We recently connected with Mariel Bayona and have shared our conversation below.

Mariel, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I think deciding to be an artist, is a risk in itself. To choose to go on a creative path, is almost like signing a contract to go against all odds in every direction in today’s society and culture.
The life of an artist is difficult and harsh in our world that we live in today… however, worth it!

Every day I have a thought: when I wake up every morning, I ask myself if I want to continue to be an artist today and keep creating. I ask myself if this a risk worth taking, or should I change paths and choose a more “conventional” profession?… My answer is always YES to the risk. Why? Because being an artist and/or creative is not just a “job” or a “profession”; it is my identity. It is everything from the start of a thought to the trace of a line on paper or skin. I’m in love with what I do.

I know this answer is starting a bit vague, cheesy and cliché but… it is so raw and true. All artists out there know how much this struggle and juggle is real. I hope I can give you a glimpse of the well worth risks I’ve taken in a nutshell.

Today I am honored to be a tattoo artist, a fine artist, and a business owner. The journey getting here took many avenues and side jobs – for which I am genuinely grateful. I have had side jobs from bookkeeping, restaurant server, uber driver, office manager, you name it!
These jobs helped me get through graduate school. Later on, they served me as tools to co-founding, directing and administrating an art gallery in San Francisco while having an art studio practice and exhibiting my work, and emerging as a fine artist. I am fortunate enough to have exhibited my work around the country and Mexico, and for my work to be part of wonderful private collections.

A few years later, I took a risk to leave all of that behind for a while to become a tattoo artist. The journey was long and humbling. Eventually, I started tattooing professionally. Now , I co-own a tattoo studio in the iconic Russian Hill neighborhood in San Francisco: Mono Moon. It is a reflection of all the cultivated knowledge gathered from all the teachings from my experiences and struggles.

To say that I love my job and practice is an understatement. To be granted an opportunity to collaborate with a client and elevate a part of their body with an artwork is powerful and magical. To create a safe space for a person to come in, and trust you fully and blindly with their body is the biggest and most beautiful responsibility. I am infinitely grateful to all my clients, old and new.

I am filled with gratitude for deciding every morning to take the risk to keep doing what I do.

My last risk was moving back to my native state of Texas to start anew. I am currently tattooing between San Antonio and San Francisco and going to start taking on commission drawing projects again.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Mariel Bayona, my handle is BYMABA on social media. I am a tattoo artist.

I come from a fine art background. I have a bachelors degree in Painting and Art History from UIW in San Antonio, as well as a master’s degree focussed in sculpture from San Francisco Art Institute.

Coming in with the perspective of a fine artist and former gallery co-director and administrator: My journey into tattooing started from my need of a concept that came into my mind about the “compare and contrast” between art making/ curating/ exhibitions/ collecting, vs. the process of art making (or designing) / tattooing / collecting (client). I wanted to understand the process and research that clients take on choosing an artist and getting a tattoo; and how it has become a similar ritual an art collector takes into expanding their art collection. The only obvious difference is that the artwork is exhibited on the client’s body vs in/on a structured space.

My approach to tattooing is all custom and collaborative. I give my clients the opportunity to pitch their own personal and unique ideas, and I also have a couple of unique and fun features that they can choose such as ” Design Your Own Guardian (Tescuani)” and “Create An Altar”.

The concept of the Guardian – or as I call them “Tescuani” – comes form the word “TEKUANI” from the ancient Mexican Nahuatl language which means “fiera” in Spanish, or “wild beast” in English. Basically, the client picks 2-3 animals to combine, along with specific elements they would like to add that I ask in the form. The end result is a custom entity that is meant to represent my client’s identity, to guide them and protect them moving forward with their life. The concept of this feature was part of my graduate thesis surrounding “Identity In a Multicultural and Fractured Society”. It is a dialogue about understanding the difficulty of explaining our heritage and where we come from come from in today’s society. There’s never an easy answer. The “Guardian” aspect of this feature comes form various bits and pieces of Mexican culture and popular folk relics.

“Altars” or “Altares” are a symmetric layout of different elements important to the client. Most of these pieces are meant to commemorate an important moment in the person’s life, or a loving person to them that has already passed away. These pieces always tend to be very emotional or empowering.

With this said, my approach to tattooing is very personal. I work by appointment only, and I only take one client a day to make sure I can focus on their wants and needs. I love to take my time with each of my clients. That way, I can also do my best to understand their body and skin as I am tattooing them. Each experience with a client is unique.
I also believe in taking our time with a piece. Therefore, if my client hits their limit for the day, I don’t mind splitting the tattoo into multiple sessions.

