Today we’d like to introduce you to Rianne Elyse Magbuhat.
Hi Rianne Elyse, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Rianne Elyse Magbuhat, I am 25 and a San Diego native. SD Voyager interviewed me back in 2021, and since then I graduated from SDSU in Spring of 2022 receiving a B.F.A. in Art with an emphasis in Painting and Printmaking.
During college I was a waitress, painting instructor/ assistant to a local pet portrait company (Pawcasso Paint Your Pet) and always had some odd job or side project going on (and still do). I pursued freelance mural work and was lucky to assist various painting teams such as The Eastside Collective and Mindful Murals. I had an opportunity to do a work trade summer 2021 and lived on a friend’s property in Fallbrook in exchange for painting their skate ramp. I still look back on that as one of the times I felt the most free and eager to see where art could take me. The property ran on solar, had well water only and lived in a yurt for a bit- the luxury of space was everything, and I even had a studio inside of a shipping container on top of the hill looking over the property. Inspired by this experience and change of pace, I no longer created to make what would sell, but to really fuel the soul. Self induced isolation usually is a tell tale sign of either figuring it out or getting lost in the sauce, and sometimes you have to do a little but of both;
After college, I had knee surgery and in an effort to find a less physically demanding job than painting- started working at a mushroom farm last summer of 2022. Working for Mindful Mushrooms I started as one of their market people, selling their products at farmers markets, but my interest in the whole process quickly grew. I learned how to harvest the fruits and began working in the lab as part of the production crew, inoculating grain bags and learning about machines I never thought I would have access too. The organic shapes and textures I saw in the fungi everyday really pushed me in another way artistically. I began preserving them through various methods for dried terrariums. My work transitioned in a way from a 2D space to more sculptural works, smaller pieces without and painting elements was new to me and I’m glad to have been able to have another interest in the art sphere through tactile mediums. On some occasions I was able to create table-scapes and center pieces without our products. If not for this job, I wouldn’t have been able to tangibly pursue tattooing as a career. I loved getting tattooed and the process fascinated me, but I didn’t know where to start. I had some friends already working in the industry all with different opinions and advice on how to start- but the same piece of advice was the same through all of them which was- just draw and work hard. I had only thought of myself in the context of a painter, that would be my ultimate goal. But now I had a new interest, a whole new Pandora’s box of elements to learn and techniques to try… dreams always evolve.
I started scratching out of my house on friends and anyone who wanted one and didn’t care I had no real experience, they just trusted the art. I learned a lot, trial by fire but I knew I wanted proper training. I wanted to work at a shop. A good friend from college introduced me to his mentor who took a chance on me and offered me an apprenticeship in the spring of 2023. I completed a my apprenticeship under Big Checho (Sergio Perez) where I am currently working as a full time artist at The Standard Tattoo Parlor in Chula Vista.
I feel fortunate to have forged strong connections with artists through my own corner of the art world; meeting like minded individuals at various markets, going to events, having friends who are always doing cool shit which in turn, propelled me to more opportunities and kept me inspired. People who mention your name when you’re not in the room… I am really happy to be working in the arts where I feel like my artistic integrity is intact and I can become self sufficient through a craft of passion all while working on other projects and developing personal works.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road is not smooth, I’ve really had to learn how to tune the noise out, and cut the bs. If you don’t best manage your time and financials, you will sink! Having so much flexibility creating your own schedule takes disciple to actually show up on the days that are slow and work on something productive that isn’t being bummed out about not having a client. Having good people skills and the ability to compromise is a must, but also having the confidence to guide the client to what would work best is even more important to me. There’s learning curves everyday and it really is adapt or get eaten. I’m terrible with social media and I’m still learning how to be relevant, but I think the best thing I can do is take not shaky photos or videos at the moment haha. There’s always something new and there’s always going to be a “better way” to do something, but as long as the works clean I really think that’s all that matters,
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have always enjoyed painting people and animals, however textures were something I had a harder time translating into legible tattoos. My first year tattooing I was working with smaller line weights, using primarily black and wash for tattooing, but as I began to design larger pieces I gravitated towards my own drawing style. Then I started using heavier machines and wanted to try pushing bolder liners and mags. Being able to stylize realistic images has been a learning curve and always a new challenge. I enjoyed the smoothness of black and grey tones but I also wanted my designs to incorporate more cross hatching and smaller lines for a more illustrative look. I want my tattoos to work with the clients body, especially when I am able to freehand plants, vines or organic shapes. I really love working new tattoos into older pieces, as I do more of patchwork sleeves and it is an honor to see my work over the years on folks. I don’t feel like I gravitate towards once style of tattooing, but I definitely take inspiration from a few different kinds, a blend of traditional, fine line and some of realism for something bold and dynamic!
I’m most proud of my connections I’ve made in my work to artists and clients alike. This year I was able to speak at the Magkaisa conference with JoAnn Atwood about tattooing and that was really full circle for me. I remember attending her workshop and putting in my mind, “she will be tattooing me”. Being able to tattoo friends and family members is still a crazy concept for me… to have work live on generations? I never thought that I would be making art with the kind of energy exchange tattooing is. It feels amazing to make ideas come to life, especially when you’re doing someone’s first tattoo and they’re basically your grandparents age or older. Y parents have gone their whole life without tattoos and didn’t seem to have a desire for one, and this year I did a pretty large piece for my Mom! I never in my whole life did I think that would be a possibility. It’s really an honor to see and feel the support from not only my friends, but my family as well, in a culture where art isn’t always seen as a real profession. I’m incredibly lucky to have parents who have supported my interests even if they didn’t understand them at first. People come with great stories and being able to be part of someone day or story, reason to visit or hang out with a friend they came with is always special to be part of.
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I pride myself to be someone who does quality work at an affordable price, making tattoos accessible. I don’t think that the world is going to stop getting tattoos, so there will always be work, but it isn’t hard to see that the market is saturated. Theres no reason to be upset about more people if you have your work speak for itself. There’s a tattoo shop on every corner and everyone is an artist or their cousin can do it for cheaper or for free, so when people walk into the shop, being efficient, professional snd straight forward about what would work and doesn’t in a design can make someone’s experience go that much smoother. I want my clients to always feel comfortable and safe in the space we share during a session!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories was getting picked up by my grandparents (who have now both passed) from preschool, them giving me smarties, strawberry candies and mints through the fence and then getting in trouble for giving me candy before school was out. Falling asleep on the car ride, waking up at home, cozy on the couch with Madeline on VHS playing on the tv and a can of chef boyardee is on the stove. Many things blend but just being there for the ride with loved ones who aren’t there anymore, going on grocery runs, just sitting at the dinner table or being on a walk are now memories I long to be in and reach for.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @riaptor
Image Credits
@Kaplan.photography
