: Top 3 Tattoos
1st Place: Sierra Condon
Sierra topped the rankings on Saturday with a wild original character design. The whole vibe? PINK. Pink hair, pink eyes, pink accessories, even a pink eye patch—plus some sharp vampire teeth for extra bite. If you’re ever looking for a cute but fierce pink-themed tattoo, Sierra’s your go-to artist.
2nd Place: Mariah Hernandez
Mariah brought the heat with a spicy and colorful tattoo of Power from Chainsaw Man. The nude Power, with her choker and piercings, is ready to throw down, and Mariah’s bold colors make this piece pop. Chainsaw Man fans, you know this one’s fire!
3rd Place: Zaratustra Herrera
Another Chainsaw Man tattoo hit the rankings, this time from Zaratustra Herrera. Their black-and-grey tattoo of Denji in his Chainsaw Man form was dark, menacing, and perfectly shaded. Denji’s chainsaw head never looked so intense.
Beginner Category Best of Show – Sunday, October 6: Roy Guerrero
The Best of Show award went to Roy Guerrero for an absolutely mesmerizing black-and-grey tattoo. While the character remains a bit of a mystery, she looks fierce with horns, elf-like ears, and a beautifully detailed face. Roy’s work definitely showed he’s ready to make some waves in the tattoo world.
