Skott C. Greene

Skott Greene, 35; tattoo artist, lived his dream

When it came to his work, tattooing, no detail escaped Skott C. Greene.

"I think what he loved most was when someone would come in with an idea, a far-out scheme, and he would put it on them and make it happen," says a friend and employee Brian O'Donnell. "He loved to do the big crazy pieces because he loved the detail."

He also loved the band Deep Purple, the movie Planet of the Apes, and the television show Lost in Space. In fact, he loved the robot from Lost in Space so much he had it tattooed on the inside of his right arm.

"He was the biggest Deep Purple fan," Brian said. "He thought that in essence their musicianship was the greatest in the world."

Roughly 16 months ago, Skott got a chance at his dream when he opened Doors of Perception Tattoo, 709 Quaker Lane in West Warwick. His wife, Sandi, co-owned and managed the shop.

"That was his dream; he wanted to own his own parlor, and we did it," Sandi said. "He has been drawing since he was two, his family tells me. You couldn't even have a piece of scrap paper without him drawing something beautiful."

Before owning his own shop, Skott worked for nine years as a tattoo artist at Electric Ink, in East Providence.

"He was a perfectionist when it came to his art," Sandi said. "Obviously you can't erase it. No tattoo ever left that shop without being perfect."

Skott, 35, was known for his excellent tattoo portraits, a reputation that ultimately led him to The Station that Thursday night. Jack Russell, the lead singer of the band Great White, had called several tattoo shops looking for a great portrait artist, Sandi said.

Russell ended up at Skott's parlor. "He tattooed a kind of heart with the name Sue in it," Sandi said. "He tattooed it kind of on his pelvic area."

A pleased Russell put Skott and Brian on the guest list for the show. Sandi decided not to go.

"At least in my eyes, I am glad to see so many people walking around with his artwork," Sandi said. "There is no greater memorial. You can have pictures, drawings, but if you are wearing his work, there is no greater honor, and I have told his customers that."

-- Andrew C. Helman, Providence Journal staff