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How Fort Collins Tattoo Artist JD Markwardt Built a Studio Where Artists Come First
- Aimee Heckel
- Nov 13
- 5 min read
If you’ve spent any time exploring Fort Collins’ tattoo scene, you’ve likely heard of JD Markwardt — the towering, soft-spoken co-owner and creative force behind Solana Tattoo Company, one of the city’s most artist-driven tattoo studios. With more than 20 years of experience and a reputation for quality, integrity, and passion, JD has built a name synonymous with quality flash and custom tattoos in Fort Collins and a shop culture rooted in respect for the craft.
A Colorado native raised in Longmont among a family of artists, JD built Solana on one simple belief: Artists deserve better.
After years of witnessing the struggles many tattooers face — low payout, burnout, and lack of creative freedom — he set out to create the kind of Fort Collins tattoo studio he wished existed but didn’t. Today, clients and artists alike know him for his artistry, mentorship, and the one-of-a-kind atmosphere he’s cultivated at Solana.
The Tattoo Artist’s Journey
JD’s story begins in the mountains of Colorado, where art ran deep in his family. His mom painted watercolors and crafted stained glass, his cousin Carrie Pearce became a renowned fine artist in Illinois, and JD — always with a pencil in hand — dreamed of one day turning art into a lifelong pursuit.
After high school, he immediately set his sights on becoming a tattoo artist, landing an apprenticeship in Longmont. But after a year and $10,000 in wasted "tuition," he realized it was going nowhere and left, an early experience that would later help shape his values as a mentor and studio owner.
Discouraged, JD left tattooing for a few years, working as an electrician, trim carpenter, and in other craftsman roles. He appreciated the creativity of the construction industry and opportunity to build something out of nothing, yet tattooing kept calling him back — a theme that would echo throughout his life.
So he pursued it from a different direction. He enrolled in the Art Institute to study graphic design, honing his eye for composition, balance, and visual storytelling. While an art student, he learned about a new shop in Louisville that aimed to be one part fine art gallery, one part tattoo studio. He landed an apprenticeship there, helping it open and furthering his art and tattoo education in even more ways.
When several of the top artists there branched off to start Old Larimer Street Tattoo in downtown Denver, JD went with them, completing his apprenticeship under respected artists Zeb Palmer and Joe Miller.
After several successful years in Denver, life called JD home again, this time, to raise his newborn daughter, Betty. After a year at home caring for Betty, JD was invited to help open a third tattoo studio. He helped launch and worked at Big Easy Tattoo in Broomfield for several more years, before he, his wife Aimee, and Betty moved further north for the schools. The drive to Broomfield was tough in JD’s 1970 VW Bus, so he decided to put all of his knowledge of opening tattoo shops to personal use.
He opened his own small, private studio, Surfbilly Tattoo, in Berthoud. For seven years, Surfbilly was an art, custom tattoo, and piercing haven, complete with after-hour painting gatherings.
Then COVID-19 forced its closure. Once again, JD considered walking away from tattooing; the quarantine made it nearly impossible, so he returned to electrical work and briefly tried being a postal worker and truck driver. But the art pulled him back.
He hopped between several Northern Colorado shops, but he couldn’t find a tattoo shop that valued artists the way he believed they should be. So he created one himself: Solana Tattoo Company, co-founded with his wife, Aimee, a CSU journalism graduate and content marketer. Named after their favorite California beach (still keeping with the beachy theme of his original private studio), Solana is everything JD once needed but couldn’t find: artist-first, family-run, and built on integrity, customer service, and artistry.
Artistic Style and Specialties
JD is best known for his clean, bold approach to American traditional tattoos, blending timeless tattoo heritage with modern precision. He’s particularly drawn to classic imagery —panthers, daggers, roses, and pin-up style portraits — but he’s also developed a signature niche: drawing and tattooing women inspired by the strong, creative women in his life.
An old-timey soul, JD loves solid lines, rich colors, and enduring designs that never go out of style. And his customer service has earned him a loyal following of clients who trust him to create meaningful, custom tattoos that stand the test of time.
For JD, tattooing isn’t just about ink; it’s about legacy. His personal motto, “Make your mark” (a spin on his last name “Markwardt”), guides both his art and his leadership at Solana.
What It’s Like to Get Inked by JD Markwardt
Getting tattooed by JD is as professional as it is personal. From the moment clients walk into Solana Tattoo, you can feel the care he’s poured into every detail, from the spotless workstations to the approachable but modern vibe. JD’s consultations are always collaborative; he listens carefully to your story and helps transform ideas into timeless tattoos that fit your body and personality.
And while he’s known for his calm demeanor, JD also has a hilarious reputation among the team for his obsessive cleanliness. He’s been known to walk around the shop with a white paper towel just to make sure there’s no stray ink anywhere — which, when you’re a 6'6" weightlifter, makes quite an impression. (There's a reason why his tattoo nickname is Jacked Kirby!)
Facts About Fort Collins Tattoo Artist JD Markwardt
Favorite Local Spot: The Still. Order the Meat Pile. Do it.
Go-To Music While Tattooing: Mike Pinto, Dirty Heads, Johnny Cash, and old-school country.
Hidden Talent: Can fix quite literally anything, from tattoo machines to home wiring. He can build a house from the ground up.
Fun Fact: The shop’s famous Flash Friday events were JD’s idea, inspired by his love for traditional tattoo heritage and community connection. He has been offering these since the shop opened. Today, the shop offers the largest selection of readily available, original flash designs in Northern Colorado, if not far beyond.
With more than two decades behind the needle, a portfolio full of timeless traditional tattoos, and a shop that’s reshaping the Fort Collins tattoo scene, JD Markwardt stands among the best tattoo artists in Fort Collins today. His story — from mountain roots to master tattooer — embodies passion, perseverance, and purpose.
If you’re ready for a custom tattoo in Fort Collins, there’s no better place than Solana Tattoo Company. Explore JD’s work, experience the difference of an artist-run studio, and book a tattoo consultation in Fort Collins today at www.solanatattoo.com. JD is available by appointment only.
