The mirrors of a funhouse reflect who you are or who you could be, which I find connects to tattoos; they are often viewed as a form of personal reflection. For many, tattoos can serve as a form of therapy, offering a sense of healing.”

Fred Chino

Grapefruits tend to be useful. They can be eaten, used to make DIY cleaning products, and (interestingly) used as cat repellent. Or, they can be used to poke and prod with a needle to practice the art of tattooing. This is the apprenticeship life of a tattoo artist. 

Michelle Carter and Fredd Chino, owners of 1001 Troubles Tattoo in Warren, have many stories about how they learned to become tattoo artists. They shared a story about using newspaper to practice the art, laughing hysterically at the absurdity of trying to learn that way. Carter recalled, “We had a weird thing with newspaper once. We were told to use it to learn, but really we were just ripping through it.” Chino chimed in sarcastically, “That was one interesting method.” 

There have been many advancements in how to learn the art of tattooing since then, including the invention of fake skin, which assists in learning the skill. Carter explained, “Fake skin gets used to help apprentices figure it out, and then when they transition to real skin, there are fewer mistakes. This advancement helps iron out the issues.” 

Learning to be a tattoo artist is a trade skill similar to plumbing. Chino explained, “Honing these art skills is like becoming a plumber; you have a mentor.” According to Carter, in Rhode Island completion of an 18-month apprenticeship program has to take place prior to applying for the license needed in order to begin tattooing clients.

Not all the artists at 1001 Troubles Tattoos have the same background. One of the artists actually has an education in nursing. Chino said, “It’s different for everybody.” What he typically looks for in a tattoo artist is someone with artistic ability and someone who is a “people person.”

The apprenticeship is unpaid and the typical plan is that you follow your mentor and learn to tattoo through the knowledge you gain from them. Chino detailed, “Traditionally you would just hang out with a mentor at the shop and eventually you learn how to tattoo.”

The history of the shop

At 1001 Troubles Tattoos there is a more specialized focus on artistry. Chino said, “It’s like looking at tattoos as fine art.” He went on to talk about how each artist at the shop has their own special type of art to offer their clients. He detailed, “Every artist has something — a style, a goal — that they find very interesting, and even if that goal isn’t fleshed out, if they are able to pinpoint something in their artistic soul, then they have it.” 

Both Chino and Carter think of the experience with their clients as a reflective one. They urge their clients to make decisions based on the type of art they want to see on their skin, as it is a reflection of who they are. Choosing the right tattoo artist is an important step in this process. Carter emphasized the intricate relationship that forms in meeting with her clients, saying “Custom tattooing makes my heart sing.”

The shop, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in Warren in 2024, has an interesting tie to Portsmouth, where it first opened its doors, but it also has an interesting tie to reflections. A black-and-white photo of a house of mirrors funhouse called 1001 Troubles inspired the name. Chino recalled, “That house of mirrors was washed away in the storm of 1938, in a 100-year storm, and I thought it was an interesting piece of Rhode Island history.”  

He went on to say, “The mirrors of a funhouse reflect who you are or who you could be, which I find connects to tattoos; they are often viewed as a form of personal reflection. For many, tattoos can serve as a form of therapy, offering a sense of healing.” Chino added, “At 1001 Troubles Tattoo they get to leave their troubles at the door.”    

Their shop was the first tattoo shop in Warren. Carter and Chino had to get permission from town hall to open their doors. Their efforts paved the way for more shops, and now 1001 Troubles Tattoo is part of a growing strip of niche shops and restaurants on Main Street.