Meet Tobias Peltier | Tattoo Artist, Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tobias Peltier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tobias, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
This is a hard question to answer. Theres a lyric that comes to mind that has become almost like a mantra to me – “so when you need me, ill be outside throwing rocks at the moon every night until the day I die”. I think the pursuit of success is where you find success. To me, success isn’t an end goal – its static and ever-changing. Success is staying hungry, and being the best version of yourself that you know how to be. And I guess even then, that brings up so many more questions. At the end of the day, I am happy with where I am, I’m proud of where I’ve been, my mind is focused on the next step and im excited to work toward it. So much of life is circumstantial, I think you can only measure your success against yourself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My style of tattooing is heavily influenced by classic American Traditional and Japanese tattooing. I love the boldness of the designs – strong line work and bright, bold colors. I’ve spent the last decade of my life amassing a library of vintage tattoo flash books that I rely on heavily in my design work. I try to avoid using the internet while searching for reference material – the internet can be a great tool at times, but I also think it can water things down.

I’ve spent countless hours studying, recreating, and tattooing the classics – there’s a reason why they’re still relevant today and so recognizable. For a long time, I’d get off work, head home, eat dinner, and get right back to work for another 6, 7, 8 hours before bed, and wake up and do it again, 7 days a week. Art and technique isn’t learned on anyones time but its own, and I think you need to submit yourself to it to fully take it in.

There’s so much to learn, so much to take in and experience. I am at competition with nobody but myself, and have a lot of heroes and friends in the tattoo world that I look up to as an artist, and I spend every day trying to do the best tattoo or best painting I have done thus far. So far, things have worked out relatively well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite places in the region are the top of the Grand Mesa and the Colorado National Monument. My family have been in Colorado since it’s inception, and I feel this place in my DNA. I studied history and archaeology in college and have the utmost respect for Western Colorado’s indigenous peoples, and that also gives me a feeling of oneness with the area.

The Grand Mesa is the largest flat top mountain in the world, and chock full of forest, lakes, and meadows. I spent a lot of time up there as a kid, hiking, fishing, and snowboarding. Theres just something about it – its almost like its own, huge organism, and when you’re up there, you’re a part of it.

The Colorado National Monument is like our own private backyard canyon lands. Red rocks, desert, hundreds of miles of hiking trails – its like a better Moab without the tourists. The crazy rock features and huge canyon walls – there are no words to describe what its like to stand next to them.

I recommend a motorcycle ride over both.

My two favorite restaurants in Grand Junction are No Coast Sushi and Thai Smile.

One of my best friends is the executive chef at No Coast, and is always experimenting with new flavors and ideas. Food is always fresh and delicious, and it’s a must-stop anytime a friend comes in from out of town.

Thai Smile is a restaurant straight out of Bangkok. I was lucky enough to spend some time tattooing in Thailand a couple of years ago, and in my opinion, Thai Smile is the most authentic spot in GJ. The food is always spot on, and the staff are super friendly. It’s always a good time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Marlene Peltier – my late Grandmother. The most encouraging, loving person you’d ever meet. She sparked my interest in art at an early age and always supported whatever endeavor I’d thrown myself at — this poor woman had been to more hardcore punk shows than almost anyone I know. I remember when I told her I was going to learn how to tattoo, she did everything she could to dissuade me, but once I’d jumped in, there she was – right in the middle of it. She never really understood it, but she knew that it made me happy, and that was good enough for Gram. During one of the last conversations I had with her, she told me that she was worried that I’d chosen a path that would be marked with instability and struggle, but I’d shown her that that wasn’t the case and that it made her proud to see me doing something I love. I replay that moment in my head every single day!

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