The Full Story
Renee Mandrake
As a resident artist at the host shop for the Boston Tattoo Convention, Witch City Ink,
Renee is emerging as pivotal force in the tattoo community.
The Method
Renee’s practice is deeply rooted in therapeutic arts offering a journey of transformation, healing, and self-discovery. Her signature RUTHLESS Blackout Sessions are designed for profound healing through pain, drawing on techniques she learned personally from Valerio Cancellier, the father of the Brutal Black Project.
Renee’s own experiences with PTSD and her volunteer work as Certified Rape Crisis Counselor underpin her compassionate approach to extreme tattooing, making her a beacon of hope and healing in the industry.
Educational Background
Renee Mandrake’s extensive educational background in Biological Anthropology, Mortuary Sciences, Culinary Arts, and Massage Therapy has been the foundation of her teaching career. At the Massage School at the Lincoln Tech, Renee offered courses in Anatomy & Physiology, Deep Tissue Massage Techniques, and Ethics, shaping the next generation of Massage Therapists with a working knowledge of the human body and a comprehensive ethical practice.
Educational Offerings
Her expertise and dedication have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by recent request from the Salem Board of Health to collaborate on the development of an Anatomy & Physiology course specifically for Body Modification Artists and Practicioners.
Renee’s commitment to her craft is matched by her continued dedication to education and skill-sharing within the tattoo community. Renee is currently developing a series of workshops for tattoo artists covering such topics such as Ethics and Boundaries, Therapeutic Tattooing, Ritual & Magickal Tattooing, and Body Mechanics: Preventing Career Ending Repetitive and Overuse Injuries.
Memorial Tattoos
Renee Mandrake’s experience working and learning from the dead in funeral homes throughout the Greater Boston area, have profoundly influenced her approach to memorialization. Her finely crafted portraits offer a unique pathway through grief work. Each portrait makes a lasting tribute
SALEM
Renee’s work is further enriched by her deep-seated roots in the occult and her lifelong exploration of spirituality. Born to a Catholic mother but baptized in an Episcopalian church, she was drawn early to question and study diverse paths of belief. Her curiosity led her to explore Buddhism in college and, later, to study and become initiated into deeper occult mysteries—seeking to understand how fear of the unknown has shaped humanity. This pursuit carries deep personal significance, as her 13x great-grandmother, Elizebeth Howe, was executed during the Salem Witch Trials. As a descendant with ties to more than forty-five of those accused and persecuted in 1692, Renee channels this complex heritage through her art. The duality of faith and magick, history and healing, resonates through her work—infusing her tattooing with mysticism, reverence, and ancestral remembrance. Through her magickal and ritual tattooing, Renee invites others to bridge the past and the future, the seen and the unseen.
Fine Art Portraiture
Renee Mandrake’s contemporary fine art portraiture captures the connection between music and healing. Renee’s work predominately features muscians. Her 13x Great Grandfather the renowned 16th Century English miniaturist, Nicholas Hilliard, also portrays figures of significant influence. While Hilliard immortalized royalty on canvas, Renee’s portraits celebrate musicians as the royalty of the artistic and enlightened. These artists possess the remarkable ability to connect, resonate, and uplift with music, offering solace and inspiration to their audience.
By drawing parallels between musicians and royalty, Renee’s portraits emphasize the enduring influence of music in shaping our cultural and emotional development.While Hilliard’s work captured regal power and presence, Renee’s portraiture captures the spirit of musicians who touch the hearts and minds of others. Musicians, like royalty, hold a unique position of influence, using their talents to bridge divides, foster unity, and spread hope. Through her art, Renee celebrates the legacy of her ancestor and honors the timeless connection between art and music and the healing powers they both hold.
Good Morning, Toughies
In 2016, life threw Renee a curveball that left her reeling- a radical hysterectomy. This life altering surgery not only took away her ability to have children but also led her into a period of deep grief. The very thought of entering a store with a baby section filled her with apprehension and sorrow, it served as a stark reminder of her loss.
Sometimes, it takes tough love to spark change. One day a dear friend, Suenami Sue, challenged Renee to “Toughen Up, Fluffy”, urging Renee to face her fears head on- and visit a store with a baby-section like Target. Renee was taken aback. Fluffy?!? Not her! She was one of toughest person she knew. “Prove it” Suenami Sue insisted. With that, the mantra of “Tough Mental Attitude” (TMA) was born- a reminder that even in the darkest moments, resilience and strength can prevail.
Tough Mental Attitude (TMA)
This mantra became the foundation of Renee’s “Good Morning, Toughies” posts. Each morning, Renee shared a message of inspiration and encouragement reminding herself and others that there are “No Fluffies on Team Toughie” and that “Toughies Always Get Back Up.” These posts became a daily diary, from the mundane to the extraordinary, as a way to document the journey from grief to empowerment.
As time went on, the ‘Good Morning, Toughies’ evolved into something more visual, playful, and creative - face swap memes. These memes, are a celebration of humor and introspection, all of which carry the underlying message of TMA. Her work invites us to laugh and reflect that no matter how your life or body changes, the core of who you are - that inner toughness - remains unchanged.
It’s through these face swap memes, that Renee continues to share her journey with the world, reminding everyone that hard times can be faced with a smile, some grit, and the unwavering spirit of a true Toughie. 🖤💪🏻
Forward Thinking
Looking toward the future, Renee Mandrake is deeply committed to advancing mental health awareness and education within the artistic community. Her upcoming flash event promises to shine a light on mental heath, fostering a supportive environment to start a dialogue on including tattooing as part of well rounded treatment and self care plan.
In her dedication to education, Renee is developing an Anatomy & Physiology course tailored for tattoo artists and body piercers, equipping them with critical knowledge necessary for their licensure. Additionally, she is launching online workshops focused on Ethics, Body Mechanics and other specialized topics, empowering artists to grow both professionally and personally. Renee’s tattooing will continue to break the mold and push boundaries, challenging traditional limitations, and inspiring new perspectives on transformative tattooing.
Renee’s classical training as a French chef at the renown, Le Cordon Bleu, combined with her passion for gardening, and years of mixing up small batch massage oils for her clients, have uniquely positioned Renee to innovate in the realm of tattoo care. Combining her expertise and love of organic ingredients, Renee is developing a line of organic aftercare products and tattoo inks. These emerging products, reflect Renee’s holistic approach providing nourishment and protection for the skin, from application to aftercare.
