“May your tattoo ink never run dry,” as the ancient Portlandian blessing goes, has rarely been more applicable. Motif is proud to partner again with Narragansett Brewery to bring you the RI Tattoo Awards, a recognition of one of the most prevalent day-to-day art forms, ever evolving in its technique, technology, social standing and emotional resonance. The tattoo industry brings considered (usually) art to the public in ways that weren’t possible even a generation ago, and along the way that elevates how everyone considers art in their day-to-day lives.
Save the date for our June 2 event, when the artists you’ve voted up, and a few chosen by our team of judges, will be recognized for the quality of their work. Past Ink Master Steven Tefft will be hosting, and we’ll have a mix of free Hi Neighbor! flash tattoos, live tattoo modeling, a mind-blowing fine art wall, flash drawing and other artistic stimulation.
But first, we want to thank our intrepid judging panel: Dani Ryan (also of “Ink Masters”), Nicole Coogan (of New Bedford’s Banner and Bone, and the fantastic noir punk band the Devil’s Twins), Z (of Banner and Bone), artist and arts educator Jade Sisti, Motif creative director Olivia Lunger and Motif event coordinator and artist Allie Boyer. And, of course, thank you to all the amazing artists who sent work in. We had a lot of fun reviewing this body of work, and now it’s your turn!
Let us know your favorites, one vote per customer please, by Friday May 22 (midnight). Thank you!!
Favorite Color Tattoo
Roberto Ruiz, Sunny’s Tattoos
David Asgarian, Unicorn Ink
Des Graves, Bruxa Tattoo Co.
Evan Olin, Powerline Tattoo
Gregory Arpin, Unicorn Ink
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos
Rob Young, Altered Images Tattoo
Favorite Black & Gray
Jess Talbot, Scarlet Rose Tattoo Parlor
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Kimberly Miranda, Memento Tattoo
Lorraine Webb, Beautiful Ink Tattoo Collective
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Panda
Paul Burrows, Ruthless Ink
Paul Lonardo, Witching Hour Tattoo
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Tara D’Agostino, Iron Lion Tattoo
Favorite Black & Gray with Color
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos
Rob Young, Altered Images Tattoo
Steven McDonough, Tattoo Magic
Favorite New School Style
Corinne Clapper, Pretty Things PVD
David Asgarian, Unicorn Ink
Kimberly Miranda, Memento Tattoo
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Mackenzie Blinn, Unicorn Ink
Paul Lonardo, Witching Hour Tattoo
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Favorite Calligraphy
Emily Parker, Memento Tattoo
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Kat Andresen Devaney, Wayback Tattoo Studio
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Favorite Line Work
Corinne Clapper, Pretty Things PVD
Des Graves, Bruxa Tattoo Co.
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Paul Lonardo, Witching Hour Tattoo
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Shannon MacQuarrie, Altered Images
Favorite Mythological
Corinne Clapper, Pretty Things PVD
Des Graves, Bruxa Tattoo Co.
Gregory Arpin, Unicorn Ink
Kimberly Miranda, Memento Tattoo
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Panda
Rob Young, Altered Images Tattoo
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Favorite Abstract/Watercolor
David Asgarian, Unicorn Ink
Gregory Arpin, Unicorn Ink
Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos
Favorite Floral
Jess Talbot, Scarlet Rose Tattoo Parlor
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Shannon MacQuarrie, Altered Images
Tara D’Agostino, Iron Lion Tattoo
Favorite Traditional
Christopher Kanti, Hope Street Tattoo
Corinne Clapper, Pretty Things PVD
Emily Parker, Memento Tattoo
Jess Talbot, Scarlett Rose Tattoo
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Steven McDonough, Tattoo Magic
Favorite Skull
Christopher Kanti, Hope Street Tattoo
Gregory Arpin, Unicorn Ink
Jess Talbot, Scarlett Rose Tattoo
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Kimberly Miranda, Memento Tattoo
Lorraine Webb, Beautiful Ink Tattoo Collective
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Paul Lonardo, Witching Hour Tattoo
Favorite Horror/Villain
Roberto Ruiz, Sunny’s Tattoos
Des Graves, Bruxa Tattoo Co.
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Kimberly Miranda, Memento Tattoo
Lorraine Webb, Beautiful Ink Tattoo Collective
Panda
Rob Young, Altered Images Tattoo
Favorite Animal
Rob Young, Altered Images Tattoo
Shannon MacQuarrie, Altered Images
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Lorraine Webb, Beautiful Ink Tattoo Collective
Mackenzie Blinn, Unicorn Ink
Panda
Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual
Tara D’Agostino, Iron Lion Tattoo
David Asgarian, Unicorn Ink
Favorite Anime
Roberto Ruiz, Sunny’s Tattoos
Anthony Hall, East Coast Tattooing and Body Piercing
Corinne Clapper, Pretty Things PVD
Des Graves, Bruxa Tattoo Co
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Lorraine Webb, Beautiful Ink Tattoo Collective
Mackenzie Blinn, Unicorn Ink
Paul Lonardo, Witching Hour Tattoo
Favorite Cover-Up
Roberto Ruiz, Sunny’s Tattoos
Des Graves, Bruxa Tattoo Co.
Gregory Arpin, Unicorn Ink
Kimberly Miranda, Memento Tattoo
Panda
Paul Lonardo, Witching Hour Tattoo
Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos
Favorite Back Tattoo
Christopher Kanti, Hope Street Tattoo
Liz Chomka, Unicorn Ink
Paul Burrows, Ruthless Ink
Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos
Rob Young, Altered Images Tattoo
Shannon MacQuarrie, Altered Images
Steven McDonough, Tattoo Magic
Favorite Character
Corinne Clapper, Pretty Things PVD
Des Graves, Bruxa Tattoo Co.
Dylan Ayers-Moore, FINAO
Kamakana Pankiwska, Witching Hour Tattoo
Kimberly Miranda, Memento Tattoo
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Mackenzie Blinn, Unicorn Ink
Rob Young, Altered Images Tattoo
Roberto Ruiz, Sunny’s Tattoos
Shannon MacQuarrie, Altered Images
Favorite Portrait
Jen Clinch Guertin, Anchor Steam Tattoo
Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink
Panda
Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos
Tara D’Agostino, Iron Lion Tattoo
Emily Parker, Memento Tattoo