The Darkside Family

Melinda is our manager and piercer.  She handles all the day to day operations here at Darkside Tattoo.  We would be lost without her.  Contact Melinda for appointments or information about the shop, or come in and see her for your new piercing.

Maddie is our new receptionist! She is here to answer all your questions,  set up appointments, and greet you when you come to the shop.  

Sean has been tattooing since 1989, and is the original owner of Darkside Tattoo.  He specializes in large custom work and has extensive portfolios, both at the shop and online. He prefers to work with bold color, but any style will spike his interest in a tattoo. Sean also enjoys the challenge of small intricate tattoos as well. "I love the challenge of getting details so small that people can't believe it's possible." So if your thinking of putting together some extensive work, give him a call, or come down and speak with him in person, and while you're there at the shop, check his portfolios of tattoos.

Book your free consultation with Sean online!

Marissa is one of our full-time artists, and had been tattooing for over five years now.  From 2008-2012, she studied studio art, in drawing and painting, at SCSU.  In 2013, Marissa came to us as a well-versed arist, and apprenticing under Sean O'Hara, she started on her career path to become a tattoo artist.  We are proud to say Marissa has finished her apprenticeship with flying colors and is a great addition to our Darkside Family!

Dave began his tattooing career in 2003, under the tutelage of Zee, himself, at Studio Zee Tattoo in New Haven.  At Zee's, he also had the opportunity to work alongside Christian Demenna and Christian Perez, both of which had a great deal to do with his growth as an artist.

After four years at Studio Zee, Dave headed out west, working at a few different shops in the LA area.  He ended up back in Connecticut a few months later, joining forces with a friend and fellow tattooer to open up Elm City Ink.  Elm City blossomed for four years, after which, Dave left, and started tattooing in a private studio for about a year.  Then, as fate would have it, Darkside Tattoo re-opened right down the street, and Dave joined the crew from the opening day.

Dave enjoys both black and gray and color work, and photo realism.  He takes pride in being a versatile artist, being able to do just about any style you are looking for.  At this point in his career, he has been taking on more large scale pieces, like full sleeves and backpieces.  Dave also excels at portraits, both people and animals, as his main focus is producing photo realistic tattoos.

Book your free consultation with Dave online!

Dan is the newest member of our Darkside Family.  Dan has been tattooing for over 5 years, and has worked at Painted Soul, and Tattoo International, both in Wallingford, CT. 

Book your free consultation with Dan online!

Nick has been tattooing since 1998, and was a previously a member of our Darkside Family many years ago.  He has recently rejoined the team, and we are so excited to have him back with us.

Book your free consultation with Nick online!

Unleashing the power of creativity through ink and skin, Ember Cesar is a passionate and skilled realistic tattoo artist. With a profound love for art and a deep appreciation for the human form, he specializes in crafting awe-inspiring, lifelike tattoos that transcend the boundaries of traditional body art.

Book your free consultation with Ember online!

Joe has been with us since 2023, and apprenticed at Darkside.  Sean and Joe have been friends for over 15 years, and its been awesome to welcome him to the Darkside Family!  He's been an artist his whole life, and decided to learn to tattoo.  Fully licensed as of 2025, Joe is ready to make his mark on the tattoo industry and develop his own clientele.

Book your free consultation with Joe online!