Tattoos have been part of history for at least 5,000 years. They are an artistic and poetic expression. From ink to skin, thoughts, pain, joy, love and memories are written. The permanency of this creative art is symbolic of keeping feelings and memories alive. Tattoos have been done on every place on the body. The only tattoo I believe that should be forbidden is one with the name of your significant other. It’s almost like the kiss of death to your union. It may sound great at the time, but that name is forever! My first tattoo was a prison tattoo. Ok, this is half true. It was re-colored using a guitar string as the needle. The tattoo artists reading this are saying WTF, I know. I was young and didn’t do my research. I only have two tattoos, but I am ready for more. I had a friend tell me that if she thinks about a design she wants for more than a year she gets it. I decided to buy some temporary ones to see if I am happy with the size and idea. If you want a tattoo, but are unsure what to get, this is an ideal option. What do tattoo artists say to customers who are not sure?
“If someone isn’t sure of what to get done. Don’t get one. You will save me the trouble of covering it up down the line,” is how Marc Milici, owner and artist at Troubled Soul & Company in Middletown, replied to my question. Milici has been a licensed tattoo artist for nineteen years and specializes in realistic fine lines. He was a nominee in three categories of the 2024 Motif ‘s RI Tattoo Awards. Milici told me, “What I love most is the creativity, especially when a client points you in a direction but allows you to have control of the artwork.” He has developed close friends who started out as clients and this also feeds his passion of his work.
Milici and I have something in common, and that is the love for local craft beer. We also agree on a favorite. “My fav and go-to would be Grey Sail Brewing’s Captain’s Daughter. It’s the first one I look for at a bar and if you don’t pay attention she will make sure you do.” Milici also enjoys having a beer in the greenhouse at Ragged Island Brewing. His beers of choice there are Tiny Truck IPA and Liquid Hugs DIPA. Wondering who Milici’s favorite tattoo artist is? “Marilyn Mott Tolleson. She worked as an artist at her father, Buddy Mott’s shop. She put out a book last year that shared the history of tattooing in RI. She is a genuine person and I am honored to call her my friend.”
I absolutely advocate the union of two people who can connect in some way. One of my goals is to have artists’ work featured on the can labels of local craft beer. That is what led me to talk to the very talented tattoo artist Julie Harley Francisco from Whaling City Tattoo located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Francisco designed the can labels for Canned Heat Craft Beer Co. Besides tattooing she is an illustrator and animator who has created stop motion films. Francisco has been an artist for six years. She was inspired by Larry Diguisto who worked on a lot of her tattoo art. Sadly, Luguisto passed away. His legacy remains as he “pushed her to explore tattooing more seriously.” Francisco enjoys seeing her work on others and the highlight of her career was when she started working at Whaling City Tattoo Company. That is when, she said, “It felt like everything clicked creatively and professionally.” Francisco’s expertise is “gothic, nontraditional, cartoony and anything with bold juicy lines and color.” She “loves bringing a little bit of personality and fun into every piece.”
When Francisco was designing the artwork for Canned Heat Craft Beer Co. she was also working as an assistant brewer. “Being hands-on with the brewing process and learning about different styles, especially IPAs, really opened the door for me to explore and appreciate craft beer.” In addition to a few breweries in MA: Treehouse Brewing, Berkley Beer Co, and Vitamin Sea Brewing, she loves RI’s Proclamation Ale Company. What’s her fav from PAC? “I am glad you asked! It’s Sitka, a West Coast IPA that has notes of resinous pine that lingers on the palate and forward notes of grapefruit, pine and citrus peel.” This writer thinks it’s amazing!
Speaking of amazing. Have you ever met an earth angel? I have. Her name is Kristen Lanctot. She is a paramedical tattoo artist that specializes in 3D nipple tattoos for anyone who has gone through surgery or any medical condition. Lancot also offers scar camouflage and eyebrow tattooing. Because she is a scrub tech at Women and Infants Hospital (23 years now), she is a familiar face to many of her clients. “They find comfort. I absolutely love being able to give them back confidence and something that makes them feel whole again.” Lancot also works as an artist for Ink4Pink, an organization founded by former cancer survivor, Corina Klein. Their mission is to raise funding to cover the cost of breast tattooing. One of ways is through pop-up events held at 16 New England breweries through an organization called Pints4Pink. Part of the proceeds from every pint sold supports breast cancer survivors enabling them to feel more comfortable with their bodies. Lanctot stated that, “Every single person that sits in my chair is special. So many pour their hearts out to me. I appreciate that and I love to listen.”
What does Lanctot do in her much deserved free time? “We go to Lops Brewing quite often. They held our last Ink4Pink fundraiser! (shoutout!).” Something you should also know is that she is “very passionate about her work. Taking the time to answer questions, listen to expectations, and identify if insurance is available help a customer with reimbursement.” I wasn’t wrong when I called her an earth angel. Lanctot is a 2024 winner in the Tattoo Awards for her camouflage tattoos. On my search for some artists I had the pleasure of speaking with Jared Schroderer, the owner of three tattoo studios: New London Ink (CT), Rhodeside Tattoo (RI), and Village Tattoo (RI). He stated that between all three shops, he has “13 of the area’s best, capable of all styles of tattooing.” His “goal was, and is, to have a comfortable environment where the artists can come in and have nothing to worry about except their art.” He further told me he feels lucky to be part of the changes and strides made in the tattoo industry. “Most artists have college degrees in art and so much more.” He is optimistic that it is only a matter of time before one of these artists will be nominated in the Tattoo Awards.
Where does a studio owner get inked? He says, “I have a ton of tattoos! Some from artists that have/ had worked for me and others I’ve collected from artists I appreciate. I look at it as though I would be buying art to display at home. I collect what I like from different artists I love from all over! Remember, art is subjective.” Schroeder has a love for local craft beer that started twenty plus years ago. He has a friend who was a homebrewer and went on to work for Harpoon. His favorite local beer and would-be fridge staple is Whalers Brewing Company’s flagship, Rise. This APA is smooth, light with citrus and a slight herbal hop spice. He is also a fan of RI’s favorite girl and winner of best DIPA at Motif’s RI Drink Awards consecutively since 2021, Grey Sail Brewing’s Captain’s Daughter. •
Now, if you’ll excuse me I am going to enjoy a local craft beer and think about my next piece of skin art. Cheers to local craft beer and the talented tattoo artists this area has to offer.
