Custom Tattoo Artistry in Missoula: A Personal Journey
From Conversation to Skin: The Art of a Custom Tattoo in Missoula
I have a conversation almost every day that starts the same way. Someone walks into our studio in downtown Missoula, or sends a thoughtful email, and they have an idea. It’s a feeling, a memory, a piece of landscape they carry inside, a symbol that means something only they can fully articulate. They want to turn that idea into a tattoo. They want it to be theirs, completely. And they’ve come to the right place, because that is the only kind of work we do.
The journey from a client’s initial thought to the healed, living art on their skin is a profound collaboration. It is not a transaction. It is a shared creative process built on trust, technical mastery, and a deep respect for the body as the final canvas. In a world of instant everything, this process remains intentionally slow, considered, and human. It’s the difference between buying a print and commissioning an original painting. One is a product. The other is a legacy.
Here in Western Montana, we are surrounded by natural artistry. The deliberate flow of the Clark Fork River, the way lichen grows on a specific pattern of rock, the layered history in the bark of a ponderosa pine. A great custom tattoo operates on similar principles. It has flow, intention, and a relationship to its environment. In this case, the environment is the human form. This is how we approach every project at Montana Tattoo Company.
The First Conversation: More Than a Quote
Everything begins with a conversation. This is the cornerstone. For us, this usually starts digitally. An email, a DM, a filled out contact form. It’s a low pressure way for someone to articulate their vision in their own time. I read these carefully. The goal here is not for me to be a mind reader. It’s for me to understand.
A client might send a collection of images. A vintage botanical illustration, a photo of their favorite mountain peak in the Bitterroots, a rough sketch they made on a napkin. They’ll talk about size, placement, feeling. My job in this initial stage is to listen, to ask clarifying questions, and to gently guide. Part of my expertise is knowing what makes a good tattoo, not just a good image. Some concepts need translation to work with skin’s elasticity and the body’s contours. A great idea can become a poor tattoo if placed without thought for anatomy. So we talk it through.
Some artists, like my colleague here, prefer to save the major design collaboration for an in person meeting. They might use elements from their existing flash or portfolio as a starting point for a conversation, a visual language to build from together. The principle is the same. This phase is client led, but artist guided. It ensures the tattoo’s meaning is personal and its foundation is solid. The focus is always on creating something unique for the person in front of me. In Missoula’s vibrant arts community, we value originality. Your tattoo should be no different.
The Sketch: Where Idea Meets Anatomy
With a clear direction from our talk, I move to the sketch. This is where the idea begins its transformation into art designed for a specific body. This is a critical distinction. We are not drawing on a flat piece of paper. We are designing for a living, moving, three dimensional canvas with muscles, curves, and bone structure.
Many custom tattoos, especially large scale pieces, involve freehand drawing directly on the skin. I might use a set of medical grade markers. Yellow for blocking in basic shapes and flow. Orange or red to find focal points. Blue for the final, approved lines. Throughout this, the client and I are looking in mirrors. We check the design standing up, sitting down, with an arm raised, with a shoulder rolled back. How does it look in motion? How does it interact with the body’s natural lines? Does it flow with the musculature or fight against it? This iterative, physical check is irreplaceable.
Digital tools like Procreate are fantastic for working out initial concepts and sending previews. They allow for easy revision and play. But the final proof is always on the body itself. The sketch prioritizes. We establish size and main elements first. Details and backgrounds come later, and often the design evolves subtly during the tattooing session itself, responding to the skin’s feedback. It’s a living process.
Some artists develop unique techniques to achieve this organic fit. It might involve methods to create fluid, marbled lines or experimental sketching that prioritizes the body’s architecture over rigid stencils. The goal is always the same. A design that looks like it was always meant to be there, born from the body, not just placed upon it.
The Tattooing: A Dialogue with Skin
Once the sketch is approved on the skin, the tattooing begins. This is where preparation meets execution. The process is methodical, born from an understanding of how a tattoo heals and ages over decades.
We start with the line work. This is the skeleton of the piece, defining its borders and primary forms. Next comes shading, which gives it volume and depth. Color is applied strategically. Often, background colors or softer shades are worked first. As they heal and settle over a lifetime, they will soften slightly, allowing the focal points and sharper details applied later to remain prominent. We are building for longevity, not just for the first Instagram photo.
A full custom piece, especially a large sleeve, back piece, or torso panel, is a commitment of time. We book full day sessions. This allows us to sink into the work, to tailor every hour to the client’s endurance and the tattoo’s needs. Tattooing is a tactile craft. Skin is not a uniform surface. It has textures, scars, variations in elasticity and oiliness. My hand and machine must constantly adapt, shifting pressure, needle depth, and speed. It is a physical and mental focus that demands respect for the medium.
For certain styles, like the bespoke botanical work some artists specialize in, a hand poke method might be employed. This is a slower, dot by dot building of the image that can offer a uniquely soft, textured result. The technique varies, but the philosophy of customization does not.
The Final Act: Healing as Part of the Process
The session ends. The tattoo is complete, but the process is not. What happens next is just as important. Proper aftercare is the client’s role in our collaboration. We provide clear, detailed instructions. We use high quality inks and products to ensure the best possible foundation for healing. A tattoo’s longevity is determined here, in the first few weeks. It’s about protecting the investment of time, resources, and trust that we’ve both put into this piece.
The reward for this entire methodical, collaborative journey is art that is visible, meaningful, and deeply personal. It is a piece that fits seamlessly, moves with the wearer, and is designed to evolve gracefully as their body does. It becomes a part of their story, permanently.
This career demands flexibility. Our schedules are built around these intensive sessions, not a standard nine to five. But the trade off is the privilege of doing this work. Of taking an idea born in the Montana landscape or a personal history and helping etch it into someone’s being. It’s a profound responsibility and an endless creative reward.
At Montana Tattoo Company we host independent tattoo artists who run their own businesses and create work with intention. We do not do generic walk ins. Every project starts with a conversation and a vision. Choose the artist whose style fits your idea and reach out directly. Connect with Mickey Schlick, James Strickland, Noelin Wheeler, Nicole Miller, and boldbooking.io" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BoldBooking. Book a consultation, explore portfolios, and bring your idea to life. I have completely automated the studio side. Aftercare, directions, booking links 24 hours a day with completely consistent customer service. At any interaction you are welcome to ask to talk to Mickey directly and you will either be connected to me or I will get back to you asap.
