Meet Dana Graham | Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Dana, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Becoming a tattoo artist is a personal journey that exemplifies the power of never quitting and discipline. The path I have chosen is one that demands my unwavering dedication and a constant thirst for improvement. Each day, as I stand before my canvas, I am reminded of the immense responsibility and privilege to create art that leaves a lasting impact on people. Challenges and obstacles may arise, but I embrace them as opportunities for growth. I’m constantly pushing myself to refine my skills, explore new techniques, and expand my artistic boundaries. It is my unwavering discipline that fuels my progress and propels me forward, even when faced with setbacks. I recognize that mastery in this craft requires constant evaluation, self-discipline and a burning desire to surpass my previous achievements. As I navigate this artistic journey, I am not just placing ink on skin; I am weaving stories of resilience, passion, and dedication. Every stroke of my needle is a testament to the unwritten tales of perseverance. To all tattoo artists who share this pursuit, I urge you to continue to inspire one another, and hold respect for our craft. As a tattoo artist I believe we hold great responsibility to never disregard the transformative power of a tattoo.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Becoming a tattoo artist is difficult, let alone being a woman. As a female, entering this “boys club” of an industry can be challenging. Generally speaking in order to become an apprentice you trade either money, wildly exploited free labor, or a “relationship”. Unfortunately for many women in the industry, although they would hate to admit it- tend to opt for the last one.

In my youth around the age of 16 I applied to be an apprentice at a shop in Kearns, Utah. I was accepted but only as a piercer. I had no interest in learning that trade but figured that was the stepping stone, I did a few piercings and mostly managed the counter and cleaned jewelry all the while wanting to learn to tattoo. When I finally came to the boss asking to learn more he said he was willing to teach me if I would trade sexual favors. Disgusted by the audacity of the man and the 19 year age gap at play here. I decided I didn’t want to participate in an industry like that. The dreams were left on the table. Until later in life I moved to Houston, TX and had a friend who was apprenticing. I let him practice on me in his living room and he even let me tattoo his leg in return. We were fairly good friends at the time and he had just started at a shop that I did a news article on. The owner of the shop saw my art and said I was quite good. I explained my past with apprenticeships and he agreed that was uncalled for and offered me a spot at his new shop to apprentice as long as I assisted with marketing and help build him a website. So I got to work, spent every day in the shop and held down 3 other jobs throughout my apprenticeship. As time passed I began doing walk ins and spent more time at the shop alongside my friend who was advancing rapidly.

Unfortunately my mental health was decaying between three jobs, the apprenticeship, being stuck in an abusive relationship with my boyfriend while simultaneously navigating my sister’s new drug addiction, my father on the verge of death due to heart failure and my mother losing her mind to schizophrenic episodes resulting in her hospitalization.

Yet every day, painful as it be, I would still find a way to make it to the shop and pour my soul into this art. Until one day…
My coworker tells me I cannot keep tattooing there. I question it in disbelief and ask why.
With no real answers he says I need to tattoo myself before I continue. I told him I don’t think that’s right, I explained that I don’t believe artists MUST tattoo themselves. Even though they do, I don’t think it should be a requirement.
In addition I explained my discomfort for the matter as I had a history of self harm that I had recovered from and have no desire to fall back into, especially with what’s going on with my home life. “Either you tattoo yourself tomorrow or you’re done here.” I went home distraught and defeated. I had no clue what I wanted to tattoo on myself, I didn’t even want another tattoo at that point. I thought it over that night and returned the next day. I set up my station and began tattooing my knee. The owner of the shop and my “friend” stood over me, filmed and mocked me. Between the pain of the needle and rage of how they were treating me, I pushed through with tears held back and completed the piece. When I set down my machine…
They asked me to pack my things and leave.

Left with a tattoo I didn’t want I was devastated.
A few months had passed and I was working at my bar The Secret Group. My old coworker my so called “friend” came in and had a few drinks. On his way out he pulled me aside and told me “Back when we worked together I was pretty upset you didn’t want to sleep with me and you made it clear you didn’t want a relationship so we got rid of you. No hard feelings.”

