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Rhode Island
Rhode Island-based tattoo artist Mark Wade on his watercolor-like work – The Boston Globe
It took two years to complete, but now when she thinks about the piece, she gets chills.
“I have a bouquet of flowers on rainy days and in the middle of hurricanes,” Vance said. “I have this apple that says ‘you’re golden.’”
The Rhode Island-based tattoo artist has built his career — and a platform of over 100,000 Instagram followers — based on his ability to ink hyper-realistic florals. In June, he and his wife, Maia, opened a shop in East Greenwich, R.I., Body Florist, where people like Vance fly in from all over the country to get his work on their skin.
“It feels surreal,” Wade said. “I’ve traveled to other countries to get tattooed. I know how much energy it takes, so I’m incredibly grateful that people would do that.”
The shop is inside an old mill near Greenwich Bay, with exposed brick walls and a “peaceful” interior designed by Maia. The pair decided to put down roots in Rhode Island, where Maia is originally from. The move was largely due to Maia’s challenges with epilepsy and her desire to feel “more grounded,” she explained.
Wade, who is originally from Lubbock, Texas, hadn’t spent more than two years in any one place in over a decade. He moved throughout the country, honing his craft, and gaining a reputation in the tattoo community for his impressive designs and work ethic.
“He was always very persistent, as far as wanting to put in time, staying late, and going to conventions,” said Rember Orellana, owner of Texas’s Dark Age Tattoo and one of Wade’s mentors. “He would always be a friend, in a good way every every show we went to, so it was just fun to see him making that progress.”
Wade’s interest in floral tattoos came from a desire to become “the best” at something. Early in his career, clients continued to compliment his color tattoos, and Wade continued working from there. He looked up to Phil Garcia Lee, a tattoo artist who also specializes in floral designs.
While he does not have formal art training, he put in countless hours toward mastering his craft. During his first tattoo apprenticeship, Wade remembers not sleeping for the first six months — running on 20-minute naps every four or five hours so he could tattoo more.
“The further I’ve gone with [the style], the more I get into it,” Wade said. “It feels like something I’ve never really mastered. It’s always changing, and I’m always making it better.”
Each tattoo, Wade said, is ultimately a collaboration. He finds that working one-on-one with the clients to hone the design not only makes the process more “real” and keeps him in check artistically, but it creates a more intimate space.
The process isn’t short: Tattooing one 5-inch by 5-inch area takes an entire day.
One appointment with Wade takes 12 hours, Vance said. She called the process “a beast,” where she will sit and get tattooed for 58 minutes, take a two-minute break, and Wade will start again.
“When he tattoos — good God — he doesn’t even know the time, because he’s just diving into it so much,” Maia said.
Carmen Vanderheiden Brodie, another of Wade’s clients, has a full sleeve of flowers from Wade. The sleeve doesn’t represent anything; Vanderheiden Brodie was simply in awe of Wade’s art. They met at a tattoo convention in New Jersey in 2016, and she had been following his work ever since.
“I feel like I have the most fantastic jewelry on all the time,” Vanderheiden Brodie said. “People will wear a necklace or earrings or whatever. My tattoo is my adornment.”
Emily Wyrwa can be reached at emily.wyrwa@globe.com. Follow her @emilywyrwa.
Why is the flag at half staff? These are possible reasons
The flag of the United States of America is flown at half-staff on several occasions, generally marking that the country is in mourning
On Friday, May 15, flags will be flown at half-staff across the United States to commemorate Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Recognized each year since 1962 as part of May’s National Police Week, the national observance pays tribute to United States law enforcement officials who gave their lives in the line of duty, whether at the local, state or federal level.
“United in gratitude, we recommit ourselves to supporting those who keep the peace in our neighborhoods, and we offer our heartfelt appreciation for the service they render to community and country,” reads a proclamation from President Trump. “Their steady presence brings calm to our streets, their dedication preserves the order that allows our Nation to flourish, and their unwavering vigilance is the reason families across America can rest under the promise of a safer tomorrow.”
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the flag of the United States at all public buildings and grounds across the country and its territories – including in Rhode Island – will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, May 15.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.
The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to fly at half-staff.
Half-staff vs. half-mast
While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.
RI’s Verdi Productions films ‘Bad News On The Doorstep’ in Providence
Verdi Productions wrapped filming of Tom DeNucci’s “Bad News On The Doorstep” early on May 23 in Providence.
Verdi Productions’ secret horror movie, “My Boyfriend is a Demon,” now filming in Rhode Island, is no longer a secret as Chad A. Verdi, the East Greenwich production company’s president, has announced the cast and given an outline of the movie’s plot.
The ensemble cast comprises veteran actors and rising young talents. The story follows Mary, a lonely, small-town girl who creates a fake Instagram account that pretends to be boyfriend, a guy too perfect to be real. Mary puts so much effort into making him “real” that he shows up at her door one day.
The cast includes:
- Mattias Ferrell, son of comic actor Will Ferrell and known for “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”
- Coco Arquette, daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette and known for “Cougar Town.”
- David Arquette, known for his work in the “Scream” film franchise.
- Rosanna Arquette, David’s sister and Coco’s aunt, known for “The Moment.”
- Bailey Sloan, known for “Ragamuffin.”
- Jack Champion, known for “Avatar.”
- Ever Anderson, known for “Peter Pan & Wendy.”
- Vinnie Hacker, known for “Euphoria.”
- Josephine Reitman, known for “Juno.”
- Savannah Lee Smith, kown for “Tunsel Town.”
- Lisa Yamada, known for “Elle.”
- Ty Law, known for “Friday Night Lights.”
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is written and directed by first-time director mishka.
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is filming in Providence
The movie began filming in Rhode Island in April and has rented Providence’s Cranston Street Armory for the month of May to use as a studio.
The producing team for Verdi Productions includes Chad A. Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Michelle Verdi and Sera Verdi. Executive producers include Ketchup Entertainment and Kinolime.
Good morning! Happy Thursday! Today will be pretty unsettled with the chance for showers and t’storms. Friday will still be damp with showers and drizzle, but the weekend still looks amazing!
The one good thing with the rain, for allergy sufferers at least, the pollen levels will be lower. In fact, both today and tomorrow, the tree pollen counts will be low locally. Do expect a spike in the pollen count for Saturday and Sunday with the dry weather.
INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” POWER OUTAGES
TODAY
Hour-by-hour forecast for today…
We’ll have some showers around during the morning commute today, but the greatest chance for showers and t’storms will be after 9AM and before 5PM.
Showers and thunderstorms could slow travel around mid-day. Rain could fall heavily at times.
A line of showers and t’storms will be sweeping across the area through the afternoon as a slow-moving weather systems moves through the region.
Highs today will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s with southeast to east winds of 5-15mph.
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS
TONIGHT
Showers are still possible this evening; although they won’t be as numerous.
TOMORROW
That low center will be nearby Friday morning, and we’ll be stuck with a damp, cool windflow. Expect drizzle and showers in the morning and possibly some lingering showers in the afternoon.
Highs Friday will only be in the 50s. The average high this time of year is in the upper 60s.
LOOKING AHEAD
Then…there’s the weekend. Saturday looks amazing with lots of sunshine and dry weather. It’ll be warmer, too, with highs in the 70s.
-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo
T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.
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