Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricky Gaunt.
Hi Ricky, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been painting and drawing ever since I was a kid. When I was super young, I used to draw a lot of clothing designs and people and makeup stories about them. I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer for a while, but I never really got super into the sewing side of things. When I was in high school, I enrolled in a summer program for art at Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts. That was a super cool experience because it was the first time, I could really imagine myself in a professional setting that I would enjoy, and just really found my people. It shifted my perspective in how I viewed everything- I started paying more attention to shadows and color relationships. How would I go about making anything I’m looking at into a painting? Then ever since that program, I’ve been creating pretty much every day, mostly drawing and painting. Doing it from a place of pure passion, not really trying to achieve anything specific. I went to college at Pratt Institute for 2 years and dropped out during COVID and moved out to San Diego on a whim. College taught me so much and really pushed me, really shook my ego. Being around so many other talented artists was amazing and daunting. At the time, I couldn’t quite see myself being a professional artist. I studied graphic design for a semester and hated it, then switched to painting and loved it. That’s my true love for sure. Endless excitement for me with painting. Then when I moved out here to SD, I immediately got enchanted with the farmers market scene, and the underground scene almost simultaneously. I met a lot of artists through Connect San Diego. I used to work there for 2 years and sell my artwork there. I have so much gratitude and love in my heart for Connect, Robert, and every artist I’ve met there and everyone who has bought my artwork. The community here in SD is so supportive, and I’m so grateful. I wouldn’t be pursuing my passion so confidently without that support. Shouts out, Jordin for recommending me to have this interview with y’all! <3 But yes, I love SD. I have had the opportunity to paint a few murals out here already, which has been super fun. The Template was the biggest project so far. Such an honor. Can’t wait to do more. I love to live paint at events, I’ve been doing a lot at techno events so far, but would love to for different events as well (such as jazz, punk, noise, psych rock, healing ceremonies, etc.) I’ve been slowly putting my art up at different local SD shops, such as Geology Rocks and Jitters to name a couple. Super local spots. Most recently, though, tattooing has become my main creative focus. I’ve been tattooing for 2 1/2 years now, and the more I do it and learn about it the more I love it. I was very intimidated by the culture and process at first, but I’m so enamored by it now. I could talk about tattooing forever…but I’ll keep it short! I originally was introduced to tattooing by my friend Bella in CT, shouts out. She really pushed me to try it out, and I’m so grateful. So grateful for every person who has gotten a tattoo from me during my baby learning stages up til now, still very much there, and to all the fellow tattoo artist friends who have taught me so much. <3
I also really enjoy organizing community events, free events especially. I enjoy melding different things together that you wouldn’t expect. I’ve gotten to help organize a festival in Joshua tree and an underground sewer show. Shouts out to the Kaleidoscopic Artists. So excited for what’s to come, to keep collaborating with other people, and to connect more to the land and each other!
(I also enjoy playing the synthesizer, and I’m learning how to DJ!! Hehe)
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, like anything, as life goes. There’s this constant process that happens where I want to know how to do something I have no clue about, and at first, it’s so scary I feel stupid inadequate, or frustrated. Then, over time I practice and then learn. Sometimes I want to give up. Sometimes I do give up. But with some things, even the hard parts are enjoyable, and that’s how you know you love something. Then I get better, learn a new skill, look back at my growth, and even forget how it felt when I started. And I’m riding an invincible high. Until the next learning curve rolls around. And with tattooing, that’s an everyday thing, a constant. It’s very humbling. With visual art, people say it’s subjective; all art is valid. There can be technical aspects of course, but with tattooing, there will always be technical aspects. It’s so spiritual as well because it’s a permanent mark of remembrance on the body.
I definitely had a lot of self-doubt in high school in college, but since being outside of an academic setting and in the “real world” I’ve felt more confident in pursuing art professionally. I truly don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t creating in some way every day. I’m very addicted to it. And very passionate about sharing my skills and knowledge to those interested, as well as learning from everyone around me. Especially plants and animals!!
Although I’m so passionate and happy and grateful to pursue and create art, it doesn’t mean it’s a smooth road still. It just means the bumpy road is fun.
I think one of my main struggles is concentrating on one project at a time and organizing my time properly since I am my own boss and manager. I also have ADHD tendencies so it’s hard to focus on one task or complete any tasks without a deadline, so I play a lot of tricks on myself like setting extra early deadlines.
Another thing I struggle with is being patient. I see art that other people are making, and I am inspired to make something similar, and I’m immediately like I should be able to make this. Not realizing how much has gone into their own process to get to that point. With tattooing, I really want to get into a good shop that I mix well with, and I know it’s a long process to get to that point, so I have to be patient and keep working hard.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think I said a lot of this in the first question! :0 haha, but yeah! I mostly tattoo, paint, and draw. I mostly use acrylic paints at the moment. I do like oils, but I’m very messy, so it’s more rare. I want to start making my own paints out of foraged plants and other materials. I typically draw with pen. I love Fudenosukes. Lately, the subject matter has been very inspired by plants, roots, and water. I love imagining how everything is connected in an invisible web and trying to paint that to make it visible. I think I’m just most proud to be where I’m at now, and for continuing to pursue art as a career.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I think luck is very real and prevalent, although I don’t think about it too much. I try to focus on what I can control, what I can realistically work towards. But reflecting back on the past, a lot of things have felt lucky like being at the right place right time to meet a cool person that leads to an opportunity to do something more with my art. I love running into people I know unexpectedly, or finding out me and a stranger know someone in common, or we’re at the same event one time, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: earthdustart.com
- Instagram: @earthdust_art / @earthdust.ink
Image Credits
Anna Langlois Isaiah