Do I pamper my clients? Yes I do… However the concept of pampering and attending clients varies from person to person. And that is what is so special about this profession. The learning and understanding of the navigation of safety, empathy, respect, and boundaries between client and artist comes through open communication and trust.

My brand and creatures are very broad since I have done so much research on multicultural folklore, mythology, and both ancient and contemporary symbology. If you would ask about my artistic influences, they vary from artists like Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, Doktor Lakra, Eduardo Sarabia, Koak Kruager, Don Edd Hardy. I also love Medieval illustrations, traditional Asian art, Mexican and Latin American folklore and Sacro Imagery.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have recently entered the third pivot or change in my personal and professional life.

After twelve years of living in San Francisco: my husband and I made the decision to move to my native state of Texas in order to be closer to my family. It was a very personal decision so we can start planning to have a family.

It has been a rough decision since I am still currently co-owner of my tattoo studio, Mono Moon. Major changes are coming soon to the business filled with mixed emotions. My business partner and I are amicably parting ways after long conversations and soul searching. We have both learned so much from each other and we both feel it is time for both of us to leave our nest and continue our journey separately. Yet, still supporting and helping each other as friends, and as part of the tattoo and art community.

On my end, I am currently planning to keep our current space Mono Moon in Russian Hill, San Francisco by hiring a couple of artists that would love to join the new crew that I am building. I am already blessed to be working alongside a wonderful artist, Carlotta Ink, who has been part of the Mono Moon family for over a year now. It is now just a matter of finding a couple more to keep the ship on float. We will soon find out what happens in the next couple of months, so, wish me luck! I have been so fortunate to have such beautiful roster of clients in California. The idea of cutting the cord is still not in my plans.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Speaking of resilience: Didn’t I just mention that I moved to Texas? Oh yes… I am currently based in San Antonio.

It has been a gigantic challenge to start anew in a different state, and build my clientele from scratch. It has been a huge learning experience. Texas’ concept of tattoo artists and tattoo establishments, is for sure a completely different monster to tackle. However, as of now, I have been fortunate enough to have wonderful new clients that with time, patience, perseverance, and hard work will continue to grow and attract more. It has been slowly, but surely. However, an emotional roller coaster, not gonna lie!

One of the many challenges is that: Social media has taken a weird turn when it comes to use it as a tool to promote artists’ work. So – as artists – we have to start to be more creative in how to reach out and promote ourselves and our portfolio in order to reach new people. It is an ongoing conversations amongst creatives as of late.

On another hand: I am fortunate enough to currently be a resident artist at a loving and women-owned tattoo studio called The Ink Garden, in San Antonio, where I met and was welcomed by the most supporting and talented ladies.

I am currently traveling back and forth from San Francisco and San Antonio on a monthly basis. I love being a business owner. Therefore, my goal is to continue to have an establishment in San Francisco that is safe and welcoming for artist to come in and continue their practice, for clients to come in to have a great experience and walk out with an incredible piece of art, and keep expanding the community; while hustling to start anew in San Antonio.

As in depth for San Antonio: as hard as it is to start from scratch, and as much as I bump my head against a wall sometimes. I am, and will not afraid of taking new ventures. I believe all artists and creatives are versatile that way; given all the risks we have taken throughout most of our careers.
I will continue to put myself out there and expand my brand. In full transparency, as of now?… it has been one of the most challenging year as of yet. It has been taking so much work, time and energy to hustle and find clients and work, while running my shop in San Francisco.

My plan is to eventually branch out my studio to Texas and open a space down here. Coincidently enough, my fine artwork has caught some attention lately, so I am tinkering with the idea of going back to my art practice as well. As of now, only time and hard work will tell. I am looking at life one day at a time.

If there is an artist or creative going through a rough or similar situation out there reading this, I hope feel supported. I hope they feel a sense of relief that they are not alone in the struggle. My advice is to be bold and brave. To not be afraid of taking risks or chances because there is no such thing as failures. Failures are always opportunities. Just keep working, creating, and producing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marielbayona.com
• Instagram: @bymaba
• Facebook: BYMABA
• Linkedin: Mariel Bayona
• Other: Google Business: BYMABA (Mariel Bayona)
  MONO MOON

Image Credits

All photos have been taken by myself and one shot by the help of a client asked by me. Thanks!