I have been working in the tattoo industry for seventeen years now, with the last thirteen in various shops across the country. Starting out of an apartment shared with a rotating group of friends back in 1992, I began in the most humble and crude manner possible. Some of the friends that I lived
with had noticed my ability to draw - as well as the style of my art - and suggested that I try to tattoo.
One person in particular, Donovan Blue claimed to have some tattoo experience, and with his help, I cobbled together a home-made tattoo machine similar to those built in jails. A walkman motor, Bic pen, sewing needle and some wire was all it took to construct my first tattoo machine. As crude as it was, it did the trick. I tattooed a few oranges and some potatoes first, but very quickly I was working on the braver (or more foolish) friends in the house. Since then I have repaired most of those first few tattoos, as they were as crude and unpolished as me and my equipment.
For some time I worked with my friend and piercing devotee, Rob Dix, in a converted room in his apartment. It was more appropriate than the kitchen table in my apartment, but far from professional. We had sterilization protocol down back then, though our facilities were not up to par. I worked mostly on friends and friends of theirs for a while, eventually moving on to some paying clients on occasion.


I had a great deal of help - in the form of advice and time spent watching them work - from the few artists operating in Burlington at the time; at that point it was still illegal to tattoo for a fee in Vermont. I owe a great debt to: Toni Patnode, Melanie May, Jeffrey Lambert and Mark "Dee" Digeralamo for all of their help in getting me started. Without the time spent looking over their shoulders I would never be where I am at today. All of these folks were open with advice and knowledge, even helping me purchase proper equipment.
Sometime in 1994 my friend, Jeff Lambert returned from working in Albany, New York with his co-worker, James "Shamus" Parker in tow. Shamus was looking to buy into a studio in Burlington, as tattooing was close to being legalized in the state. He ended up buying out Vicki Lucier's share of The Dream Zone on St. Paul street, and became partners with Pearl Merrow. Jeff worked for them, as well as a body piercer, Justin. After Jeff mentioned me to Shamus, I was introduced and ended up doing some of my clients' tattoos in their studio. When Jeff moved on, I was offered his former spot in the shop, and I had my first "legit" tattoo job.
Tattooing was fully legalized shortly after I arrived (previously you could not charge a fee or gratuity for your work), and we had one of the first shops open to the public.
Not long into the life of The Dream Zone, a fire in an adjacent business forced us to move the studio out. At the same time, Pearl left for other things, leaving Shamus and I to open another studio as soon as a location suitable could be found. We found a second floor spot which formerly held an attorney's office on Main Street, and Body Art Tattoo was born.
I worked at Body Art for the first few years, from 1996 to 1999, leaving to try and expand my horizons out west. That didn't work out exactly how I would've liked, and the next years were very nomadic. I moved from west coast to east a few times, working in Seattle, Groton Connecticut, another shop in Burlington called A Different Stroke, and then finally back at Body Art in 2006.
Body Art turned out to be less than what I needed, and after a profitable, but tumultuous three years, I have moved on to better things. This new venture is going to be difficult at times, but hopefully will provide more satisfaction for myself and better service to my clients.

Formerly managing for Body Art Tattoo in Burlington and Plattsburgh,  we are very fortunate to have her skills, experience and unstoppable work ethic.

Julie is a state licensed body piercer, with more than 7 years of experience. In addition to her piercing work, she has been a shop manager. She apprenticed at, and had been running the daily business at Body Art Tattoo for several years.

By staying up to date in Bloodborne Pathogen training through the Red Cross, Julie takes every opportunity to further her knowledge of the piercing art. She is fully qualified as a piercing technician to perform any and all body piercings.  She has been trained as a tattoo artist and is an excellent artist herself, although she is not interested in actively practicing that form.

Julie's great attitude and bedside manner with clientele has earned her many fans and repeat customers.  There have been many times where she has convinced nervous clients to get off the fence and go through with their tattoo or piercing plans when others (myself included) would have let them go.  For this, her co-workers are among her most ardent fans, after all, the tattoo clients were not making her money.

You may check out some of her work as a body piercer in our gallery at: Piercings By Jules