We recently connected with Rubi Mota and have shared our conversation below.

Rubi, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned to tattoo and Pierce thru my apprenticeship. I was lucky enough to be invited to do an apprenticeship that lasted 1 year.

I would have definitely applied myself more. I regret misusing my time, Plus i would have more fun with art and tattoos. I think in a way I took it “too” seriously, like I should have experimented more allot sooner.

The most essential skill/s is the commitment to always keep learning and To be able to take constructive criticism well. It takes more than those two skills but those are over all ESSENTIAL.

Bills haha.. Bills definitely kept me from learning more. It’s a jungle out here and everyone’s just trying to make it. Tattooing has good and bad seasons and We as artists are constantly putting out more work than we get paid for. The struggle to survive pulled me back and forth between being a full time artist and a corporate cog wheel.

Rubi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello everyone! My name is Rubi Mota and I am an 11 year professional tattoo artist and body piercer.
I love my career and am thankful to be working in art for a living!

I was 24, single and recently fired from a local restaurant when I started my apprenticeship at Goodfellas tattoos in Alief. Puppet was my mentor (shout out to Puppet!) and I got to learn allot from the guys that worked there too. My apprenticeship was extremely hard but in a crazy way I loved that. Everyday was different.

I never pictured myself in the tattoo industry so I knew I had to give it all my energy. I was terrified of failing! I believe I developed allot of anxiety in my tattoo career lol it can be really nerve wrecking in the beginning.

Fast forward a couple years later and I specialize in cover up tattoos and go by appointments.
There is never a shortage in bad tattoos so business in the cover up department is a boomin lol

I’m now a mom and wanting to pass this skill on to my son.

I love the challenge of a cover up tattoo. I get a crazy sense of fulfillment when I complete one successfully. I would love to think that’s what sets me apart from the rest. I ain’t new to this, I’m true to this.. haha

I want everyone to know that I take every tattoo personally. I respect every tattoo and client that ends up in my chair.
I got you guys covered and I’m here to work with you!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

To better support artist and creatives in general, it’s simple, just SUPPORT them. If you can’t support your favorite artist with money then support them in other ways.
Remember that sharing, liking and reposting our work on any social media platform goes a looooong way.

I realize that we cannot eat or live off of tattoos unfortunately so because of that, I’m always completely thankful for all the work I receive.

And please remember to always tip your artist!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think there is a long list of things that people struggle to understand from a creative. First of all I think people think us artists are just “naturally” good at art. We’re not lol
You have to learn to be good at it, just like any other job to be honest.

People also tend to think that we just pick up tattoo machines and go! They don’t realize that we put so much money into equipment. They don’t see all the prep that goes into completing a tattoo.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @rubiimota
• Facebook: Rubi Mota
• Youtube: Rubi mota