Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Graham
Hi Taylor, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Most tattoo artists I’ve met will say they have dreamt of this since they were a kid, that is not the case for me. I kind of fell into tattooing. When I was 16 I got my first tattoo. My dad had to drive me to Alabama to get it and he had me photoshop what I wanted together, so he wouldn’t have to pay extra for the artist to draw it up (I don’t know if that’s how it worked when he was my age but most artists don’t charge for the design). I like to tell people that was the first ever tattoo I designed. When I was 18 I went off to college for Mechatronics engineering. Crazy big difference from that to art, I know. By the time I was 19 I was telling my dad I wanted to drop out of school and focus on art, he thought I was crazy which I probably was but I was 19 and crazy and found something that made me happy. When I was 20 COVID hit, the lockdown started and I didn’t have a job or anything better to do than just draw, and paint, and whatever else I could get my hands on. Once the lockdown had ended and life got back to some semblance on normalcy I went out to get my second, and third, and fourth tattoos. This was how I met my mentor. One day he told me to come in and show the shop manager my work. That next Monday I was officially an apprentice. I’m 24 now, the manager of that very same shop and still learning as much a I can everyday.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Just like with anything good in this life there will always be obstacles, and my journey to becoming a tattoo artist and shop manager was no different. There will always be people telling you you’re not good enough, telling yourself you’re not good enough, people discrediting your hard work and I’d like to think that’s how you know you’re on the right path. Probably the biggest ongoing obstacle I face everyday is being a woman in this industry. I know in today’s day and age that can be weird to hear but the tattooing industry is still a primarily male dominated field of work. I’ve had coworkers tell me the only reason I got so far ahead so fast was due to rumors of me sleeping with a male coworker. I’ve had clients tell me that a woman wouldn’t do as good of a job and that they would prefer a male artist. This old school way of thinking has only pushed me to work harder and led me to find my family, friends, and ideal clients.
Being an artist, especially a tattoo artist, you have to be a little bit crazy, a little bit emotional. (Maybe not cut off your ear like Van Gogh crazy but none the less a little crazy) We as artists hone that emotion in to our work. I have dealt with mental health problems from a pretty young age and that has both provided an obstacle and an advantage in my work. As just one example I have dealt with anxiety for years and while that is an obstacle when in comes to confrontation, saying no, or even simple interactions at times it has also provided me with an advantage in that I plan out my tattoos to a t, I provide snacks, drinks, sensory toys, comfort items, aftercare packs. Anything that will help my client feel more comfortable and completely satisfied with their tattoo and with their choice to trust me with their body.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In the grand scheme on things, I am still fairly new to tattooing. I am still learning things each and everyday . When I first started this journey I was certain that I wanted to be a black and grey artist but one day that all changed for me and I started learning color theory and I dove headfirst into the world of color. While there are many styles I do and love to do I’d say I specialize in color tattoos. More specifically cartoons, anime, neotraditional styles of tattoos. As I am still learning and evolving I wouldn’t say I have found my signature style yet but I don’t want to close myself off to anything, to any new opportunities to learn and grow. I think that is part of what sets me apart from others, my willingness and eagerness to grow and try new things. To work with my clients to create something unique and exciting for them.
How do you define success?
Success to me is doing what you love and making others happy in the process. I absolutely love what I do and I have from the first moment I held a tattoo machine in my hand. My friends all tell me I am lucky to have found my passion at such an early age and they are right, I am extremely blessed to do what I love, to have the freedom to experiment and explore. I get to make my own schedule, I get to travel the world and work in different states and countries, I get to work at conventions and meet new people, I get to immerse myself in this community of artists and I get to bring a smile to my clients faces. People get tattoos for many different reasons, wether it be a memorial piece for a loved one, symbolism for something big in their own lives, or just something they thought looked cool, no matter what the reason is it shows a piece of themselves for the world to see and I am so lucky to be able to bring that to life for them. My clients trust me with their ideas, and their skin and I get to help them leave my chair with a smile.
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