A digital collage featuring Lilian Raya Munoz, inspired by Alberto Rodriguez and Roland Alexandre – Contrasting Realism and the Pursuit of Perfection. Two bright tattoos above; below, Lilian tattoos a client. Text: TATTOOGENDA, Lilian Raya Munoz, Always a Student, Never a Master.
TattooGenda banner featuring two vibrant tattoos—a cartoon princess and a sugar skull with flowers. Text: “Lilian Raya Munoz ‘Always a Student, Never a Master.’” Bottom shows Lilian tattooing at her workstation. Alberto Rodriguez logo featured.

From Children’s Book Illustrations to the Human Canvas

Lilian Raya Munoz, born in Mexico City and now 35 years old, knew from an early age that art would play a central role in her life. As an introverted child, she spent countless hours drawing and painting. She was especially fascinated by the world of children’s book illustrations, drawn to the charm of imaginative characters and whimsical storytelling.

What started as a quiet childhood passion gradually developed into a remarkable talent. Drawing became not only a form of expression but also a skill that led her to study graphic design. Although her original dream was to become a children’s book illustrator, her creative journey would eventually take a different direction.

The First Inspiration

Creativity ran in the family. Lilian credits her mother as her earliest and most important inspiration. Although her mother worked as a dentist, she was also a talented painter with a deeply artistic soul.

She often shared how she had once dreamed of becoming an artist herself, but her parents had not allowed her to pursue that path. Perhaps because of that, she always encouraged Lilian to follow her own creative ambitions.

That support gave Lilian the confidence to build a life around art and eventually explore the world of tattooing.

A vibrant leg tattoo by Lilian Raya Munoz, captioned “Always a Student, Never a Master,” showcases a stylized female face with green hair, pink eyes, and vivid flowers and butterflies gracefully woven around her.

Love at First Tattoo

After graduating with a degree in graphic design, Lilian initially tried to pursue a career as a children’s book illustrator. At the same time, she took on various creative jobs to make a living—painting, photography, graphic design, and even body painting.

The turning point came when a college friend suggested she might become a great tattoo artist and encouraged her to give it a try.

Interestingly, Lilian didn’t even have a tattoo on her own body at the time. Yet she decided to take the chance. The moment she completed her first tattoo, everything changed.

“It was love at first tattoo,” she says. That experience made her realize that the human body was, for her, the most incredible canvas in the world.

A tattoo artist with long dark hair and red lipstick, wearing a white shirt and gold jewelry, looks thoughtfully at a client’s arm while working. Text reads: “Lilian Raya Munoz & Alberto Rodriguez, ‘Always a Student, Never a Master.’” TattooGenda logo appears at the top.
Colorful tattoo shows a cartoonish creature with big eyes, surrounded by rainbow sparkles and blue butterfly wings. Inspired by Alberto Rodriguez’s bold style, it features a large pink gemstone heart, jewel details, butterflies, and stars—playful and detailed.

Building an International Career

Since that moment, Lilian has built an impressive career in tattooing. She opened her own studio, Lovetta Studio, in Mexico and quickly gained recognition within the international tattoo community.

Her work has earned several awards at tattoo conventions, including 3rd Place Best of Day in Barcelona, Best Color at Viva la Tinta in Mexico, and Best New Styles in CDMX. Beyond competitions, she has also shared her knowledge by teaching seminars at conventions and conferences in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Colombia.

Her artistic reputation has even reached outside the tattoo world. Universal Studios collaborated with her to create tattoo designs for the premiere of the film Wicked.

Always Learning

Lilian is a self-taught tattoo artist, which made her journey challenging but also deeply rewarding. Every tattoo became a learning experience, pushing her to refine her technique and develop her own artistic language.

Her passion for improvement quickly turned into a drive to constantly evolve. Even after more than a decade in the industry, she still considers herself a student of the craft.

For Lilian, that mindset is essential. Tattooing is an art form where there is always something new to learn—new techniques, new technologies, and new perspectives.

