Meet Rebecca Joy | Tattooer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Joy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson that tattooing has taught me is that I can’t be afraid to try new and different things. Just because it’s not a particular style or method I’m interested in doesn’t mean I can’t learn from it. I am continuously growing and learning from all art forms.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I fell in love with tattooing when I was 14 years old. I had moved back to the U.S from Ecuador and was really struggling to find my place, and that’s when I discovered tattooing and it completely changed my life. I would read as many books as I could about the history of tattooing, tattoo culture now, and tried to take in as much as I possibly could. I remember getting my first tattoo and finally feeling like my body was my own, and I wanted to give that same feeling to other people too. A couple days after I graduated high school, I finally had found a tattoo shop where they would take me on as an apprentice. That first apprenticeship proved to be very challenging and I found myself in a lot of very troubling and unfortunate circumstances one of them being having to be homeless for a period of time because, well, an apprenticeship isn’t exactly a paid gig. But boy did I want it, I would sacrifice anything for it and I did. That first experience as an apprentice really started to shape me, it taught me to be stronger, not let people push me around, and it also taught me when I should recognize that something isn’t serving me anymore and it’s time to move on.
I went on to apprentice for 4 years (the average tattoo apprenticeship lasts 1-2 years). One of my friends, Xage, took me on after that and started to teach me all that he knew. He truly empowered me and told me to not believe all the haters, he saw in me something I am just now starting to see in myself. He unfortunately passed away and I went on to try to continue my learning elsewhere. I found myself in Venice after that and apprenticing at a shop out there where I met my third mentor, Saul. He was the one that put a tattoo machine in my hand and told me to go for it. He was incredibly patient with me with everything I also had going on at the time. I was working full time at a coffee shop and full time at the tattoo shop with literally no days off and living an hour or more away from both jobs. I was also dealing with a lot of mental health issues that made it significantly harder to try to keep my shit together through all that, I honestly don’t know how I would do it now even haha. Saul gave me the space to spread my wings and just do it. Don’t get me wrong, it was f*cking tough and he had to show some tough love a lot of the time but it really shaped me as a tattooer. I am very grateful for that experience with him.
My last apprenticeship was with Doug. He really helped me get better at my technique and my drawing skills which made me change the way I approach my drawing today. He really helped me feel more confident in my artistic skills, I was definitely forced to step out of my comfort zone during my time with him and that was the greatest gift ever. I got comfortable with being uncomfortable.
My apprenticeship experience that lead me to be the tattooer and artist I am today was definitely not easy. I sacrificed time, comfort, my living situation, relationships and even my mental health (don’t necessarily recommend doing those things this is just my experience). But through all of that I learned that no one else knows you but you. You know what you’re capable of, own it. Don’t let them tell you you’re not enough, and if they do, go ahead and take that as a challenge to prove them wrong.
I can definitely say that I’ve proved a lot of people wrong. I’m living my f*cking dream life right now and it brings me so much joy.
I think what sets me apart, isn’t necessarily my art, although I am always working hard to be the best I can be and improve constantly. I think what sets me apart is how much I believe in the power of tattooing and that I love this craft with all my heart and soul. There is time and effort and love that goes into every tattoo that I do, into every piece of art I make. Tattooing is an experience that I get to share with each and every one of my clients, a chance to share such an intimate moment with them. They’re going to carry my work on their skin for the rest of their days, and the amount of trust that they put in me is so beautiful and humbling. I hope to give people the same feeling tattooing has given me. It’s the closest thing to magic I have ever felt.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well this is another tough one! I love LA so much there’s so many cool spots. Definitely the first stop would have to be The Last Bookstore followed by coffee at Verve in the arts district. Then obviously we have to stop by the shop, Highland Park Tattoo Co., to show them where I work, then Descanso Gardens is one of my favorite places, so peaceful and beautiful. Then yet another coffee shop, Kindness & Mischief, where I do a lot of my drawing. I enjoy watching movies so a stop at the Alamo Drafthouse is a must. Then how could I not say the beach, I love Point Dume in Malibu, I got every year to go whale watching during their migration season!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Man, this is a tough one. There’s so many people I’d like to dedicate this to. So many people pushed me and encouraged me in my journey it’s hard to mention everyone. I think I’d really love to thank one of my former mentors, Xage. He really took me in and gave me a place where I felt like I belonged, he made me feel like I was strong enough to reach anything I was willing to work hard for and he was ready to just teach me anything and everything. His kindness and guidance is something I will never forget and I carry his words with me always. I wish he was here to see how far I’ve come but I know he would be happy.

Website: www.rebeccajoytattoo.com

Instagram: @becca__joy

Other: TikTok: @becca_joy__

Image Credits
Mari Tuuk (@marituuk)