Artist: Joshua Clay - Dallas, Texas
Before Joshua Clay ever picked up a tattoo machine, he spent more than a decade working in the corporate world.
Even then, art was always finding its way into his day. Joshua was constantly drawing at his desk, catching the attention of friends and coworkers who kept encouraging him to take his talent more seriously.
What started with commissions and designing tattoos for people around him eventually opened a door he never expected.
Today, Joshua has his own private studio and gets to create work inspired by the anime, games, characters, and fandoms that have been part of his life since he was young.
We caught up with him so you can get to know a little more about the artist behind the work.
How did tattooing start for you?
Before tattooing, I worked in corporate for over a decade.
Even while I was there, I was always drawing at my desk. My friends and coworkers kept encouraging me and telling me I could do something more with my art.
Eventually, I started taking commissions and designing pieces for people. When I began seeing people actually get my artwork tattooed on them, something clicked.
I realized I didn't just want to design tattoos. I wanted to learn how to create them myself.
Where did your love for anime begin?
I've been drawing since I was a little kid, and anime and video games were always a huge part of my life.
One of the first drawings I remember proudly showing my family was Goku and Vegeta facing off during the Saiyan Saga in Dragon Ball Z.
From there, anime became a major part of who I was creatively.
Years later, getting to create tattoos inspired by these characters and worlds feels like everything came full circle.
What are your favorite anime?
Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Yu Yu Hakusho are some of my favorites.
Dragon Ball Z especially goes way back for me. Some of my earliest memories of drawing are tied to those characters, so it's pretty cool that anime eventually became such a big part of the work I create today.
Who gave you your first opportunity?
It actually happened through one of the half-sleeve designs I had created.
I was asked to explain the different elements of the design to an amazing tattoo artist in the city, Nychelle Elise, so all of the details translated correctly.
While I was walking her through the piece, she asked if I'd ever thought about becoming a tattoo artist myself.
Then she offered me an apprenticeship.
That conversation ended up changing the direction of my life.
What does fandom mean to your work?
For me, it's about genuinely caring about what these characters and stories mean to the person I'm tattooing.
I'm a fan too.
I have characters, quotes, and moments that resonate with me personally, so I understand why someone would want to carry something from a series they love with them permanently.
I especially enjoy black and grey and manga panel-inspired work, but no matter what I'm creating, I want my client to know I'm looking at it from both sides—as the artist creating it and as another fan who understands why it matters.
What tattoo will you never forget?
One that always sticks with me started out completely differently than where we ended up.
A good client and friend came into the studio while his wife was getting tattooed. While we were talking, he casually mentioned that he wanted a small dragon tattoo.
We started throwing ideas around, and somehow that small dragon turned into a huge shiny Gyarados from Pokémon running from his shoulder all the way to his elbow.
It escalated pretty quickly, but that's exactly why I'll always remember it.
What piece pushed you creatively?
One of my proudest pieces is a Steven Universe tattoo.
I wanted to give my client something different while still representing the character in a strong way. Once she trusted me with the direction, I knew I had an opportunity to really push myself.
During the session, I had to lock in and rethink parts of how I approached the artwork.
The finished piece flowed beautifully with her body and exceeded what she was expecting.
Those are the projects I love because I come out of them feeling like I've grown as an artist too.
What was a big career moment?
Getting the opportunity to tattoo at Dream Con was definitely one of those moments.
I'd experienced little moments of recognition before, but being there alongside some big names in the anime tattoo community felt surreal.
I got to meet other artists, network, see everyone's work, and be surrounded by a community built around something I've loved for so long.
I'm incredibly grateful I got that opportunity.
Who helped shape your journey?
There are honestly a lot of people.
My cousins encouraged me to come to Texas and pushed me to believe I could create something better for myself.
My friends and coworkers believed in my artwork enough to become some of my first clients. My parents supported me, and my mentor held my work under a microscope and pushed me with high expectations.
Then there are the other artists and people in the industry who saw potential in me and encouraged me to keep expanding what I thought was possible.
All of them played a role.
I still consider myself a student, and I think I always will.
What can clients expect from you?
I'm at a point where I've fully immersed myself in the kind of artwork I want to create.
I have my own private studio now, and more and more people are finding me specifically because they connect with the work I'm putting out.
There's something really special about someone telling me they love my work because I genuinely put love into what I create.
I still want to learn, experiment, and continue shaping my identity as an artist.
I'm just grateful I get to share that with people every day.
Meet Joshua in the Chair
Joshua's path into tattooing grew naturally from a lifelong love for art, anime, and creating for the people around him.
Today, that same passion goes into every piece he creates, while he continues pushing himself to grow with every client who trusts him with an idea.
Want to Get Tattooed by Joshua?
If you haven't booked with Joshua yet and his work feels like the right fit for your next tattoo, we'd love to hear your idea.