Cash. Free labor, or a “relationship” The main three trades for a tattoo apprenticeship, however I was never willing to trade the third. So I was punished.

After a difficult hiatus and a suicide attempt I decided to get back into the ring. I went on to pursue the dream at other shops, this time not as an apprentice but as a junior artist. I was on the opening team of The Dark Anchor and traveled to Utah to work at the prestigious Raventhorn Manor.

I later went on to Tokyo Japan and trained under ex Yakuza artist Seisai from Foxgate.

I never gave up on my learning, taking seminars, sought further learning with Andrés Acosta and even trained directly with the infamous Russian artist Abusev.

There are a lot of challenges to this trade and this career path but it is also one of the most rewarding. I have come to develop a very different approach to tattooing.
I believe tattoos are transformative and should be done in a calm, meditative environment.
I try to make my clients as comfortable as possible and I work with them on every piece with respect for their vision and profound understanding their reasons for the art.

All of my work is custom and created unique for each individual. I specialize in blackwork, fine line, geometric, neo traditional, Japanese traditional, anime, Ritual and even experimental.

I also offer a very special tattooing style I invented called Kurotsugi which is used specifically for trauma recovery in people with PTSD.
Using a careful combination of Blackwork tattooing, tebori and neuroscientific application of Vibroacoustic Therapy. I myself have 3 Kurotsugi pieces on my body and have been practicing this soon to be revolutionary style of tattooing since 2018

Oh and for the other side of the coin when I say experimental tattoos I do mean it. I am also one of the only female tattoo artists in the city currently who offers male genital tattoos. Though they are not cheap, as in they constitute what I call a “handling fee” I do offer them in a safe, discreet and highly professional manner.

Get a Tattoo Join a Cult. Trust The Octoboros.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I always take friends on Chinatown dates. I love getting dinner at places like Tiger Den or Tan Tan in Bellaire.

I would often take them to Cirque and Destroy on Sundays. Which is a fire collective I have been operating for 6 years now in different parts of the city, we teach people different flow arts followed by fire safety so they can conquer their fears and be able to confidently manipulate fire props.

If they are in town in Oct or November I invite them to The Texas Renaissance Festival where I perform and direct a stage show called The Barbarian Bombshells along with a whole bunch of my friends who also run incredible stage shows there like Tease of the Seas, Dangerous Curves, The Green Hour of Wyrmwood, Sound and Fury, Cirque Mythos and Global Dance Theatre.

Also Many of my friends are in the Burlesque scene so they host weekly shows at Avant Garden and Rebahr.

On my days off I frequent Public House in the heights, its sort of a neighborhood bar but if you ask for it they have a chess set behind the bar and most of the regulars play there, so I love bringing people there for a few rounds of drinks and chess.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Thank you to the Kings and Queens of Beverly Hill St a collective of friends with open hearts who have not only embraced me but brought me into your very home, creating a sanctuary where I am welcomed and cherished. In a world that sometimes feels cold and indifferent, you have become my refuge, my safe haven. The Kings and Queens have become my extended family, Your collective wisdom, support, and guidance have shaped me into the person I am today.

The support of Hans Serpa Tattoo and Jake from Raventhorn Manor have made a huge impact on my career thank you both so much for giving me the space to grow and your guidance along the way.

Seisai 正彩 my patient mentor from my tattoo apprenticeship in Tokyo, Japan. I will always cherish my time learning from you and am so inspired by your work and leadership!

My absolutely epic clients!
I truly adore the people I have been able to work on projects with both large and small!
Here is a short list of my top clients this year who I spent many hours cultivating creative projects and having a blast in each session with

Austin Silva, Kole Winters, Britt, Chuck, Garrett, Josey, Matt, Becca, Rachel, Trevor, Trent, Sammy, Emily, Shae, Madison, Sabrina, Nemo, Cori, Daniel, Zelty, Mav, michael, houzen777,

The list goes on and on and I wish I could say everyone but even if I did not list you just know I care deeply about all of my clients and love being able to support them in their transformations and be the one to shepherd them through the tattoo process.

Website: www.octoboros.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/octoboros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Parenthesisx/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheParenthesisX

Other: www.octoboroscult.com

Image Credits
Caleb Pickens