Meet Lauren Noelle | Tattoo Artist and Maker

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

Hi Lauren, why did you pursue a creative career?
Making art has always been my happy place. I took many art classes in school and some private lessons too. Becoming a tattoo artist was brought up many times in my life I just never believed I could really do something as serious as marking someones body forever. It was intimidating and scary. It still is sometimes. I had worked so many jobs that I felt discouraged or bored in. Mc Donald’s, craft stores, movie theatres, desk jobs. I always wanted to just go home and spend my time making things or painting. For a few recent years I worked part-time at HEB and made cute anime style paintings on wood cut-outs covered in glitter and glossy resin. I would sell them online and at art shows and local Houston art market events. Shoutout to Insomnia Gallery! I would attend their events and show/sell my art and my handmade pins there often. Eventually I got an opportunity to become a tattoo artist working under David Gray at Mr Grays Tattoo Studio and here I am! (Book a tattoo with me on our website mrgraystattoostudio.com) ;D

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I used to hang out at a local tattoo shop with my tattoo artist friend all the time and when he moved to a new shop I came with to check it out. I had been making my wood cut-out paintings for a few years and had built up a good portfolio of artwork. The shop owner, David Gray, saw the work I had been doing and asked if I wanted to apprentice under him at the shop. I worked unpaid for about a year doing all the work around the shop. Cleaning, mopping, sweeping, moving stuff, setting up, getting food and supplies, working on tattoo flash, learning about tattoo history and writing reports. It was all lots of work and David still calls me stinky and tortures me with his awful dad jokes but its worth it. As of right now I have only been tattooing on human skin for about 2 months. Im getting better and better with every tattoo I do, it takes a lot of patience and persistence. I still have soooo much to learn but for once I feel like I can actually grow and enjoy my career path for a long time to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I dont drink sooo I don’t know any good places for that, but I love nature and the outdoors. Kayaking/swimming in Austin has always been a super fun trip and Zilker was a great place to hang out at. Im from Wisconsin so If you’re ever up nort I know all the good nature spots up there. Texas is still big and new to discover for me. I really love Japanese and asian food. My favorite flavorful ramen place is Jinya and im always down to go to one of the many conveyor belt sushi restaurants around, but I tend to choose Kura. For dessert i loooove Somi Somi. They have ice cream and cute fish shaped pastries called Taiyaki. The custard filled ones are the best <3

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother of course. She has always supported me and encourages me. Would not be the places I am without her for sure. Love you momma! My boyfriend, Rikk has helped me believe I could be a great tattoo artist and I would not have entered the industry without his reassurance and friendship. Last, but absolutely not least, my mentor David Gray. David has taught me everything I know about tattooing, the industry, tattoo history and so much more. I am thankful he gave me a chance and one day I hope to make him proud by being a better tattoo artist than even him.

Website: https://mrgraystattoostudio.com/lauren-noelle/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/noelletattoos

Other: Art instagram: https://instagram.com/oni.fox Linktree of all current links: https://linktr.ee/Oni.fox