New Tattoo Parlor Brings Ink to Monticello

Senior Staff Writer

   A new addition to the local business scene brings the culture and art of tattooing to Monticello.  The Mosquito Beach Tattoo Co. will host its opening Friday, Oct. 10 during its regular business hours, noon to 10 p.m.

Photo by Latoya Shelton

Tattoo Nature - Owner of Monticello's new tattoo parlor Erica Scott has a passion for the art of tattoos.  Scott received a degree in art and has worked as a tattoo artist for close to five years.

   According to the parlor’s MySpace page, the goal of the shop is to provide Monticello with “clean, high-quality tattoos done by a dedicated, experienced, state-licensed artist in a state-of-the-art, friendly and professional environment.”

   Owner Erica Scott designed the parlor, located behind Ray’s at 718 West Gaines, to function as a street shop.  According to Scott, a street shop houses the tattoo booths in the front of the parlor, allowing one person to run the show.  Compared to a custom shop, which usually requires appointments, the street shop accommodates walk-ins and appointments.

   Scott said she anticipates being busy at first because people have been so long without access to good tattoos locally.  Several University of Arkansas-Monticello students agreed that a local tattoo parlor would be beneficial for those interested in ink and piercings.  Raylen Cantrell and Ronnard Tony both travel out of Monticello to get tattoos.

   “I think it’s good,” Cantrell said.  “I’m from Little Rock, so I have to go back there (for tattoos).  It will be good if people could stay here instead of traveling two hours to Little Rock.”

   Currently the parlor offers only tattoos, though Scott hopes to have a piercer on staff by the beginning of next year and has already added a piercing room to the parlor.  Scott’s mother Jennifer Scott, a nurse, is working on getting her piercing license.  Scott is also considering learning to do henna art in order to offer henna tattoos at the shop.

   Though the parlor can house up to four tattoo artists, Scott will serve as the only tattoo artist for the time being. Once business stabilizes at the shop, Scott said she might consider hiring a part-time artist to help out during the busier periods. 

   Scott also plans to bring in guest artists to provide different techniques and work.  She will select the guest artists from her contacts in the tattoo industry, and said she will only bring in quality artists.

   “I won’t have anyone there who won’t do right by my customers,” Scott said.

   The minimum price for a tattoo will cost $40, though prices will vary based on the design and location of the tattoo.  The price for large custom jobs will be based on an hourly rate and will include a deposit that comes off the final cost.

   UAM student Delilah Moore said she thought the parlor should focus on its core customer base – the students – by offering student discounts.  While Scott did not mention student discounts in particular, she did say the parlor will offer specials on certain holidays and will probably include a homecoming special.

   Though the parlor will offer tattoo flash from several artists, Scott, as the main artist, will provide all the custom work.  With a degree in art, Scott said her favorite tattoo style is old school, traditional Americana tattoos often associated with sailors, and her favorite image to tattoo is pin-up girls.  Pictures of Scott’s art and tattoo work can be viewed at the Mosquito Beach Co.’s MySpace page.

Courtesy of Erica Scott

Aye, Mate - Erica Scott, owner of Mosquito Beach Tattoo, created this custom pirate lass.  Scott said her favorite tattoo style is traditional Americana, bulb-line work with heavy shading.  Her favorite image to tattoo is the pin-up girl.

   Originally from McGehee, Scott received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M., in 2003.  Though her degree emphasis concentrated on museum gallery management, the interdisciplinary program required a comprehensive study in drawing, graphic design, painting and sculpture.  After graduating with her degree, Scott moved to New York for an internship at the American Craft Museum.  She attended school at UAM for a year to study biology, and eventually moved to Little Rock where she began her career as a tattoo artist.

   Scott said she always fantasized about doing tattoos. When she was about 10 years old, Scott discovered tattoos.  On a trip to Louisiana with her aunt, Scott met her aunt's friend who had red roses tattooed on his arm.  That meeting spurred her interests in tattoos. 

   “I’ve always been into art, so seeing a guy with art on him permanently was influential,” Scott said.

   When Scott was 16 years old, she aspired to get her first tattoo.  She borrowed a bottle of Indian ink from her art class and got a needle to do her first tattoo.  With the ink and needle, Scott drew out her first tattoo – a small heart with an arrow through it.  Now, Scott has approximately 30 tattoos, though she’s not sure of the exact number.

   Scott describes herself as a solid artist, but said she never really felt inspired.  She would always tell her artist friends they should do tattoos and gradually decided she should give it a try.  In the beginning, Scott said she wasn’t as confident, but she eventually broke into the tattoo scene and established herself as an artist.

   “Now, with just four or five years under my belt, I can do stuff that I previously thought I could never do,” she said.

   At age 25, Scott decided to put together a portfolio of her artwork from college to find a job tattooing.  The Parlor in North Little Rock accepted Scott for an apprenticeship, which at the time required a mandatory minimum of six months. Scott finished her apprenticeship under Scott Diffee at The Parlor in six months and stayed on for another three before moving to Austin, Texas.

   Scott lived in Austin for three years, working with River City Tattoo and Tattoo Zoo.  In 2006, Scott bought Tattoo Zoo, her first shop.  Eventually, Scott sold Tattoo Zoo and went to work for Golden Apple Studios in Austin before moving back to Arkansas.

   Scott said she moved to Monticello from Austin, Texas, with plans to open up a tattoo parlor.  She came to Monticello in July to pick out a location for the shop and found the location behind Ray’s, which her and her mother completely renovated with the help of a few friends.

   “It was perfect,” she said of the location, “so we rented it on the spot.”

   In the past, tattoos generally received a bad rap, and Scott said she was a little worried about the reaction she would receive opening up a tattoo parlor in Southeast Arkansas.  However, she said people have shown an interest in the new parlor.

   According to Scott, tattoos and tattoo people are perceived differently now than they were four or five years ago because society has been inundated with the tattoo culture.  Even though people may not see a lot of tattooed people in their area, they see the culture via television shows such as “Miami Ink,” the new clothing styles, bands and other platforms.  Therefore, the general consensus has become more accepting of the tattoo culture.

   “It’s not that we don’t see (tattoos) because it’s still frowned on, but because people in the area haven’t had access to good tattoos locally,” Scott said.  “As far as benefiting the way tattoos and tattoo people are conceived, I’m not doing anything new.  It’s just about being legitimate – providing people a place where they can come into a clean, safe environment and get good tattoos.”

   For more information on the Mosquito Beach Tattoo Co., contact Scott at 870-367-3766 during regular business hours: Tuesday through Thursday noon to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday noon to 10 p.m.

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