Julie Becker
32, Los Angeles, California, USA
“ I’ve been a tattooist for 14 years and I have my own studio in LA called Church Of Ink. My ambition is to travel more – I’ve worked all over the world, spending time in New York, London and Barcelona.
I’m into traditional Japanese designs, but I don’t believe people have to stick to one style. I like blending different elements with lots of colour, and I’m always trying to find the common ground between different looks.
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My first tattoo is the only tattoo I don’t like. I didn’t do any research, I just picked something off the wall – a small flower with black tribal – and got it done on the back of my neck. I don’t hide it, but luckily I never have to look at it.
Getting your first ink is like popping your cherry – you’re not looking for the love of your life, you’re just looking for an experience. And after I got the first one I was like a kid in a candy store. There were a million different flavours and I was able to get creative!
My favourite tattoo is a small, simple design that I copied from Janis Joplin. It represents a Florentine bracelet and every time I look at it, I’m given something to aspire to. Janis is my heroine. It’s strange, but the most important tattoos are always the little weird ones.
I also love the tattoo I did on my right leg. It’s a chrysanthemum on my knee and a crane with cherry blossoms and phoenix feathers in clouds running up my thigh. It was intense to do, I can tell you! But it was a learning experience.
Now, I’m a more gentle tattooist – and I can pull up my knee and show people that I know what they’re going through.”
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