Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rhona McBain. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rhona, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In the face of adversity, sometimes the only way forward is to take a wild leap. After losing my husband to ALS, I made the decision to leave behind the comfort of my life in Pittsburg, Kansas, and embark on a new chapter in Kansas City, MO. Little did I know that this risk would test my resilience and lead me to unexpected successes.

With no job, no apartment, and no support system in place, the challenges ahead seemed massive. Closing my tattoo shop, bidding farewell to loyal clients, and selling or renting my home were just the first steps in a journey that would redefine everything in my life.

The search for a new place to live became a relentless pursuit. Countless listings were scoured, and weekends were spent visiting numerous apartments in Kansas City. Finding a new place to tattoo and attracting a fresh clientele proved to be an equally daunting task. From owning a thriving tattoo shop with a loyal client base, I found myself starting from scratch in a highly competitive environment.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. When my three month timeline was up I surpried myself by having secured a fantastic apartment in the heart of Kansas City, resolved the rental of my house, and sold off my shop in Pittsburg. Slowly but surely, I began the process of building a loyal clientele, one tattoo at a time. The support system I once lacked started to form when I discovered Rebel Muse, a wonderful shop filled with highly talented artists, fun clients, and supportive owners.

Reflecting on that risky decision to leave everything behind, I now realize it was the best choice I could have made. Through this journey, I have grown both personally and professionally, proving to myself and those who doubted me that great rewards can come from taking risks. While the small Kansas town I once called home may have faded in the rearview mirror, the memories and lessons learned will forever shape my future in Kansas City.

In the end, the risk was not just about a geographical move, but about trusting myself to put words to action. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of loss and uncertainty, I have the power to reinvent myself and create a new path filled with happiness and fulfillment.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been in motion since my early childhood. Starting off in Scotland and moving across the pond to Michigan… Texas… Ohio… South Carolina… Maryland… Georgia and now Kansas and Missouri.

I love the commotion that happens when people, pets and places have a chance to tell their stories. Art has always been my way to learn new places, remember old friends, meet new ones and have an ongoing visual conversation about personalities of both big cities and small towns.

All of my art focuses on the body, so I saw it as a natural progression into creating tattoos. Most days you can find me at Rebel Muse Tattoo in Kansas City. I will be either with a client creating a new piece with them or making art.

I am obsessed with blackwork, illustrative and geometric style tattoos. The subjects I tend to gravitate towards are girls/goddess face; floral and fauna, beasties and bugs, and anything full geek. I love the collaborative element of taking a client’s idea and giving them more then they dreamed!

I stepped down as an Associate Professor of Art at Pittsburg State University a couple of years back. I had been a professor for 16 years. In that time, my artwork have been widely exhibited both nationally and internationally. I have had the opportunity to have images included in select exhibitions by jurors such as – Richard S. Field, Curator Emeritus of Prints and Drawings, Yale University Art Gallery and Craig Houser, Assistant Curator Guggenheim Museum, NYC. My artwork has also been written about and published in numerous publications, including Polaroid P26 and Rangefinder magazines.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an tattoo and fine artist is the process of taking an abstract thought and the process for pulling in into an actual physical artwork. The communication with a client or myself, the research and the challenges to articulate a piece.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot in my life was to changing from teaching and making art in a university setting to working in the tattoo industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bainink.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bainink
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baininkart

Image Credits
Photos by Rhona McBain