Make Your Mark

A picture book biography celebrating the first known Black female tattoo artist in the U.S., Jacci Gresham, co-authored by Jacci herself, and with stylish, accessible artwork by David Wilkerson

How to make your mark?

Express yourself: From coloring outside the lines to creating her own clothes, expressing herself through art made Jacci Gresham feel confident.
Keep an open mind: When Jacci started out, women getting tattooed was considered distasteful. Women giving tattoos was unheard of. And a Black woman tattoo artist? Jacci was the first.

Practice every day: Jacci studied her craft. She developed new inking techniques for Black and brown skin. And she welcomed everyone into her New Orleans shop, including women of every color, shape, and size.

Stand up for what you believe: From art class to artist, Jacci Gresham pushed boundaries, and she never took no for an answer. Jacci made her mark. How will you make yours?

Flint, Michigan, native Jacci Gresham is the first known Black female tattoo shop owner in the United States. Her shop, located in New Orleans' famed French Quarter, was Louisiana's oldest continuous tattoo business. Jacci's been featured in Inked, Medium, and AOL Finance, and has designed tattoos for celebrities like Tim McGraw, Lil Wayne, and Alicia Keys. How to Make Your Mark, which chronicles her art, life, and community activism, is her debut children's book.

Sherry Fellores is the debut author of How to Make Your Mark, in collaboration with the legendary Jacci Gresham, America's first known Black female tattoo artist. She is drawn to untold stories about regular, everyday people doing extraordinary things and how they serve in their communities. Sherry writes about family, schools, blue collar workers. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her great big family.

David Wilkerson is an American illustrator who was born in Denver, CO, and is currently based in Maryland. David developed a love for illustration during his time at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He believes that creation itself is what we live in, and he's spent the last 20+ years creating the most authentic version of himself as possible.