Meet Misha

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Misha a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Misha, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

For me, a better question might be: how do I keep my mind from generating too many ideas?
I have sketchbooks filled with drawings I haven’t had time to fully develop, and notebooks overflowing with thoughts and concepts I know I may never get to.

As difficult as the COVID lockdown was, it gave me the rare opportunity to slow down and truly focus on creating. During that time, I completed a full Oracle deck and guidebook, expanding on a Tarot deck I had created two years earlier. An Oracle deck, like Tarot, is used for insight and self-reflection, but it has a more fluid structure and fewer fixed rules. I still have paintings from that Oracle deck that I hope to return to and finish. I also taught myself how to crochet during that period, and I’m still working on those projects today.

In my work creating tattoos and cover-ups, my inspiration is constantly fueled by my clients. They come in with their own ideas and personal stories, which I then blend with my own perspective. That collaboration often leads to designs I never would have imagined on my own—and it’s one of the most important ways I keep my creativity alive.

I use inspiration from my Art to inspire my Tattoos, and I use my Tattoos to inspire my Art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

When people tell their kids, “You can’t make a living from art,” I tell them that’s simply not true.
I began my art career in the late 1980s, painting the backs of leather jackets for my punk friends. In the early ’90s, I worked as a layout artist for Chrysler before becoming a full-time tattoo artist.

In the early 2000s, I founded my company, The Many Arms of Misha. I took a break from tattooing and focused on graphic design for bars and clubs in the French Quarter of New Orleans, painted signs for local businesses, and even designed and painted giant fiberglass fish for the City of New Orleans’ public art program.

After my first solo art show, I realized most of my work was being purchased by out-of-town collectors—many from Los Angeles. I made a trip west and was invited to participate in a group show. That was all it took. I packed up and moved to California.

For several years, I tattooed and exhibited my artwork in galleries across the United States and even Japan. Along the way, my graphic designs even appeared on some of the very first flip phones. When the housing and art bubble burst in the early 2010s, I decided to take another leap. In 2015, my husband and I opened our own private tattoo studio. During that time, our original 100-square-foot studio expanded three times, and clients from across the U.S. and around the world sought out my tattoo cover-up expertise.

We were fortunate to survive the COVID shutdown and emerged with a waitlist that took over a year and a half to complete.

Even with all of this, I continued creating. I produced a full tarot deck, an oracle deck, guidebooks, and even a coloring book.

As of January 2026, our private tattoo studio is 11 years old. What began as a tattoo studio and art gallery, has grown into a safe space where people can grow, heal, and honor their lives and achievements.

Every new year brings its own challenges and rewards. I move forward by continuing to create and by doing the very best work I can.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Sometimes, you have to take a step back in order to move forward.
After tattooing for two years, I hit a wall—I’d learned everything I could from the shop I was in. I knew I was capable of more, so I went looking for someone who could push me further. I ended up taking on an abbreviated apprenticeship, not surprisingly in the first six weeks I learned more than I had in my first two years of tattooing!

Find someone to walk the journey with you. Whether it’s a business partner, a best friend, or a life partner.
Going it alone is admirable—but there are moments when support is essential. Having someone to cheer you on, listen when you need to vent, or step in when you need a break is invaluable for both your physical and mental well-being. It also means you’re not celebrating the highs or navigating the lows by yourself.

“Leap and the net will appear.” (My husband hates this one—lol.)
Take chances. Stay open to new ideas and unfamiliar paths. Sometimes you have to risk the jump, step into the unknown, and trust that something will catch you. It may not work out exactly as planned, but taking the leap often moves you forward—or in a direction you didn’t expect, but needed all the same.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

I love working with clients who want to be true collaborators—people who are decisive and clear about their thoughts and ideas. My best work happens when we create together, refining a design until we’re both genuinely happy with it.
It’s also important that clients are open to pivoting when needed, as some ideas have to be adjusted to work within the technical parameters of tattooing.

Sometimes clients say, “I’ll know it when I see it.” In those cases, I ask them to do a bit of homework and find references that come closest to what they’re envisioning. Bringing those to me gives us a strong starting point and helps me design something that truly reflects what they want.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All Photos by Me or my Husband

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