We recently had the chance to connect with Valentina Riabova and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Valentina , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My days are usually lacking routine but currently I mostly wake up at 10 am, get breakfast, take care of my bearded dragon, go to my studio, spend some time teaching my apprentices, checking how things are there, taking care of another dragon in there 😄 making a couple consultations, working with a videographer on some fun content, tattooing a full day, mostly full sleeves or other big projects so I either outline and plan everything out or I continue some work. After tattooing for about 6 hours I go to the gym if I have the time, otherwise take off for a date, because eroticism is something that is my main artistic fuel;)
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an artist that was classically trained in Russia and thanks to my early achievements in art industry I conquered tattooing within basically a year, won world recognition with being the only artist in the world able to tattoo a color portrait from life observation of a model, not using any photo or stencil. I also made the only known to the world self tattoo portrait using a mirror as a reference. I ve lived and worked and studied in Europe US and Russia. Recently I ve moved from New York to Austin and opened my tattoo studio “sharp objects “ and my tattoo school “Obscythe”. It’s a 6-months long program that has a unique program that is interactive and is happening in real time. My passion is painting, sculpting, Shibari (rope kinky art from Japan), teaching, languages (i understand 7), tattooing etc. I’m pretty restless 😄
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I ve always knew my path. My previous occupations were very connected with the stuff I do today because I believe that everything feeds into everything.
I ve been working as an art and language tutor, sex shop consultant in a medical field store, and then after graduation from graphic design I started tattooing and later also graduated in fashion business and fashion design
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I wouldn’t say that, it was never an option but I did have a massive burnout when I moved to US because there was way too many issues in my personal life all at the same time. And I had to seek psychiatric help to get over that period
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Freedom, beauty, Eros, growth and honesty
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I only do what I love
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valtatboo.com/obscythe
- Instagram: @val_tatboo @sharpobjectstattoo
