Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Becker.
Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to San Diego from Albuquerque, NM 17 years ago, I was 21 years old and needed a change. I was lucky enough to hang out with an apprentice who was doing his free tattoos and I was crazy enough to allow him to practice. Hanging out in a tattoo shop was amazing, I looked for a counter girl job and Dewayne Norton from Tower Tattoo Parlor allowed me to work for him and I just loved it. I started watching their every moves and a few months in I was allowed to be an official apprentice. I apprenticed for 2 1/2 long years and learned so much from Dewayne and Adam Fuqua. I made my way down to Mike Martin’s FSG Tattoo in Imperial Beach in January of 2010 and he took me in and allowed me to guest spot for a few months. After that Mike asked me to continue working and I’ve been here ever since it’s home.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely been a bumpy road getting to where I am now, I was going to school for biology and when I started my apprenticeship I had to learn from the beginning. My apprenticeship was the hardest and funniest time, constantly getting in trouble, probably crying in the bathroom, getting fired like every other day, cleaning and doing tubes constantly, doing whatever was needed. When I came to FSG I was able to learn from Mike and all the crew here in such a different way compared to Tower, Mike showed me the business and I learned more from all the amazing artists that have come through these doors.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love doing black and grey pieces, realistic pieces, portraits, and breast cancer survivors areolas. I am really proud of being able to help breast cancer survivors with their last step of feeling whole again, it is such an amazing part of my job. FSG is a huge military shop, Mike was a retired Master Chief Navy Seal, so I am very honored to be able to tattoo a big part of that community, always some fun pieces.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
A lesson I’ve learned is to never stop learning, after 13 years of tattooing I learn something new every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.FSGtattoo.com
- Instagram: Laurabecker3
- Facebook: Dreamofink3