A colorful tattoo of a stylized girl with large glasses, red hair, and a blue flower hairpin holding a small white dog. Alberto Rodriguez adds bold hues, hearts, stars, and the text: “Lilian Raya Munoz ‘Always a Student,Never a Master.’”.

A Colorful Illustrative Style

Lilian’s work is instantly recognizable. She describes her style as illustrative, colorful, and shiny—a unique blend of vintage children’s book illustration aesthetics and neo-traditional tattoo imagery.

Her designs often feel like scenes from a vibrant pop-inspired world filled with glitter, bold colors, and dynamic characters. While her style continues to evolve, the essence of her artistic identity remains consistent.

A colorful tattoo of a Day of the Dead-inspired woman with a painted face, vibrant flowers, and a green jeweled heart below. Bold and vivid style. At the top, text reads: Lilian Raya Munoz “Always a Student, Never a Master”, honoring Alberto Rodriguez.

The Power of Female Characters

One of the most prominent themes in Lilian’s work is the female face. She is particularly drawn to expressive faces that carry strong emotions.

Sometimes these expressions are melancholic or introspective, while other times they portray powerful figures such as goddesses or devilish characters. For Lilian, female representation offers endless artistic possibilities.

Each face can tell a different story. Through subtle expressions—especially the eyes—a tattoo can convey deep emotion and personality.

“The eyes never lie,” she says.

A colorful tattoo by Alberto Rodriguez depicts a young woman with large eyes, a starry blue robe, hands in prayer, vibrant feathers, and a golden halo. Text reads: Lilian Raya Munoz “Always a Student, Never a Master.”.

From Idea to Tattoo

Lilian’s design process always begins with listening to her client. She starts by gathering their raw ideas, understanding their preferences—whether they want color or black and grey—and discussing the elements they want to include in the piece.

From there, she begins brainstorming and collecting visual references. A rough sketch is created to establish the main composition and balance between the elements.

Once the client approves the concept, she refines the design and prepares the stencil. On the day of the appointment, final adjustments are made, the size is determined, and then comes the most exciting part: bringing the design to life on the skin.

A focused tattoo artist with dark hair and gloves works on a client’s leg tattoo in a studio. She holds a tattoo machine over black ink, beneath the inspiring quote by Lilian Raya Munoz: “Always a Student, Never a Master.”.

The Challenge of Color

One of the most complex aspects of tattooing, according to Lilian, is color saturation. Proper color application requires patience, technique, and deep understanding.

During the healing process, it becomes clear whether the skin was overworked or underworked. In addition, skin melanin affects how colors heal and appear over time, meaning tattoo artists must understand both color theory and skin biology.

Even after fourteen years of tattooing, Lilian still sees color as an area where she continues to grow and learn.

A vibrant back tattoo designed by Alberto Rodriguez shows two stylized female faces surrounded by colorful dragons, flowers, and abstract patterns. Bold text reads: Lilian Raya Munoz “Always a Student, Never a Master.” in bright blues, purples, pinks, and greens.

Finding Peace in the Process

While designing and completing a project can be fulfilling, Lilian finds the act of tattooing itself the most satisfying part of the process.

Tattooing allows her to enter a state of focus and calm. It quiets her mind and creates a deep sense of connection between artist, client, and artwork.

A colorful thigh tattoo features a large anime-style face with big eyes, flowers, and a red bow. Bluebirds, a key, and a jeweled skull surround it. Text reads Lilian Raya Munoz “Always a Student,” Alberto Rodriguez, Never a Master.

Always in Evolution

For Lilian, the key to growth lies in staying open—to new technologies, new artistic perspectives, and the work of other artists.

She believes humility is essential. No matter how experienced an artist becomes, there is always room for improvement.

That philosophy is perfectly captured in the motto she lives by:

“Always a student, never a master.”


Written by Tom Vansteeland (Tattoogenda)
17/03/2026

Tattoo of a stylized girl’s face with big eyes, blue and teal hair, and pointed ears, surrounded by luminous butterflies. Vivid art in turquoise, purple, and black. Text reads: Lilian Raya Munoz “Always a Student, Never a Master”, Alberto Rodriguez.

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *