New Pierce County tattoo studio inks delicate florals, Japan-inspired patterns
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Inkspiration Tattoo opened in Key Center in January, offering appointment-only sessions.
- Melissa Louie draws designs in a range of styles, including tattoos influenced by Japan.
- Studio operates by appointment; clients book online or contact the business directly.
Inkspiration Tattoo has taken over the space formerly occupied by Serve Nutrition in Key Center.
Tattoo artist Melissa Louie inked the first tattoo at 8912 Key Peninsula Highway NW on Jan. 19. Louie, whose work ranges from delicate cherry blossoms to complex geometric patterns and colorful illustrations, draws all of her designs by hand before stenciling them onto clients’ skin.
She said in an interview on March 24 that she enjoys meeting clients and working with them to “create something that they love on their bodies.”
“Anytime I put something on someone, and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s better than I imagined it would be,’ it fills my heart,” Louie said.
Louie spent 30 years in Japan, where she opened an English school and separately learned to tattoo as an apprentice in Tokyo. She made tattooing her full-time job after moving to Okinawa.
Tattoos “can be healing to people,” she said. “It can be a comfort for them ... it can increase their confidence when they get a tattoo. I think all art speaks to the soul, but I think with tattoos in particular for the person ... it’s much more meaningful.”
Her past work features a variety of styles. According to her website, Louie offers fine-line designs, ornamental designs, illustrative art-driven pieces, geometric designs and tattoos inspired by traditional Japanese artistry, pop culture and anime. She also creates custom designs based on what her clients envision.
The process of hand-drawing a new design can take her four to five hours, she told The News Tribune in a message.
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Louie said she talks to a lot of first-time clients. They’re often nervous and expect a lot of pain, she said.
“But they come in, I stencil the design on them, we size it up, and we place the design, and they can see how it’s going to sit on their body before the needle pierces their skin, and they sit in the tattoo chair, and we do it.”
“Depending on the body part, I’m not going to say it doesn’t hurt, and it’s certainly uncomfortable, but it’s a rare person that can’t handle the pain,” she said.
Inkspiration Tattoo is appointment-only, and Louie charges $180 an hour for tattoo time. Clients can book sessions through the website or by contacting the business directly.
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 11:01 AM.
