Meet Terry Ribera

We recently connected with Terry Ribera and have shared our conversation below.

Terry, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?

Where does my self-discipline come from? I think it starts with the simple joy I get from drawing. It’s something I could do all day. I’ve always loved the slow, meditative process—problems fade, and I become fully focused on the task. I lose myself in the journey: creating, problem-solving, learning, experimenting, and enjoying the efficiency of it all. It’s so rewarding, I can’t imagine a better way to spend my time.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I specialize in large-scale custom tattoos with an illustrative style, drawing influence from Japanese, Neotraditional, and Biomechanical tattoos, as well as Art Nouveau. I’ve been fortunate to stay busy with work I love, regularly collaborating on ongoing projects with returning clients.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I focus on three main things. First, I design tattoos that age well. Even though my style is illustrative, I build them to last—strong black lines, bold shapes, high contrast.

Second, I do a ton of cover-ups—more than any artist I’ve worked with. I like the challenge, and it’s a skill I take seriously. Not something I’d trust just anyone with.

Third, versatility. I came up in a time when you had to be able to do everything, and that still shows in my work. That said, my tattoos are still distinctly mine. I want people to recognize my work no matter the subject—I’m just using classic tattoo language to tell my own story.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

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The biggest challenge for me is social media. When I started, it was about getting into magazines and working at the right shop—that’s how you built a name. Now, experience, skill, and consistency don’t carry the same weight.

Success today often comes down to catchy videos and self-promotion. It rewards personality over substance, and the loudest voices get the most attention. I know I need to play the game, but I want to do it on my terms—authentically, and with real connection to my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.remingtontattoo.com
• Instagram: @terryribera
• Yelp: Remington Tattoo
• Other: https://Www.terryriberapaint.com

Image Credits

Terry Ribera