Two Creative Ventures, One Home: Primal Instinct Tattoo and Dark North Art Co.
With Alaska SBDC guidance through the commercial loan process, Danie & The Beast LLC brought Primal Instinct Tattoo and Dark North Art Co. under one roof, creating a new foundation for growth.
For Danielle & Carlos Figueroa, the artists behind Primal Instinct Tattoo, creativity and entrepreneurship have long gone hand in hand. But when COVID-19 created significant challenges for the tattoo industry, they began looking for another way to put their artistic talents to work while diversifying their income.
In 2022, they launched Dark North Art Co., an outlet for original artwork, paintings, fine-art prints, and apparel. By combining their tattoo-inspired artistic style with imagery drawn from Alaska’s wildlife, landscapes, culture, and traditions, they developed a distinctive brand that resonates with Alaskans, visitors, and customers from a wide range of backgrounds.
Operating under Danie & The Beast LLC, Primal Instinct Tattoo and Dark North Art Co. represented two sides of the owners’ creative vision. As Dark North Art Co. grew steadily year over year, the next goal became bringing the two sides together in a space that could support both businesses and their future ambitions.
Finding a home for both ventures meant more than just moving into a larger space. The expansion required navigating an SBA commercial loan process involving detailed financial reports, documentation, and multiple steps.
For small business owners focused on serving customers and creating their work, the lending process could be complex and demanding. Complications arose along the way, and at times the loan outcome was uncertain.
That was where the Alaska Small Business Development Center became a pivotal resource.
Working with Alaska SBDC Business Advisor Ginny Grabowski, Danielle & Carlos received guidance throughout the commercial loan process. From preparing necessary financial reports and documentation to providing guidance when challenges arose, the Alaska SBDC helped them better understand and navigate the requirements to move the expansion forward.
In 2026, that effort culminated in a major milestone: Primal Instinct Tattoo and Dark North Art Co. came together under one roof at 5515 Arctic Boulevard.
The new location gives Primal Instinct Tattoo a storefront for its tattoo operations and provides Dark North Art Co. with commercial production space for its artwork, fine-art printing, and screen-printing operations.
Bringing the two businesses together has created more than a shared address. It has given Danie & The Beast LLC a foundation from which both creative ventures can continue to grow.
Dark North Art Co. now creates original artwork, produces fine-art prints, screen-prints apparel in-house, and sells directly to customers. By managing the creative and production process themselves, from the original drawing to the finished print or garment, the artists preserve the quality and authenticity that set their work apart.
The expanded production capabilities are also opening the door to new opportunities. Dark North Art Co. is building capacity to offer custom design, art-printing, and screen-printing services to other Alaska artists, organizations, and businesses.
Danielle & Carlos ultimately hope to use what they have learned through their own entrepreneurial journey to support other local creators working to turn their art into sustainable businesses.
For the owners, Alaska SBDC’s assistance was an important part of reaching this milestone:
“The assistance we received from Ginny and the SBDC was not only helpful but pivotal in making this expansion possible.”–Carlos Figueroa
They particularly valued having guidance through the complexities of the SBA commercial loan process. From preparing financial information and documentation, receiving support when complications arose, and the loan’s outcome was uncertain.
What began as a strategy to diversify during a challenging period has grown into a broader creative enterprise, allowing the artists behind Danie & The Beast LLC to bring tattooing, original art, apparel, fine-art printing, and screen printing together in one location.
Find out more at https://www.primalinstincttattoo.com and https://darknorthartco.com.
